Simon Says... You Don't Need Permission to be a Writer.
We all have stories worth telling.
Welcome to Simon Says, a weekly newsletter from Rachel Simon about writing, not writing, and sort-of-, kind-of, I’m-putting-words-on-a-page-but-let’s-be-real-they’re-garbage writing. For current and aspiring writers, but everyone else is welcome, too.
In class earlier this week, one of my students asked me, “how do you give yourself permission to be a writer?” It’s a question others have asked me before, and that I know plenty of people struggle with. So here’s what I told her:
You don’t need to give yourself permission to be a writer, because if you write at all—for work, for fun, for self-care—you are a writer, plain and simple. Think about it: if you were in any other profession (except maybe medicine or law), you wouldn’t call yourself, like, an “aspiring accountant” or “aspiring salesperson.” It doesn’t matter if you’ve been published; as long as you’re putting in the work, you deserve the title.
I get where the self-doubt comes from, though. Writing (especially about your own life) can feel like an act of intimidating boldness, like you’re telling the world, “my story matters, and I demand that you hear it.” And if you don’t think you have a story worth telling, well, what would make you think that anyone else will care about it, either?
But the thing is, everyone has a story worth telling. No matter your age, or background, or career path, or anything else that might make you believe you don’t have what it takes. All that’s required is being a human being who’s experienced life, with all its love and loss and friendship and heartbreak and challenges and surprises. And if you choose to put those experiences to paper, then you’re a writer. No permission needed.
Work Updates:
There’s still time to sign up for my six-week class on personal essays and features in Raleigh! I’m really excited to teach this one.
For Travel & Leisure, I rounded up the most comfortable walking shoes on Amazon, and also spotlighted an extra-large beach tent that’s gotten tons of good reviews. And over on Real Simple, I researched the best tile and grout cleaners. Not glamorous, but that’s the job sometimes!
If you pre-order Pickleball for All, you can get yourself (or a friend) a free custom crossword puzzle. All the details are here.
I sold a few stories this week that I’m *so* excited to start writing, but I can’t talk about them yet. Soon!!
This Week in Pop Culture:
I watched the new black comedy Not Okay last weekend, and really enjoyed it—it’s a smart, effective satire that goes way deeper than the “influencer scammer story” label it’s been given. Keep an eye out for my interview with the director, Quinn Shephard, next week!
Kurt and I started Season 4 of Ozark, and I’m gonna be so bummed when we hit the finale soon. This show! So freakin’ good.
I’m currently reading (and absolutely loving) Gabrielle Zevin’s new novel, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I’ve been a fan of hers since her YA book Elsewhere, and am thrilled every time I get to dive into one of her worlds.
This Week’s Gratitude Moment:
I got a little *verklempt* the other day thinking about how exactly two years ago, Kurt proposed to me while we were visiting Raleigh, trying to decide if we liked it enough to uproot our lives in New York and move there. We’d spent the day (and the day before) looking at neighborhoods and houses in 90-degree heat, and by the evening we were exhausted, eating pizza and watching TV in our AirBnB. Yet it was somehow still the exact right time to propose, because we both knew that we were falling in love with the place that’d be our new home and the start of our new lives together. Just a perfect, special memory I’m so grateful to have.
Thanks for reading, friends. Take care,
Rachel
Happy Anniversary! What a great memory ❤
Have you seen "Nope" yet?
Love to you all!
Allie says woof! 🐾