Editor’s Note: Conversations spark ideas. Field Notes are what happens next. They’re not a transcript or a recap—they’re my reflections on the ideas that stayed with me after we pulled away from The Publisher’s Desk. Conversations explore ideas. Field Notes capture what was worth remembering.
The Publisher’s Desk · Conversation 004 | Alex Searle of A Thousand Ways In and I talk about creative identity, self-validation, and why doing the work matters more than looking the part.
📓 Field Note 004
During Conversation 004, Alex Searle told me he’s working on his first poetry collection.
He’s writing, submitting his work, and figuring out the publishing world as he goes and somewhere in our conversation, we started talking about what it means to actually BE a writer.
Alex brought up the romanticized image of writers like Hemingway and Mary Oliver.
Then there’s Alex.
Writing with his laptop propped up on a microwave. 😂
Does that make him any less of a writer than someone sitting in the Caribbean drinking whiskey?
Of course not, but isn’t it funny how we build these pictures of what a writer is supposed to look like?
The published author. The award winner. The person with the book deal.
And until we look like that, we hesitate to claim the title.
Meanwhile, we’re already doing the damn work.
BE + DO = HAVE
I shared a philosophy during our conversation:
BE + DO = HAVE.
BE: See yourself as a writer.
DO: Write. Practice. Publish. Keep learning.
HAVE: A growing body of work, stronger skills, and opportunities that come from doing the work.
Notice what’s missing?
Permission.
You don’t need a book deal, a thousand subscribers, or someone else’s approval to begin taking yourself seriously and you don’t need the comments section to decide whether your work was worth creating.
Feedback can help you improve, but feedback shouldn’t get to decide who you are.
Stop Moving The Goalpost
Here’s what I want you to think about.
What would have to happen for you to finally feel comfortable calling yourself a writer?
A hundred subscribers?
A thousand?
A published book?
And when you reach that milestone, will it be enough?
Or will you immediately invent another requirement?
Because you can spend your entire writing life waiting for the next achievement to make it official or you can recognize what you’re already doing.
You can be a writer who’s still learning how to become a better writer.
Alex doesn’t have every answer about publishing his poetry collection.
He doesn’t need to. He’s doing the work.
Sometimes that’s what being a writer looks like.
A laptop, a microwave, and the willingness to keep going.
→ You don’t need permission to call yourself a writer.
You need to write.
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Conversation 004 Takeaway
→ You don’t need someone else’s permission to call yourself a writer.
A book deal, an award, or a subscriber milestone might open doors, but none of them decides whether you’re a writer.
If you’re doing the work, start giving yourself credit for it. 👑
BE + DO = HAVE. See yourself as a writer. Do the work. Let the results follow.
Continue The Conversation
Thank you for pulling up a chair at The Publisher’s Desk.
If today’s conversation sparked a new idea or perspective, I’d love for you to continue the conversation by sharing your biggest takeaway in the comments.
↑ Listen to Conversation 004 of The Publisher’s Desk: You Don’t Need Permission to Call Yourself A Writer
One of my favorite parts of The Publisher’s Desk is introducing you to thoughtful people whose work I genuinely admire.
I’m super grateful that Alex’s one of the first guests to pull up a chair at The Publisher’s Desk.
About Alex Searle
Thank you so much to everyone who tuned into our Live!
I appreciate you spending part of your day with us and to everyone watching the replay, thank you for being here too! 💜
Follow Alex’s work at 1000 Ways In →
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Thank You
Thank you so much for everyone who tuned into this live, your presence is truly appreciated, and to the people who are watching the replay, thank you!
-Jess, The Creator & Alex Searle
