Many people are writers from the moment they are born into this world. I’m one of those people. Writing is such a huge part of me that I can’t not write. It’s my strongest — and sometimes only — form of communication. I have a natural talent for putting my thoughts into written words, whether those thoughts are emotions or a story. When I first started writing, though, I did not have any technique. I remember my fifth grade teacher telling me to use less dialogue. I can remember another teacher later in life telling me that it was okay to use dialogue. Ever since that fifth grade teacher wrote in red pen on my story, I have been working on my technique.

The truth is, it’s not always easy to put those thoughts into words. Writers have a bad habit of assuming their readers will get the exact same idea that they have in their heads, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes a poor choice of words will spoil a poem’s message, or natural sarcasm will come through too strongly in a dark story and make it seem too light. We are constantly fighting to make our talent and technique work together and form a good piece of prose.

A lot of work goes into a story. Everything from the first sentence to the dialogue to characters to settings to details is important to the writer. Our goal is to make that idea in our heads be abundantly clear when it’s finally published. We are always working hard to graduate to the next level of Being a Writer. Personally, I see the levels as:

• Amateur Writer — A naturally talented writer who really has no idea what they are doing.
• Decent Writer — A naturally talented writer who is beginning to develop some decent technique.
• Good Writer — A naturally talented writer who has good technique.
• Great Writer — A naturally talented writer who has great technique.

I was an Amateur Writer for a long time, even after that pivotal moment in the fifth grade. I became a Decent Writer about a year ago when I wrote “Outlaw Love Story.” That was the first story I ever wrote with technique in mind, the first time I ever kept the first sentence and characterization heavily in mind while writing. Lately, I feel like I’m getting better with every short story I write.

Today I realized that I’m about to graduate to Good Writer. I was never a bad writer, per se. I just didn’t know much — or, let’s be honest, care much — about technique, especially as an Amateur Writer. That’s a normal thing for any amateur to do, though, no matter what your trade.

This is precisely why I want to purse writing seriously now. It’s always been in my blood, but after today, it’s even more so. After reading one of the stories I wrote this week, “A Maid’s Best Friend,” at my writers’ group today, the two group members I’ve been critiqued by the longest told me I’m getting good. Those three words — “You’re getting good” — gave me a high no drug or alcohol could ever give a person.

A year ago, when I realized I’d graduated to Decent Writer, I wondered how I’d know I was becoming a Good Writer. I wish I could go hug my year younger self and tell her that I’ll know, and it’ll be amazing.

What level do you think you’re at? Even if you’re not a writer, tell me where you think you are and how you knew when you got to that level.