I don't consider myself a writer. If you were to ask me about my identity, I would give you various answers. I might say that I'm a daughter or a friend. I might mention that I work as a horticulturist or a photographer, or that I have a nomadic lifestyle. I could also tell you that I'm an anime lover and that I enjoy working at a local gift shop. However, one thing I would never claim is that I am a writer, because that's simply not true.

I do have an interest in writing though. I have a fondness for words. Additionally, my sense of humor often relies on word play. I don't usually admit this, but when I was a teen, I used to carry a notebook in my bag and write angsty poetry whenever inspiration struck. It was terrible, but somehow that made it wonderful.

I'm not someone who takes a lot of notes, but occasionally I'll have an idea that needs to be worked out, so I'll jot it down. Even as I write this, struggling to find the right words and feeling inadequate as a writer, I know that it doesn't come naturally to me. So, most of the time, I am not a writer. However, if I were, this is the advice I would give to the non-writer version of myself:

Don't worry about having everything figured out. Don't stress about where you're headed. Don't wait until you feel ready (because you never will). Just write, because the act of writing itself helps us discover what we're trying to say. Just write, because you are a writer, even if you don't believe it.