Yay, Nancy!! I am optimistic for you, too! And Emily, it's great to meet you!

I'm not a writer either, though I was an editor of my high school paper and used to write poetry when I was a teenager (I think it takes a certain amount of angst to get the creative juices flowing!). But when I find a topic I'm passionate about, I can write volumes. Which explains the long-winded style posts you see here from me. Same goes with my mommy board, I'll take the time to write a long post when someone's asking questions about things like strollers or extended rear-facing car seats or extended breastfeeding or kids with reflux. Or mommy fashion!

By the way, where's Claire? She needs to pipe up as the comedic writer of this gang! In fact I would love to have an anthology of the Chronicles in Fashion Adventures from everyone here at YLF. If everyone contributed an essay or two, wouldn't that be a fascinating read!

If I spend a huge portion of time writing grant proposals and scientific papers, teaching writing to undergrads and graduate students, serving as the liaison between our department and the writing across the curriculum program on campus, and writing hundreds of emails each week, does that mean I'm a writer?! I'm constantly telling students that being a scientist is all about writing, so I guess I am a writer.

Very interesting thread! Like sarah, writing is a big part of my job, and it is scientific/technical writing (grants, papers, lecture notes, reports etc.). I am not a native English speaker so technical or somewhat formulaic writing is easier for me than other forms of writing, including forum comments. I also do a lot of "teaching students how to write" and editing.

I read an essay a long time ago about how blog writing or forum posting is a good way to warm up for serious writing and/or to get over writer's block. So this is my excuse for posting here when I get stuck in the middle of a paragraph!

Makrame, as a scientist, you'll be happy to know that research in composition studies does indeed indicate that any kind of writing feeds any other kind of writing, and the best medicine for a block is to write something unrelated. Just write.

Sarah, you are certainly a writer!

GP, I would love to read that anthology, too. Maybe Inge can take charge of the project, Angie can write a brilliant foreword, and we can solicit contributions! I'd be looking for Claire's for sure. She is hilarious!

And your posts show that medicine and writing often go hand in hand. It is amazing the number of doctor/writers there have been over the centuries.

Business and technical writer here. Which is vastly different from a journalist, article writer, blogger, and computer programmer no matter what people seem to think! LOL.

My teacher in high school thought I could do creative writing, but I don't have ideas like that. There's nothing I want from words in that vein. Which I find interesting. You have to know who you are.

So true, Rachylou, and the world needs many different kinds of writers.

Having said that, you have a DISTINCT talent for comedic writing which often shows itself here on the forum (and we are very lucky indeed to enjoy it!)

Yep! Freelance copywriter (presently mostly toys; Barbie, Hot Wheels, assorted fan boy action figures) as well as creative writing - screenplays, fiction, blogs.

I've been working on a memoir for too long, but recently took a break because I was tired of the subject.

Wow, so much talent here, yay!

And I hope this is not out of line (please delete this post if it is) -- but my company is often looking for freelance writers to write technically-oriented magazine articles (software, hardware, more market-y than white papers). So message me if you are interested

Guilty as charged. I am a journalist and author of a large brood of books and another on the way (if it sounds awfully similar to pregnancy - well, it is). And it looks like I'm in very good company here! I knew about a bunch of you but am surprised at just how many of us there are.

And now Angie, you must out yourself as a writer.

Well I'm not a writer, but I LOVE to write here on YLF. I love to talk too! Maybe that has something to do with it. Just like playing with musicians better than me brings out the best of my musical abilities, writing on this forum has raised the bar for my writing and given me a wonderful, supportive place in which to communicate. Thank you Suz and everyone else!

What's a "formula romance?"

Claire, you really have a gift for comedic writing. I love reading your posts. : )

Have been writing stories since childhood. In college took a diversion into languages (majored in Japanese) but eventually ended up in New York City getting my MFA in Creative Writing. I have had short stories published in small literary mags (though it's been years and years). Now I'm writing the first draft of a novel. It is very very very very very hard, and daunting. But oftentimes fun.

I would love to write personal essays and other creative non-fiction, and in theory blog writing sounds like an amazing platform, though I know for a fact that keeping up with it frequently is incredibly time-consuming.

Mochi (Nancy) I am working on a novel, too, and my first published book is creative nonfiction (a memoir in essays). I also write poetry. High five!

Claire, you ARE a writer. Everyone here knows it!!! And we all love your writing.

Yay, Laura!! So glad you popped up to say hi!

Tara, hello!!

And CCiele, that might be helpful to someone; thanks!

Congrats on your book, Suz. Fantastic accomplishment.

Suz! Congrats! That's amazing

I agree that there are exquisite writers on this forum. And hilarious too! It blows my mind how crisp and eloquent so many of you are. And Inge's English writing skills are out of this world - English is nowhere near her first language! Very talented lady

(Laura, I am so not a writer. Calling myself a writer would be the same as saying that I have casual bohemian style! - although I write all the time. I know, I know, it makes little sense).

Suz, I do not like to write at all. Never have, and hold absolutely no interest in developing the skill. If I didn't need to write, I wouldn't. I am so not a words person. I am not at all eloquent, and my command of the English language is very average at best. But I love to yak, so I just write blog posts and comments as if I was yakking with you. Sometimes it works well, and sometimes it works less well. It all just is what it is!

Angie, you do not give yourself enough credit. Writing as if you are talking to your friends is a special skill and not everyone possesses it. And it is perfect for the medium of a blog. Blogs can be like letters, and I think that is a large part of their appeal. As we write and receive fewer letters in the regular post, we still crave the intimacy of a thoughtful and funny and genuine voice and the wisdom of those who have something of value to impart. You have all that and more.

I am not explicitly a writer by profession or degree, but I do write and edit quite a bit. I wrote a LOT creatively when I was younger, short stories and poetry in my teens, song lyrics in my teens and 20s. I learned about technical writing when working on my Computer Science degree, and had to do plenty of that style writing both for school and since in my professional work. I have written a few short papers about my work, as well as for several presentations and conferences.

In addition, my dad spent 11 years working on his PhD and I was his editor through it all; the final work is two volumes, with 500+ pages of text and 200+ pages of images with plenty of text to go along with 'em (SO much editing). And I do ALL the editing here in the office for all manner of documents, from email to publications to announcements and beyond.

(Oh I also have my blog, where I write I suppose ^^)

I don't know if technical writing counts, but that's most of what I do for work. I also have a book and serve as an associate journal editor. Being a scientist is actually mostly writing and expressing your thoughts in written form.

Another professional writer and editor here--formerly a university press acquisitions editor, now working freelance. Interesting thread!

Aida, this comes as no surprise to me. Your excellent eye for detail must make you superb editor. And your creativity is obvious to all of us from your outfits!

Well, I've done my share of it in the past. I'm afraid I'm not as effective or concise as I once was! Undergraduate degree in mass communication, including some journalism, and masters in publication design, which is really a program of writing and design. I went into the program as more of a writer and came out a designer. Originally, when I completed my bachelors degree, I planned to go to law school but changed my mind.

I was a publications coordinator for an independent school years ago -- I wrote, edited, designed, and photographed all the school's newsletters, alumni magazine, annual reports, etc. I've also done a lot of ad copy and broadcast writing, which is a whole other animal! I also served on the editorial board of an arts journal, which I also designed and copy edited.

But recently, the most writing I've done is artist statements and blog postings! I definitely feel a bit rusty. I always enjoyed copy editing more, somehow.

Velma and LoP - wow, you too! Velma, are you at liberty to disclose the press? And LoP, technical writing definitely counts!

Oh, I feel so humble in the presence of so many talented writers on YLF. Unfortunately I struggle with writing. I don't know if this is because English is not my native language: I loved to write when I was at school and university. Now however I often struggle with expressing my thoughts here. So many times I begin to write a response, then read it, delete everything and do not comment at all. Hopeless, I am just hopeless...:-(

*waving my hand* I'm a medical writer.

Sveta, you may be more of a writer than you suppose! I have a friend who is an artist; he has a saying: Artists are the untalented ones. Meaning that they are the ones who really have to work for everything they do. It never comes easily.

Writing and deleting...I do it too, all the time. Both on the boards and in my professional and personal work. It is part of the process. The difference is the persistence...it is sort of like building a good wardrobe, in fact.

In any case, I think you express yourself beautifully both in words and in your outfits! We are all lucky to have you here in ANY language.

I feel silly raising my hand as a writer in this talented group, but I will anyway! I enjoy writing mainly for my own benefit as it helps me make sense of what I am thinking and learning.

Suz, you are too kind. I know what you friend means: I read somewhere that talent is 10% gift and 90% work... But I am afraid I am hopeless: even at work I prefer to walk to a person and talk to him rather than write email
BTW, I need to read some of your books. It is so fascinating: I have never met a writer before...:-)

No wonder I love reading YLF with so many writers here! I will choose a nice texty thread over a pictures rich thread any read.

I am not a writer, though like many of you I studied English - literature in my case (and did honours in history) so I have done my fair share of essay writing. I do public speaking on the odd occasion, and writing the talks, or MC stuff is about as far as I go.

I would like to be able to express myself better on YLF, and not be so brief. I compose an awful lot of responses in my head as I go about my day that never actually get written!

Oh YES! LOVE to write! I'm just not disciplined to do it regularly - except when I take creative writing classes - then I am becuase I feel pressure to submit work each week. I love writing short stories and poetry - have also started on a novel, but I'm sick of the main character right now, so I've taken a break - and am back to writing poetry. Writing is absolutely one of my favorite things to do - I don't know what I'd do with myself if I couldn't write!