I'm a writer. It feel weird to say that - it's a title and an actual profession. I think whenever I describe myself as a writer I feel like I'm trespassing into some foreign land. A place where I'm forbidden from entering. I'm not entitled to that title, it's not mine to have.

But, this isn't really true, is it?

There are no deities lurking in the eternal abyss ready to punish me for my arrogance. There is no secret society of mystics and occultists out there plotting to end my writing career. There's no writing gestapo pounding on the doors demanding I hand over my keyboard and never write again.

No.

Writing is something I do to pass the time and to express myself and that's enough.

But, at the same time, it makes me wonder about everything else. Writing isn't the only activity like this - actor, singer, artist, poet - the list goes on. When you think about it all of those professions are centered around the act of creation.

The act of making.

It's a right given to all people. I would even go as far to say it's a fundamental human right. It's something intrinsic to everyone, everywhere. You can sing and call yourself a singer. You can act and call yourself an actor. You can write and call yourself an actor.

That doesn't mean you'll be received as one.

You are entitled to the creation but you are not entitled to the reception.

Whatever you create, be it a work of art or just a little song, is not entitled to be seen by others. There is no guarantee of an audience to receive your creation. There is also no guarantee if it is received, that it will be received positively.

This has probably been the hardest thing for me to learn and is the truth that is hardest to accept.

In the past, I would often get frustrated when my work wasn't received positively or even seen at all. I couldn't understand why people wouldn't get excited about it. Like they owed me. I was very resentful of this.

It’s taken a few years but I am able to accept this now. I am able to accept that I have no control over who sees it and what they think.

I will always be a writer.

I get cynical when I look at some of the influencers on Twitter. They talk about their audience like they're a source of free labor. As though their purpose is to provide clicks, eyes, & engagement for high and mighty creators who produce content for them.

The audience is seen as slaves. Slaves to the whims of their 'marketing guru' or 'wellness guru' or whoever is tweeting out the ‘10 ways you’re losing’ or telling them about how they used to be like them and now they’re much, much, better. And why do some influencers feel this way about their audience? So they don't feel as bad when they sell out the trust of their readers, who are viewed as mindlessly consuming commodities. Again. Again. Again.

Like they're nothing more than a resource to be mined.

It's not their job to be your audience. Their job is to be themselves. Their job is to create. Their job is to live their lives. They don't owe you anything. They aren't your audience, they're people. Like any relationship, support is something that is earned, not something that you are entitled to.

We can create, if we wish. Creating doesn’t mean we automatically get to be seen or received well. We don't always create for others, but when we do share our creations publicly, if we let go of caring about the reception it takes the pressure off.

We don't have to get validation from anyone, we don't have to make content that is designed to please anyone.

We can create because we want to. We can create because it is a fundamental human right. We can create because it is something that is inside of us and we don't have to justify it.

Reception is not dependent on you being deserving. It is not dependent on you being well-known. It is not dependent on you being professional. It is not dependent on you being nice. Reception is not dependent on you being anything.

Reception is not dependent on you at all.