I am a writer. It is a simple, declarative statement and all that anyone needs to know about me. I do not write in hopes of making a great deal of money or because it makes me happy or even because I am good at it; I write because it is who I am. I write to breathe. I write to connect and, not only to others, but also myself, I write to grow, I write to be. Writing as a professional gamer, however, is not simply about writing anymore. Maybe it was never as simple as just sitting down to write, but today it is about marketing, brands and platforms, publicity, readings and so much more. It makes my head spin!
When I was attending graduate school there were people who always participated in student readings. In two years, I only participated in two. The first was to prepare for my required Senior Reading and the second was the actual Senior Reading. When people would ask, I would say, “I’m a writer, not a reader.” Of course that statement in and of itself is absurd. I am a voracious reader, any writer has to be. What I meant was, I don’t read my own work, I don’t read aloud, let me go sit in back and please do not notice me, typing away, head down. I want to be an invisible lol champion.
