The quote from Jake Black highlights the importance of confidence and belief in oneself as a writer. By stating that one is either a writer or they are not, Black emphasizes the notion that simply aspiring to be something is not enough; one must wholeheartedly embrace their identity as a writer in order to truly succeed in the craft. This quote serves as a reminder to aspiring writers to own their passion and talent, and to never underestimate the power of self-affirmation in achieving their goals.
In a world where everyone has access to platforms for self-publishing and showcasing their work, the distinction between "aspiring" and established creators can become blurred. Jake Black's sentiment highlights the importance of owning our creative endeavors and confidently proclaiming our identity as writers, rather than constantly striving towards an elusive goal. This idea can be applied not just to writing, but to any creative pursuit where self-doubt and comparison may hinder our growth. By embracing our roles as creators from the very start, we empower ourselves to fully immerse in our craft and produce work that is true to ourselves.
"I'm an aspiring writer.' I hate that phrase. You're either a writer or you're not." - Jake Black
Aspiring writers often struggle with imposter syndrome or feeling like they don't deserve to claim the title of "writer." Reflect on the following questions to help you navigate your own feelings and define your identity as a writer:
“Don't say you'll love me 'cause you know you're gonna love me and leave...”
“I'm not an aspiring writer; I'm a writer aspiring to be read.”
“You're as cowardly as a g------ weasel. You know that? A weasel. That's what you are.""You don't know me," I say, spitting blood onto the dirt. I can't help it. I start to laugh. "And you obviously don't know much about weasels, either.”
“Sometimes in the mountains the animals make paths by using the same route again and again. If you don't know what you're doing, you might think it's a path made by humans--it looks that way. If you follow that path, the path of beasts, you won't get anywhere at all. People lost in the wilderness, they follow these paths and only get more and more lost. Sometimes they lose their way and they die. It's not a path for humans, it's a dangerous diversion. Are you sure that's the road you want to take? It won't get you where you want to go.”
“I can't trust the people I care about not to hurt me. And I'm not sure I can trust myself not to hurt them, either.”
“Anybody who likes writing a book is an idiot. Because it's impossible, it's like having a homework assignment every stinking day until it's done. And by the time you get it in, it's done and you're sitting there reading it, and you realize the 12,000 things you didn't do. I mean, writing isn't fun. It's never been fun. It's momentum, and once you get the momentum going, that's great, but it's a brutal experience in many, many ways. And when you're done, people tell you "Well, gee, I'm not interested." "Great, I'm glad I sat down and wrote this!”