I think there's something in the fact that we can draw, AND WRITE.
Maybe it's a guilt at being amazing at both? Like, we are only deserving of one talent... That it's too prideful, and conceited to say we'd be good at more than one thing?
Then you add the feelings of being a woman, and bipoc on top of that...
All this to say that I struggle with the title 'Writer' as well...but trying to learn to embrace it madly.
So, I am a retired nurse educator. I have always taught with cartoons and anatomy drawings. I now draw existential cartoons with dogs and cats and crocodiles. So, today am I a retired nurse or am I an artist? A writer? Or just silly old Grandpop? Mmmmm…
For me the word that was hard to say out loud was “author”. I think it’s because that was what I wanted to be when I was little. I must’ve imagined it would feel different as an adult. In retrospect, I now realize that even 7 year old me was an author.
Thank you for sharing your art and words. You are an excellent artist AND writer!
“Why is it so hard to say I’m a writer when it’s not even that big a deal and I should just get over it - Being a cartoonist makes you a writer, artist, and illustrator at minimum.”
👆
Excellently written.
Agreed.
It makes it even harder to think of yourself as a writer when you have friends who “only write” for a living. (By that, I mean they don’t illustrate also ☺️)
I think I’ve overcompensated by constantly reading anything by Mary Karr, John McPhee, Any book with “How to Write Well” in the title, and Strunk & White.
Also..
I’m going to get my name put on a list, like they do with problem gamblers in casinos. Except it’ll be at Goods For The Study. And Muji.
LOVE this and how you've abstracted your feeling in coming form! Also great how you start with the comic and then the writing. A solution for what to do first to pull us readers in. Just putting in a word for the inclusive 'author'. Covers both writers and artists - I think.
I think there's something in the fact that we can draw, AND WRITE.
Maybe it's a guilt at being amazing at both? Like, we are only deserving of one talent... That it's too prideful, and conceited to say we'd be good at more than one thing?
Then you add the feelings of being a woman, and bipoc on top of that...
All this to say that I struggle with the title 'Writer' as well...but trying to learn to embrace it madly.
So, I am a retired nurse educator. I have always taught with cartoons and anatomy drawings. I now draw existential cartoons with dogs and cats and crocodiles. So, today am I a retired nurse or am I an artist? A writer? Or just silly old Grandpop? Mmmmm…
Zoe this speaks to me SO MUCH!
I always feel like such an imposter when I call myself a writer even though it is a completely accurate thing to say.
Sometimes I tell ppl I’m an illustrator when I don’t feel like getting into it bcs ppl always ask more questions when I say cartoonist.
It kind of kills me explaining what I do to ppl who aren’t cartoonists.
I just get really in my head about it.
For me the word that was hard to say out loud was “author”. I think it’s because that was what I wanted to be when I was little. I must’ve imagined it would feel different as an adult. In retrospect, I now realize that even 7 year old me was an author.
Thank you for sharing your art and words. You are an excellent artist AND writer!
“Why is it so hard to say I’m a writer when it’s not even that big a deal and I should just get over it - Being a cartoonist makes you a writer, artist, and illustrator at minimum.”
👆
Excellently written.
Agreed.
It makes it even harder to think of yourself as a writer when you have friends who “only write” for a living. (By that, I mean they don’t illustrate also ☺️)
I think I’ve overcompensated by constantly reading anything by Mary Karr, John McPhee, Any book with “How to Write Well” in the title, and Strunk & White.
Also..
I’m going to get my name put on a list, like they do with problem gamblers in casinos. Except it’ll be at Goods For The Study. And Muji.
<👀 at my many empty notebooks and fancy pens.>
...I edited this comment like... six times.
Thank you so much for your words and your list for reading!! You do not know how much I needed this!!
LOVE this and how you've abstracted your feeling in coming form! Also great how you start with the comic and then the writing. A solution for what to do first to pull us readers in. Just putting in a word for the inclusive 'author'. Covers both writers and artists - I think.
Terrific as always and I'm very much interested in listening to Kate Beaton and reading these Proust Pep Talks! Thank you for sharing.