Recently, during the course of a phone conversation with a good friend of mine, he shared with me that my name had come up in a conversation during a break at a meeting he was attending at the capitol building in Austin, Texas, where I was to be the keynote speaker. My friend told me that an attendee had asked him, regarding my attendance and speech at the meeting, “Who is this guy?” My friend went on to say that he had told them that I was a very mysterious person, and explained to me that he felt it would have been inappropriate to elaborate further, as he wanted to protect my privacy.
Our conversation led me to recall the times that I had overheard the same question discreetly posed about me by others in that very same building on numerous occasions; mostly during legislative sessions. It was as if a curtain had been drawn back to reveal a long lost work of art, or cultural artifact. The truth was that in my many years of writing about and researching various topics of importance to the voting public, I had never taken the time to ask myself that question: “Who is this guy?” Therefore, I asked myself, who am I? What single word could I use to inform people who I was, and would bestdescribe how I viewed myself?
I am not a lobbyist. I do not seek out the company of politicians to attempt to affect legislation for the benefit of a client. At times, you could say that I have advocated a particular position on various bills considered by the Texas Legislature, and have met with politicians, always trying to do my best to convince them that I held a position that they should agree with. I have spent plenty of my own money for my personal
travel expenses; it is too bad that average citizens do not get some kind of financial incentive to attend legislative sessions. Just one paid visit per legislative session would be fair to those who care about what happens in the Texas Legislature.
I am not a scientist. I have authored studies on important topics that required a scientific examination of data, evidence, and other types of information to arrive at conclusions. I also have made requests of various governmental bodies, and conducted extensive research and examinations of government information, in the capacity of what you would describe as a researcher. Over the years, it is my belief that a majority of people would equate the word researcher more easily with a scientist or doctor who might be working on a cure for cancer, or searching for the origins of the universe, than with a person who simply examined, and explained information in a simple manner.
Moreover, as such, the word "researcher" does not adequately describe the task I perform - permitting me to impact people,legislation, and society as a whole. Sure, I hold down a job like most average Americans. I work an average 14-hour workday, and often work seven days a week at the occupation that allows me to receive a regular paycheck. However, the title of this occupation does not fully describe who I am.
The fact is that I am a writer. I am not ashamed of this fact. The proper description for the type of writings that I have authored over the years would make me a non-fiction author. Much like Truman Capote, or many other writers for that matter, I do believe that some topics demand that you speak publicly about your writings. So long as I present the information that I share with the reader accurately, and in its proper context, I feel I am providing a valuable service to the reader. If I can cause the reader to examine the subject of my writing in greater depth, then I feel that I am doing a good job as a writer.
In conclusion, let me say that the time has come for me to accept my role in society, and use my ability, as a writer, to encourage others to be more involved in their state government.
So if anyone asks you who is William L. Castle, just say, “He’s a writer.”
