Calissa Leigh Writes

It is funny, but a lot of writers, good ones and such, suggest things like they began reading at age 3, wrote stories when they were little, read mountains of books before age 12, etc.

I have a confession to make. I recognized letters at an early age, probably the same time all other kids were watching Sesame Street. However, I don’t think I really began reading until I was taught in school. Like 1st grade or so?

I also wasn’t really that avid a reader. I hardly ever visted the school library, and when I did I rarely picked up a book. I did pick up books, and I did like them. In high school, the library was my refuge but I rarely checked out anything. I browsed a few nonfiction topics that peeked my interest and put the book back.

I didn’t have much of a budget for books when I was younger. So in order to be sure I would enjoy the books, I often bought books by the same couple of authors when I was permitted.

And as much as I enjoyed it, and as much as I would probably have enjoyed reading more, it wasn’t of THAT much importance to me back then.

In fact, I never dreamed of being a writer. I just wanted to be the characters in the books.

Today, I probably don’t read books by the pound as other writers seem to. Sure, I buy books, sometimes piling them up into corners intending to read later. I visit the library for nonfiction and fiction books, which some I read and others I read a few pages and toss.

While my selection of favorite writers has increased in numbers, I go through phases of when I get through books in a matter of a couple days and then there are books which I take forever to read — because I really, really like them and I want them to last, or I am unmotivated to get to the end, but I like the story enough to try.

Does it make one any less of a writer to not seem to have ‘the traits’ of a born writer?

I hope not.

I still enjoy books and I enjoy the characters, in fact, if it wasn’t for my enjoyment of characters, I probably wouldn’t be writing. Now, instead of letting someone else take the reigns, I get to have fun letting characters do what I want them to do.

Though what makes a writer?

In my opinion, I’ve always believed anyone with a desire to write can call themselves a writer. It’s been a debate for forever it seems. There are some who say you can’t be a writer unless you are ’serious’ or published or have gotten so many queries.

Personally, I don’t care if the only thing you wrote  is poetry on the back of your notebook in high school. If you want to call yourself a writer, do so, without fear.

Because a definition of a writer, according to the dictionary: a person engaged in writing, sometimes as an occupation.

Sometimes as an occupation. Nothing in those rules that say you have to be making money at it.  Nothing in those rules that says you can’t call yourself one if you aren’t ’serious’ or read hundreds of books a month and slurp words for breakfast.

Here is another definition: a person who is able to write and has written something. 

It didn’t say published books, reports or articles, it said something.

Maybe I’m not the ‘born’ writer, and maybe other writers aren’t either.

But I am a writer.  And there are millions more writers. I feel I am in good company.