I think chuck Wendig nailed it (again) in his post 25 Things I Want to Say to So-Called “Aspiring” Writers.
If you write, you’re a writer. If you don’t, you’re not. If you want to write but aren’t doing it, maybe then you can call yourself an aspiring writer. But if you’re doing the work, OWN it. If you’re dragging your ass out of bed early, fitting in a few sentences while the kids are sleeping, or maybe banging out five words at a time at stoplights*, you ARE a writer. Even if you’re unpublished. Even if nobody wants to read it. Even if those pages are going straight into a box under your bed, or into a bonfire.**
As always with Mr Wendig, language warning. But there’s nots of great advice here regarding things other than what we call ourselves. Worth a read.
http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012/02/21/25-things-i-want-to-say-to-so-called-aspiring-writers/
I also liked this:
“Self-publishing is a viable path. It is not, however, the easy path. Get shut of this notion. You don’t just do a little ballerina twirl and a book falls out of your vagina. (And if that does happen, please see a doctor. Especially if you’re a dude.) It takes a lot of effort to bring a proper self-published book to life. Divest yourself of the idea that it’s the cheaper, easier, also-ran path. Faster, yes. But that’s all.”
True words.
*Seriously, though, don’t do this.
**I also don’t like the term “baby writer” or anything else that sounds condescending to people who are newer at this. I think “novice writer” works. But that’s another topic.
disregard the prologue 
May 29th, 2014 at 11:57 am
Yesss I’m a writer 😛 thanks for sharing!
May 29th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
“You don’t just do a little ballerina twirl and a book falls out of your vagina.”
DYING. Wish it was that easy!
May 29th, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Right? If someone had told me how hard it was, I might never have started.
I’m glad no one told me. 🙂
May 29th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
I’m glad no one told you either! I’m still waiting for Shivva’s story. 🙂
May 29th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
That’ll be out in October, God willing. I have to get through this other release before I even think about that! 🙂
May 29th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
ARGHABLAHRJAHDAGAH
That was the noise I just made. 🙂
May 29th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
In a good way? O.o
May 29th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Haha. Yes! That was a noise of excitement.
May 29th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Excellent. It could have been a “WHADDYA MEAN, OCTOBER?” noise.
🙂
May 29th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Being dyslexic I can hesitate calling myself a writer. Even though I write every day–not that it’s always worth sharing,but still writing is my life. Thanks for she this helpful reminder! 🙂
May 29th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
I prefer ‘apprentice’ to aspiring. It has better connotations.
May 29th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Works for me! Apprentice acknowledges the hard work a person is doing, the time and effort they’re putting into their education.