A Letter from Charles Darwin (Photo: The Guardian)
Do you consider yourself to be a blogger, a writer, an author or all three?
I’ve been an informal “writer” for as long as I can remember. I expected to grow up and write for a living. During school, I was always writing short stories, plays, poems and lyrics; or starting a novel. When I went to university, I looked at how to parlay this into a living. I considered journalism and public relations before deciding on library science. I figured I could work with books and eventually write them in my spare time!
Over 25 years later, this has not materialized, LOL! Coming home from a full-time job, I don’t have the self-discipline to write a novel. I don’t at all think I have failed – if anything, it’s the opposite. As a librarian, I love public service and never imagined I would supervise a team of staff or help people with their lives every day. I really feel I have found my calling and I can’t imagine sitting at home at a desk every day, wordsmithing.
That being said, the written word is still the lens through which I see the world, and I know that will never change. I am oriented toward the printed page and I love words and language. I am wowed by the ability of authors to make me think and feel, creating an emotional connection to new people and places.
I can write a pretty mean monthly report or grant proposal! But blogging is now my little slice of authorship.
Do you see the world as a Writer?
My writer idol, Margaret Atwood (Photo: The Guardian)
An Exacting Life 
I am a blogger that wants to be a writer. 🙂
I think I am outing myself as one of those, too!
ah but then you can use a blog to sell a book… and jump ahead of most writers. I began my blog in January and that is my goal. I wish you luck, -OM
Me too, although I’ll say I am a blogger who dreams to be a writer.
I ❤ your writing!
The first time I saw your blog title, it reminded me instantly of a book called “A Fortunate Life”, by Albert Facey. It’s stuck with me ever since and inadvertently, I always see “An Exacting Life” as a book, in my head!
Cool 🙂 I must have been drawing on “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
I was the same as a kid – I was always writing stories. And I always thought I could write them in my spare time when I started working, but now have no time!
I’m currently writing my thesis at work, and struggling with it sometimes. So sometimes when I get home the last thing I feel like doing is getting my laptop out again to blog. But I do it, and I think doing this writing every day (and getting lovely comments back) really helps me to overcome writer’s block in other parts of my life.
That’s a good point. I find that even functional writing, such as reports at work, keep me in practice! It’s the whole concept of writing to purpose.
I definitely consider myself a writer. I just sort of see blogging as the latest (or current) incarnation of that, I guess. Excellent question, though. Gives me something to ponder!
Me too!
I wasn’t sure if that was to me. If it was thanks!
I was over to your site – I thought your war speech idea was cool!
Thanks 🙂
I think I am all three. I have been blogging for years, I have been writing since I could pick up a pen (think school newspaper editor, columnist for a local newspaper, and expert at writing “you have annoyed me greatly” letters to businesses that disappoint me), and finally I wrote a book so that kind of makes me an author. While I admire authors who have whole racks full of their books at the library or bookstore, it is just too daunting to have to write EVERY SINGLE DAY like any productive writer should. p.s. I always thought that being a librarian would be a very cool job!
I think it’s great that you have published! I am not sure if I would like writing as a career, unless it were varied (such as getting assignments from a magazine) – I would also find it hard to sit down and write to a schedule.
I’m a blogger not a writer! My grammar gives it away lol!
You never know, Laura – nothing your editor couldn’t fix!
Writer? No such lofty goals for me! I think of myself more as a curator of cute lolcat memes with a bit of whining and ranting thrown in for good measure! 🙂
If that were my goal, it would be a lofty one because I think that is hard work 🙂
I write, so I am a writer. I blog, so I am a blogger. If I DO it, I AM it.
You’ve made my day. Thank you. 🙂
You’re very welcome!
Definately “just a blogger” – no burning urge to tell stories when I was young. Actually English was often the subject I did least well in. Subsequently I came to not like teachers’ subjective nature and pursued the mathematical path at school. As you know I was commenting on your blog long before I launched my own.
On one hand, it’s too bad that there seems to be an English/Language/Arts path and a Math/Science path in school. On the other hand, sometimes people just know their strengths and where to focus their attention. I am surprised by your comment because I think you are a good writer!
Thanks for your encouragement – it’s hard to read my own work clearly. I always skip words
I’ve always loved writing, but my blog is the first time I’ve been brave enough to share it. I enjoy your thoughts and writing very much.
Thanks very much! I am previously unpublished, too 🙂
I’m a blogger that hates reading & writing. I just like to make funny and/or mean comments about things.
🙂