My advice, if you’ll indulge me, is to just own it right away. When people ask what you do, tell them you’re a writer. It doesn’t matter if you’ve written a world-changing 1000 page epic or a two page short story about an avocado — you’ve still written something, and you’re still in the process of developing your voice and talent. You are a writer.

If you only ever say you want to be a writer; or, as I read all the time, “I’m an aspiring writer”, then you’re forever putting it out of reach as something you don’t yet have. If you want something that means you don’t have it, right? You’re perpetually reaffirming to the universe that it’s out of reach.

It may feel odd at first, but you’ll gradually train yourself to feel more comfortable with it. And personally I’d much rather someone told me they were a writer or street juggler and discussed it than giving me some bullshit job title they don’t care about. Being Executive Chief Development Solutions Bullshit Officer isn’t who they are (probably).

Don’t be afraid of what people will think or say, or that dreaded question, “written anything I’ve read?”.

Just own it, and keep on writing.