I am a writer.

Is this a manifesto?

Feb 05, 2026

Hi! I’m Keris. I’m an author writing about writing and books, music and films and TV, cats and life and food.

Earlier this year, I started reading A Year of Creative Thinking by Jessica Swale, a book of ‘daily inspirations for writers and artists’.

The first prompt was to write for two sides - by hand and with no censoring, editing or judgement. The first line was to be ‘I am a writer and, when I imagine myself writing, I…’

I wrote. And what I wrote surprised me. So I’m sharing it here.

I am a writer and, when I imagine myself writing…

I second-guess myself. Talk myself out of good ideas. Find reasons not to do it. I get stuck in planning and research, in editing or rewriting. In starting something new instead of finishing something that could be great if I let myself really try.

I am a writer who is still - after all these years - afraid to really be seen. Afraid to fail and afraid to succeed. I just heard Billy Crystal on a podcast say “It’s tough in the middle” and it made me laugh and it resonated, but I’m not even in the middle, am I? Sixteen years this year since I was first published and I’m still spinning my wheels, bowling with the bumpers up.

That changes this year.

I am a writer who writes.

I am a writer who writes for joy and with joy.

I am a writer who practices and studies and learns and grows.

I am a writer who rewrites. And edits. And SHIPS1.

I am a writer who finishes. And starts. And finishes and starts again.

I am a writer who is not afraid to be myself.

I am a writer who doesn’t worry about who is going to be reading.

I am a writer who has fun.

I am a writer who would - and did! and does! - write even if no-one is going to read.

I am a writer who wants readers.

I am a writer who wants readers who love what I write.

I am a writer.

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