humility

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A page I follow on IG posted a poll asking what type of writing one does (script, poem, novel, etc...) and I selected novels, He reached out to me and told me he does a podcast and asked when I would be free for him to have me on as an interviewee. I told him I'm not a professional writer, I have just self-published. He said it's for writers from writers, so I'd be fine. I thought about it but declined, saying I was thankful for the opportunity, but that I'd never wanted to be interviewed (which is true). He was gracious and told me thanks for not leaving him hanging. But the main reason I said so is that I'm not a writer with a capital W.

I write the same way a musician who plays in a garage band plays music: it's nice, and I have a few fans, but it's nothing I do for a living. This has nothing to do with talent or a lack thereof, but more of a recognition about my own limits. Honestly, what do I know about writing that professionals or professors couldn't teach? Not a damn thing. Writing is a part of who I am, but it's not all I am. (And just so we're clear, I also don't identify as a slot technician; it's work and it pays the bills and I'm fairly good at it, but it's just one facet of me)

There's nothing wrong with being aware of your own limits and your tiny place in this world we live in, and at close to 50 years on this mudball I've made a nihilistic peace with that. Humility, as they say, is a virtue.

VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
fullfeeling:
I agree that it's a fine (and highly underated) thing to know your limits.   But... "what do I know about writing that professionals or professors couldn't teach?"  You don't know.  You can't.  Because you don't know what people haven't heard or what they need to hear.  And maybe what they need is something that a pro simply can't have by nature of being a pro.  It might be fascinating or validating or just interesting for other writers to hear from this exact perspective - someone who's skilled, but not a pro with no pro aspirations.  Who just loves doing it.  Maybe like them.  Maybe to help them see that that's alright, that they should or could be like that.  Maybe to help them focus on doing it for the love.  I'm an architect, and I try to talk about architecture with non-architects as much as a I can because they live architecture differently than I can with all I know and do, and I don't want to lose touch with that.  Your perspective is consistently more valuable than you think.  it doesn't need to be earthshattering to be so.  The humility is valuable in itself for itself.  Oh shit, this is getting recursive!
fredhincanada:
I agree with @fullfeeling . I'd like to point out that I often define and refine my skill and knowledge when being forced to confront it in unusual circumstances or with non-conventional conversations.  It's what can make an amateur transform into a professional.

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