I am a writer.
This seems obvious. The word “writer” is in my handle, and my bio, and the title of this post.
However, it took a shockingly long time for me to say that out loud, in public, on purpose. Even then, I often deleted posts and profiles that bore this scandalous admission.
Maybe its because I worked in medicine for so long. Being a physician means that you have a white coat, which creates a hyper-professional and almost sacred space for one’s patient with very clear expectations and boundaries. A physician is hired for their professional opinions, not their personal ones.
But writing is chaotic and raw and one’s true persona always ends up bleeding onto the page. Of course decorum and professionalism are still important, but in writing, “the truth will out.”
I just finished the rough draft of my first novel! It only took me seven years of seemingly unending doubt. I’ll be querying soon, and maybe the manuscript is rubbish and will be soundly rejected.
But if so, then I will take the lessons I’ve learned and write another, and another.
Because I am embracing the beautiful scandal of being a writer.
