Identity as a Writer: What's Your Opinion?

Here are two takes on a writer's identity. Do you agree with either, both, or have a different opinion you'd like to share?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“We should write because it is human nature to write. Writing claims our world. It makes it directly and specifically our own. We should write because humans are spiritual beings and writing is a powerful form of prayer and meditation, connecting us both to our own insights and to a higher and deeper level of inner guidance.

We should write because writing brings clarity and passion to the act of living. Writing is sensual, experiential, grounding. We should write because writing is good for the soul. We should write because writing yields us a body of work, a felt path through the world we live in.

We should write, above all, because we are writers, whether we call ourselves that or not.”  
―     Julia Cameron
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR

“I am a person before I am anything else.  I never say I am a writer.  I never say I am an artist...I am a person who does those things.”  
―     Edward Gorey