Katie Sturino, Writer.

Time to own it.

Whenever I am filling out a form that requires my occupation, for the last ten years I have always put: Writer.

Anyone who has observed this in my personal life has always thought it was so strange. Why not put entrepreneur? Business owner? Something else?

My answer is that I guess I have always felt like I was a writer. However, there was always a sense of imposter syndrome looming.

When I ask myself why, it always goes back to the medium. Writing on the internet like I do, as opposed to magazines or newspapers, felt less official or real. I do not have an MFA and I did not major in English. I know those don’t always make a writer, but they contributed to a voice in my head that made me doubt myself.

Despite all of that, I have always wanted to be a writer. A storyteller. And I need to be confident in the fact that I am.

This week as I mentioned I went to the Winter Institute in Denver with my publisher in anticipation of Sunny Side Up’s release in June. On the flight home, I had a little check in with myself about why exactly I cannot confidently declare myself as an author…besides on a form.

I laid the facts out:

I have three published books. THREE! I have written a fun coffee table book, a self help book, and finally, I have been lucky enough to write a novel that has been inside of me for almost 8 years.

I think it’s time I dropped the insecurity about my lack of professional experience as a writer and start embracing myself and the reality of what I have been able to accomplish.

Now, don’t get confused, I am not declaring myself some industry leader. In fact, being at this conference in Denver showed me just how new I am to the business of books.

It was so inspiring to get insight into an industry I am starting out in. For a bit more context, Winter Institute is a convention where publishers meet to showcase a select group of books and authors to the people who buy for book stores across the country.

The industry term is book sellers which was new to me lol. These people know books. I was in awe of their knowledge and was humbled that I had a book that they were interested in reading. Some had already read Sunny Side Up, and of course many had not. Several book sellers told me they were delighted by Sunny and devoured it in a day. They told me it was refreshing and funny and emotional.

I was stunned to tell you the truth.

It’s more vulnerable than I could have imagined to put a story into the world like this. It’s different than what I share on the internet. I am used to telling the truth and being vulnerable about myself, but this is a different thing. This is me pouring my heart into a book and hoping people like it. It is different from Body Talk, which was written in service to people. Sunny was written to inspire people, absolutely, but being new to the industry, it’s really nerve wracking to see how your work will be received!

So my lesson to myself is this: I am a writer, in more ways than one. And instead of just listing it as my occupation on some random government form, I’m not going to put it into practice and start saying it. That’s what I do with my other positive affirmations, so why not with this? Starting now.

xo

Katie