1) A writer is someone who (instead of working, talking, eating, exercising etc.) is _writing_ their way out of pain. **See this:** _"What should in an ideal world define someone as a writer isn’t that they publish books, or give talks at literary festivals or wear black; it’s that they belong to a distinct group of people who — whenever they are confused or in distress — gain the greatest possible relief from jotting things down. ‘Writers’ in the true sense are those who scribble — as opposed to drink, exercise or chat — their way out of pain."_ (Alain de Botton) *Source*: https://www.theschooloflife.com/article/why-you-should-keep-a-journal/ <br> 2) A writer is someone who *writes*. Just like a painter is someone who paints. A dancer is someone who dances. And so on, and so on. It took me the better part of 20 years to truly 1. understand and 2. accept this. Doing the thing is the thing. Doing it ***is*** it. **See also this:** _"Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience **becoming**, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow."_ (Kurt Vonnegut) *Source*: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guRkX2vEzHQ <br> 3) Once upon a time [I was a baker.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7poGXFUx3pY)