Identity crisis
I wrote my first blog post on February 3, 2008. I had just quit my job and was en route to Costa Rica. My initial goal for the blog was fairly loose: to create a place to share my travel experiences, to meet people with similar interests and to build my writing skills. And I was excited! (Read my first post here.)
My long-term goal was to build financial independence as a freelance writer. I had been writing online articles and interviews at work, and I had just published my first feature story in a local magazine. After a year of night school to complete a Certificate in Feature Writing, seeing my first feature story in print was motivating to say the least.
I set up in Blogger which was free and simple to use. I had the option of placing Google AdSense on my blog, but I decided not to because it didn’t fit into my goals at that time. I landed in San José, Costa Rica and had forgotten that I had inquired here and there about teaching English until on day two I received a message inviting me to an interview. Though hesitant to start a new job right away, I took the position teaching business English in a local financial institution convinced I’d have enough free time to write and to explore my new surroundings.
Just three months later in May 2008, I published my first travel feature in the Central American newspaper, The Tico Times. Writing content for websites followed as did numerous opportunities to write hotel reviews and real estate feature stories. I was on fire!
In March 2009, I started handing out my new business card. After a lot of thought, I decided to go with the working title “Writer. Blogger. Traveler.” At the bottom of the card I listed creative copywriting, web content, freelance travel, hotel reviews, profiles, features and corporate communication as my areas of expertise. I didn’t want to limit myself so early in the game.
In May 2009, I had an unsettling conversation with one of my students who out of the blue said his lawyer told him not to talk to a journalist. I explained that I was really more of a “writer” with a passion for travel and that I didn’t see myself as an “investigative journalist.” Classes continued.
I have a B.A. in Communication and a B.A. in Political Science with a regional specialization in Latin America. And I remember quite well from my studies the heavy burden journalists carry in this oft-volatile part of the world. Even though I was at that time a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (I need to renew my membership), I considered myself more in the vague category of “writer” since I wasn’t working a regular beat for a news organization.
In August 2009, I moved my blog into WordPress, became a member of the Blogher publishing network, started to grow my Twitter network and was busy applying tips from Nomadic Matt’s eBook entitled How to Make Money With Your Travel Blog. I also added my first sponsor to my blog’s home page who paid me US$25 a month for the link. My dreams were coming true!
In March of this year, I made a new business card. The working title reads “Writer and Social Media Consultant.” I’m experimenting with ways to highlight the social media side of things.
Two weeks ago I went on a hike with a group and when responding to the question “What do you do?” I said, “I’m a writer.” One person responded, “You’re not a journalist?” Another person responded by asking, “So, do you write poetry?”
Who am I? As modes of communication take new and exciting turns and as more and more people take the freelance route, I wonder how working titles will evolve. Or, perhaps they will just grow. Here are a few working titles I’ve come across lately:
Freelance property writer, copywriter, journalist, blogger
Writer, journalist, blogger
Author, journalist, blogger, and periodic talk radio host
To all of you running blogs out there, how do you answer the question “What do you do?” and what kind of responses do you get?
Sounds like it’s might be best to to call yourself a “blogger” and if people don’t know what that is, educate them. You can be their gateway to the world of blogging, and also pick up a few extra readers as you go, who will doubtless stick with you because they’ve met you and they have a personal connection with you.
I tend to just say writer since so many people don’t understand what a “blogger” is. And since I write for myself and professionally, but am not a journalist, I think “writer” covers it adequately. If they press about whether I write novels, I might quantify it by saying I’m a business writer or copywriter.
Thomas and I are both happy to see you blogging again.
Titles can have a huge impact on how people define you. It’s amazing how a word choice can make such a difference. Come to think of it, word choice is what writing is all about. So why not put as much thought into a title as you do into an article, poem or book.
We are eagerly awaiting your next posting. The two of us are suffering a bit from Beverly withdrawals.
@ecothreesixty I agree that we should try to educate people about these new forms of communication. Even though we’re all learning as we go, it’s important to share the journey.
@becky Thanks for the comment, Becky. I like the way you clarify the type of writing you do.
@Tony I think I should have asked “What’s my job title?” instead of “Who am I?” I don’t feel defined by my job because I don’t define my life by what I do for work. Work is just one aspect of our lives. In fact, I think titles in general are barriers to ambiguity which can prevent us from listening and asking good questions, instead of presuming. But I understand the huge impact you describe as these “signifiers” help us make sense of the world.