The definition of writer is simple: it's someone who writes. So, by that definition if you are not writing (physical act) of writing, you are not a writer. To be fair, if you don't write on a regular basis, you are not a writer. If you do, you are a writer. How do you feel about that? I've long since grappled with what it means to call myself a writer. I'd ask: Do I need to be paid for my writing? Do I need to be seen and referred to as a writer? Do I need to be listed as a writer somewhere, have "writer" as my bio, my credential? Be an author of some said book? (Have you been asked, what have you written? How silly do we feel when we say, well, we have a blog. We keep a journal. ) But that's still writing, isn't it? Sometimes I think that writing is about how we think. Benefits of Keeping a Journal I often catch myself saying this: "I will have to journal about that later on." Journaling my writing has changed my life. If I hav