I don’t want to be an author anymore.

When I was young, I wanted to write books. I wanted to be an author. The word was almost magical. Imagine, someday having a book with my name on it. Oh, that would be a dream come true!

And I gotta tell you… it is. I currently have five novels on the market, and plenty more on the way. I’m creating worlds, and people are joining me in those worlds. It’s the best job in the world. I want to do it full time.

I don’t want to be an author anymore.

I am an author.

I don’t have to focus on becoming. I already am. And that… is hard to get through my skull.

See, it’s not something I have to work to attain. I am an author. I’ve got published books. People buy them. No, I’m no bestseller. I can’t support my family with my unique combinations of sentences yet. I’m working toward that.

But… I’m already an author. I don’t have to become it. I am it.

This last week, I sold some books at a small conference. A person approached me. “Are you a writer?”

“Yes,” I responded. Confident. I didn’t need to think about it. I’m not trying to be a writer. I don’t have to work to become one. I am one. Already.

And—um—brain. Broken.

This is important. I’ve read pitches from writers: “I want to be a writer!”

Guess what? You wrote a book. You’re already a writer. Tell me about the story, not about you. No offense, I want to know what the book’s about before I buy it. If who you are informs the book—like, your book’s about an alien invasion from inside of books, and you burned books to save humanity, well, I’m interested. Otherwise, tell me about the book.

But if I’m an author already, if I carry myself as someone who has told a story that is worthy of other people’s time, they’re more likely to be interested.

“This book is full of adventure. It’s about Madelyn of the Sky. She fights for people that others would rather forget. She’s snarky and fun and uses a blade and her wit. Oh, and she has magic powers she doesn’t understand. She fights dragons and flying pirates and princes and… oh, just check it out.”

I’m not focusing on becoming. Just look at the book. Do you see? It’s good.

So I don’t want to be an author anymore.

I already am an author. I don’t want for something I already have.

I’m an author.