Why I’m Scared to Call Myself a Writer
On imposter syndrome and claiming the identity
Someone messaged me on LinkedIn yesterday.
“Love your writing! Are you a designer or a writer?”
I stared at the message.
The answer should be easy. But I typed and deleted three different responses.
Finally: “Designer, mostly. I write sometimes.”
Even though I’ve published every week for months.
I’ve been a designer for 25 years. That identity is solid. Earned.
But “writer”?
That feels like fraud.
Why writing is different:
When someone asks what I do, I say “designer.”
Not “designer and writer.”
Just designer.
Because calling myself a writer feels like claiming something I haven’t earned yet.
The ADHD factor:
Writing is hard for me.
Not “sometimes challenging” hard. Hard.
My ADHD brain fights me on every sentence. The executive dysfunction, the organizing thoughts, the sitting still long enough to actually finish something.
Design work flows. I can hyperfocus for hours.
Writing? Every word feels like pushing a boulder uphill.
So when I think about calling myself a “writer,” my brain goes:
“Writers find writing natural. You struggle. Therefore, not a writer.”
But here’s what I’m actually doing:
Writing regularly here on Substack.
Writing articles on Medium.
Showing up consistently.
Building an audience.
Doing the thing that writers do.
And yet.
The permission I’m waiting for:
I think there’s some invisible line I haven’t crossed yet.
Some number of months of consistency that will make it feel real.
Maybe after six months of weekly publishing, I’ll feel like I’ve earned it.
Or a year.
Or never.
What I’m learning:
The writers I admire most talk about how hard it is. How they wrestle with every draft. How they delete more than they keep.
The difference isn’t that writing is easy for them.
The difference is they show up anyway.
Maybe “writer” isn’t something you earn after X months or X subscribers.
Maybe it’s just: do you write?
Do you show up and do the hard thing even when your brain is fighting you?
Then you’re a writer.
Even if it’s hard.
Especially if it’s hard.
So here’s where I’m at:
I still say “designer” when people ask what I do.
But I’m starting to think that’s just fear. Imposter syndrome doing its thing.
Because the truth is: I write every week. I publish consistently. I’m building something with words.
That’s what writers do.
Next time someone asks “are you a designer or a writer?”
Maybe I’ll say: “Both.”
And see if my brain lets me get away with it.
Jon “maybe both” Wiggens
P.S. - If you’re doing the thing but scared to claim the identity... yeah, me too. Hit reply and tell me what you’re scared to call yourself.