Who is a writer?

for the ones with a bit of imposter syndrome

[This is a collaborative post]

[Kingsley’s words would be italicized]

A writer is someone who feels deeply enough to put what they’re feeling into words.

A writer is one who understands that words are more than just text—they’re experiences. When we write, we are voicing out what someone else might be struggling to say.

A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain.

Let’s dissect it shall we:

• Written words

• Communicate ideas

• Inspire feelings and emotions

• Entertains, etc.

By this definition, a writer is you and me.

It’s the person that wrote that tweet that made you laugh. It's the person that wrote the song that made you cry. It's the person that wrote that advertisement script that you and your friends act out for laughs.

But if everyone can be called a writer, what’s the distinction?

I think the real distinction isn’t just in the process—it’s in the intention.

It’s not about how lengthy or viral your writing is. It’s about what it costs you to write it, and what it ‘gives’ someone when they read it.

“Smile when you write, your readers can feel it”—Olusegun Osifuye

I can’t write a thought-provoking, three-thousand-word piece and still be classified the same as someone who wrote a funny, one-line shitpost on twitter.

So, I went back to the drawing board.

Who is the ‘writer?’

A writer is someone who engages in the act and process of writing.

The keyword here was ‘Process.’

Someone whose ideas and words go through the writing process.

That makes sense, but what process?

5 steps in a writing process

• Prewriting: Everything that comes before words come out of you, the thinking, the plotting, the mental drafting and publishing.

• Drafting: The word vomit

• Revising: After you vomit and you’re trying to see if it makes sense or properly conveys your point

• Editing: Making the vomit look sensible, understandable.

• Publishing: Showing the finished product to world as long as you’re satisfied with it.

Now this cancels out the random shitpost tweets. The things that might have not required serious thought and contemplation to put out.

(I would still argue for twitter, but you can tell people don’t really think when they tweet on that app)

As long as you’re stuck there, brainstorming and overthinking if you should hit publish or delete, you’re a writer.

So, whether you’re drafting a book, scribbling poetry in your notes app, or your next published piece, or writing captions that make people feel seen, overthinking where commas are meant to go in every sentence as you write…

…if you’re searching for deeper meaning, connection, and resonance—

You’re not just ‘becoming’ a writer,

You’re being one.

You are one.