I wouldn't call myself a writer, but I do love writing. Coffee, music and writing are three of my favourite things.

Although I don't have formal training or expertise - writing is like water to me. I can't explain it, but I can hardly go a day or two without writing. If I'm on vacation without my laptop, I've got paper journals in my bag. I have banker's style boxes in my basement full of journals and notebooks.

I'm glad you asked this question Suz - in deciding whether to respond to this post, I'm hit with the realization that this is what I've been doing all along, no matter what's going on in my life.

Ok...now what????

Fiction "writer" - I have two mystery novels in first draft, which have been left languishing for the last few years.
I get so frustrated by being a beginner. And when I read amazing novels. Do you all know the Ira Glass quote? (Maybe it applies to fashion as well...)

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work."

What a fascinating thread and great question to ask Suz! Definitely not a writer here but I have a big love and appreciation for the writings and words of others, pursuing this up to a Ph. D. in literature (French). I do have to write a lot (mostly in other languages) and always enjoy it when people not only dress creatively here but also express themselves beautifully in this forum.

Ahh . . . Fern, thank you for sharing that quote!

I'll add my name to the list. I've always been a "writer" (a long list of first drafts and otherwise unfinished long and short stories) - but have recently begun to actively pursue actually being a writer, which for me means finishing projects and searching out paths to publication.

Yep, lots of writers on YLF, myself included. I have a degree in journalism and started working as a reporter and columnist when I was 23. I also did PR and marcomm for a global aerospace company and have owned a marketing/advertising firm for the past 13 years where I'm still cranking out copy.

There really are a lot of us here.

I think those of us who post repeatedly all pretty much like the writing process, Suz my dear!

I'm not a professional writer. I did well at analytical writing in high school and university, however, and it's one of those skills that comes in handy in lots of disciplines and careers. Even though I majored in biology, and then ended up teaching science, I found myself writing an awful lot, both at school and later at my job.

While we're on the topic, can we start a support group for punctuation and usage freaks? I have no problem with typos, but I can barely restrain myself when I see an "it's" that does not require an apostrophe, or a wrong word, as in "baited breath" or "sneaking a peak". No one likes a stickler. I need a 12-step program!

Yep, journalist here. Started in newspapers and wire service, but fairly quickly went to magazines--been there ever since. 29 years and no end in sight. It's the best job in the world.

Elisabeth, here's a photo just for you - of a framed poster for sale at my local Home Goods recently. I just had to grab a pic after I groaned at it.

Funny, I still have a hard time saying "I'm a writer" with a straight face, even though I have gotten paid for it. Something about the image of a writer seems too arty and impractical to me - but enough of my issues. Back in the day I was a tech writer for software companies; now I do freelance work and am working on both nonfiction and fiction. In fact, I just got some good news this week that I was asked to join a group of local journalists who will be reporting on SF arts and culture events. I'm looking forward to it, and nervous at the same time, since my background is in tech and academia.

By the way, anyone can feel free to correct my grammar. I used to be a stickler, but after living so long abroad I don't even know what is right anymore. Sometimes I don't even know what order words should go in.

Aaaaaaa! Laura! You're making my eyelid twitch! Must -- scan -- into -- Photoshop -- and -- fix -- sign....

Scarlet, same goes for me. Although my fingers itch to fix other people's errors when I see them, I make my own all the time. Note to everyone: please feel free to correct me when I make a glaring mistake! I am not proud!

Suz, thanks for being a honey.

While it's an understandable eye sore for some to read grammatical mistakes and typos, please remember that there are plenty of people on this forum who are not writing in their mother tongue. It's impresses me no end how well those forum members express themselves in English, and I would never want to discourage that.

LOL Angie, that wasn't a criticism of other people, it was a criticism of myself! I twitch internally when I see goofs, even when I know there's a good reason. And even though I make plenty of goofs myself. I wish there were a "relax and enjoy the ride" filter that I could put on.

ETA: Aaaaand I just caught your deliberate typo. You have a sly and dry sense of humour! Thanks for the best joke of the evening.

Off to bed now for me!

Ah, that is an interesting tip to write about something else when you are stuck. I will give that a try next time. The truth is I have to write a lot for my work (technical writing). I just find it painful. Terribly painful. I love to read though.

Hmm, well if Angie is not a writer she is certainly a fantastic communicator.

Jumping in late: I am a writer too.

I suppose I am as well, in a sense, as I've spent the last 10 years or so writing first my MA thesis and then my PhD, plus assorted papers and presentations along the way. I do a bit of freelance editing, too, although I don't have any formal training so it has mainly been friends of friends who need help with their English.

This does seem like a great networking opportunity for all of us who are interested in writing and editing, though! Is anybody else looking for a job, or do they know someone who is looking for an editor/writer? Seems like we have a good pool of people to draw on!

Oh Elisabeth, I need that support group too! Especially when I'm on Facebook.

I say this even though I know errors slip through in my posts all the time. I mostly log in here on my iPad, and autocorrect is often helpful, but sometimes definitely not!

Not a writer, but I enjoy writing. Apart from the assignments for my final module for my degree - if I didn't have to grapple with Actor-Network Theory and difficult psychoanalytic and sociological ideas and perspectives at the same time as writing, I'd be fine!

I haven't had my coffee yet and fear that inevitably I'm leaving people out, but per Angie's latest comment, I wanted to say that for example, Inge's and Astrid's command of English--not just technically correct, but completely natural and comfortable and "native"-sounding--is truly astonishing.

Okay, Angie, I need to perform an intervention here. Perhaps it's our definitions of "writer" that differ. In my mind: You write, therefore you are a writer. And I would venture to guess that 1) You write more than a lot of people who call themselves writers actually do; and 2) You are read by many more people too!!

You know I say this with all the best warmest fuzziest feelings for you, my fellow writer Angie. xoxo

p.s. Writing as you speak is called "voice" and some writers struggle for years to find it. You are blessed with the gift of gab and it translates directly to the written word. Another clue that you are a writer! Welcome to the club.

MaryK already did the shout out to us lawyers - thanks! I feel like being more casual and abbreviated here because I write and speak to people all day long. This is a release for me so I think it's okay to be short and sweet the occasional typo or grammar mistake.

The sheer amount of talent on the YLF forum - writing and other - never ceases to amaze me. It's just brilliant!

Thank you, Laura, for the "Angie intervention", I was about to do the same thing. We are on the same page here!-)

Angie: I agree 200% with Laura's definition of "writer", and everything else in her very astute comment. Finding your voice can be very hard, and many writers would kill to sound as natural and engaging as you. You also have a knack for explaining concepts clearly and concisely - also not as easy as it sounds.

I write magazine articles, and work as an editor, copywriter and (book) translator.
And recently I started contributing to YLF as well;-)

- Thank you Nancy and Angie, your comments mean a lot to me.
- Suz and Natalie: I would definitely read that anthology:-)

I guess I'm a writer, too, although my oficial job titles are teacher/translator.

I teach academic writing skills at the university level and I translate documents (mostly academic research, but I have done a bit of everything) from Italian to English.

I have a degree in journalism and worked briefly both in radio journalism and print advertising. I have two blogs (both in momentary hibernation, due to time constraints) and I write travel/cultural tidbit articles for an Italian travel agency's blog.

Maybe it's not that writers are necessarily connected to fashion, but that people who write are attracted to the conversational, expressive nature of this site/forum. I love that this is a place where ideas about fashion are discussed. In addition to trends, brands, and outfits, Angie asks us to think about what fashion means on so many levels. That's what gives this site an edge up on the thousands of other fashion blogs, in my opinion.

Laura and Inge-i had same convo w Angie

A while back. We will get thru eventually.

smiling @ Elisabeth :). You crack me up.

Scarlet, thank you.

Laura, Inge and Steph, luckily all those years of standing in the corner in primary school for being an *incessant chatterbox* did not have it's desired effect. My late Mum always said: "Angelique is niet op haar mondje gevallen" - which translated from Dutch means "Angelique did not fall on her mouth". I'll give you that much sweet Laura, Inge and Steph - I can gab with the best of them. (Hugs to you),

I'm pretty good in Spanish. English, not so much!

Fun and interesting thread, Suz! Angie, you are *so* a writer--a very gifted one at that! Just thinking about your tribute posts, to your Mum for example, gives me a little chill. You manage to accurately convey your personal warmth and expertise through your writing, and you touch people and help them move forward with their own goals. I mean, what more could a writer ask for?

I am a writer/scholar as part of my job as a professor at a research university. A very big part of my job is writing, and reading/editing others' writing. Writing is absolutely my favorite part of the job (vs. teaching and the dreaded service obligations to the department), and defines who I am.

I'm pretty sure that if you write for a living, you are a writer, whether or not you like the process.

Which writer was it who famously said that he didn't like writing, but he liked having written? It's a good quote, and probably rings true for a lot of people.

In any case, Angie, you are a very good writer, despite your insistence that you don't like to do it. We wouldn't enjoy your blog so much if it wasn't this awesome!

Wow! Just checking back this afternoon and I am floored by the number of responses! I KNEW there were a lot of us here, but had no idea how very many! Saretta, I think you make an excellent point; it is probably that those of us who write particularly appreciate the conversational atmosphere here. I know that is a huge part of the draw for me, personally. Especially conversing with so many stylish and thoughtful women!

I couldn't agree more about Angie being a true writer (whether she thinks she's one or not!)

Janet, I'm not at all surprised to learn that you are as experienced with words as with images.

Marley, somehow I knew you must write fiction!

Lisa, yay for medical writers!! (I come from a medical family and so feel a kinship with that profession, too, and can imagine enjoying medical writing if I did it.)

Velvety Chocolate...I love that this post got you thinking about your commitment to writing. I say, if it is something that you always do through all your changes, then it really does seem to be a genuine part of you. What to do with that knowledge is hard to say, but I guess I'd ask...do you want to go more public? If so, you might start thinking about how.

Fern, I LOVE that quote; it is so so true. And we're all, always, beginners.

Girl X: you GO!! Crossing fingers that you publish something soon, and please let us know!

Kate and Kyle: Yay!! You, too!!

Elisabeth, I know what you mean. I have a friend who made some funny fridge magnets about her grammar obsessions. She calls the series: Why Editors Have No Friends: http://www.sarahleavitt.com/ca.....o-friends/

(Of course I share her obsession, so I'm still her friend...) But I also sympathize with our members who are writing in a second (or third) language and think they ROCK!!

Rhubarbgirl (Laura) congratulations!! So happy for you, and I know this is going to be an exciting development.

Krish, waving happily at you!!

Mander: academic writing certainly counts.

Laura and Inge, you are our two most visible professional writers here! We're lucky to have you grace the forum.

Jonesy, I love what you say here: Writing is my favourite part of the job and defines who I am. High five!