Establishing Your Writer Identity

At its core, being a writer is about, well, writing. But for those who want to be professional writers in some capacity — whether that’s as a journalist, novelist, game designer, etc. — it’s beneficial to determine what your niche is. This a tricky activity because it can feel like you’re putting yourself in a box, but professional creatives know that having some limitations can actually inspire better ideas and earn you opportunities that excite you and play to your strengths.

Think of this as your “writer identity”: who are you as a writer? What kind of storytelling do you gravitate toward? If you’re new to writing as a profession or creative endeavor, this sounds trickier than it is. You might still be experimenting and learning what you truly enjoy!

Guillermo del Toro films have a very distinct “mood.”

The easiest way to start is to think of a writer/artist who has such a distinct style that you can always identify their creative personality in their work. Filmmakers are great for this because their visual medium makes it easier to spot their aesthetic. One person that comes to mind often for me is Guillermo del Toro, who is one of my favorite filmmakers because of his unique style. To me, del Toro’s work tends to be somewhat dark, atmospheric, imaginative, and epic. This doesn’t mean that every project he does is exactly the same: two of my favorite films of his, “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “Pacific Rim,” couldn’t be more different, but they share what I expect from a del Toro project, which is an unconventional idea, an element of magic/surrealism, and a vibrant color palette.

You can apply the same thought process to yourself! Your writer identity encompasses one or more of the following:

The tone/mood of your work
The genres that you think define your work
The medium you write in most often
Themes/motifs that you like to explore

I’ll share my own as a fiction and tabletop RPG writer just to give you an example.

Tone/mood: I gravitate toward writing stories that are moody and atmospheric. I focus a lot on setting and details that make a story feel immersive.
Genres: Fantasy and speculative fiction are the genres that my work fits the most. Within those genres, I enjoy writing contemporary fabulism or using real-world locations as the backdrop for fantastical ideas.
Medium: I write one-shot adventures and short stories. I prefer writing prose-focused stories and adventures that focus on narrative.
Themes: Most of my work features women as the main characters. I like to write stories that are dark in theme and challenge the characters to embark on a journey that changes them in some profound way. I often pull from fairy tales and mythology for inspiration.

Why Having a Writer Identity Helps You

When you’re seeking writing opportunities, it’s to your benefit to be able to succinctly summarize you and your work. Sometimes writers feel like they have to be good at every form of writing, and that’s simply not true. It’s OK to only say yes to the projects that inspire and excite you!

I was recently approached by someone who wanted to commission me to write flavor text for their RPG project. This is a perfect project for me because it allows me to delve into mood and prose, rather than the more mechanical aspects of game design.

Having a clear writer identity helps you set and meet achievable goals because you know who you are creatively and what projects are best suited to your creative style.