I have for some time now fancied myself a writer. And it's pitiful, in light of the number of years I've invested in the craft, that I still hesitate to claim the title.

It just feels immediately pretentious. "I'm a writer." But it also feels good. I'm told by older and wiser writers that I should take ownership of it. If that's what you love, and that's what you do, then that's what you are. Or something along those lines.

So occasionally, in so many words, I'm able to cling the name to my chest with uncertain, half-smiled admittance.

If you're a writer, you write for "fun." That's tacky. That's demeaning probably. If you're a writer, you write, and it is often (sometimes?) fun.

Let me start over: If you're a writer, you write without any duress. I don't think that I'm of that league that says, "I write because I must; to write is to exist." But I do think that I fall somewhere just behind that, with "I write because it makes sense ... almost," or, "I write because it makes me feel."

Still, sometimes, I write because I'm told to or asked to. In the last week alone I've been told or asked to write a number of different projects.

Some were obviously for class. I was asked to write a seven-page memoir for a class that concerns my college years. I was asked to write a sermon based on Mark 1:16-35. I was asked to write the first five pages in a play about a man who talks to his heater. I was asked to write a blog post every week about my experience writing it.

I was told to write an article or two for the school newspaper. These ended up being about the closing of a local pizza parlor and the booking of an award-winning rap artist.

A friend contacted me about helping out with a film he was writing. "Can you write me a letter from a girl's POV? She's giving it to a guy. She's breaking up with him. She cheated. They live far away from each other. She's young, early 20s. Confused. She's letting him go."

I was asked to write questions for a game show my friend was crafting.

I was asked to write a top 10 list of my favorite movies in 2015.

I was asked to write responses to countless text messages.

I was asked to write in a tip on a receipt at Waffle House.

I was asked to write down my dreams.

I was asked to write a sketch for a recruiting event on my campus.

I was asked to write about how the university theater department could better serve me.

I was asked to write a thank-you letter to a church pastor in Alabama.

And I like this. I like being commissioned to create. No matter how big or small or bland the task, I'm glad to be asked to put pen to paper, or fingers to keys.

(Oh yeah, and I was asked to write this post).