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Thursday, April 05, 2007A Silly DistinctionJust a brief rant on a too-chilly Thursday: If you've spent any time hanging out at writers' communities online or reading the blogs of folks involved with the publishing industry at any level, you will sometimes discover a conversation on the difference between "author" and "writer." Aspiring novelists actually debate which one they should call themselves. Some people claim that one can only be called an "author" after one has been officially published. Tada! You get another bar on your collar. You're a full-fledged AUTHOR now! Oh, please. If one plays the piano, one is a pianist. If he graduates from college and starts playing professionally, he is a...pianist. It doesn't even get a capital "P." Now, if you're writing just to amuse yourself, or just to record memories for your children, or just because you don't know how to type, then you are certainly not an "author." (Though you may, of course, be considered the "author" of your family memoirs.) But if you are writing seriously; if you are slaving away at your first or second or twelfth novel; if you are actively pursuing publication while continuing to hone your craft in all ways possible -- well, if you want to call yourself an "author," you go right ahead. Foo on the elitists. Anyway, I once made the mistake of introducing myself as an "aspiring author" to a gal at our church who is a published novelist. Her response? She invited me to attend her upcoming writing classes. (Yes, I wanted to kick her.) Aside from the fact that her response was not only presumptuous, but rude (did I ask her for help? did I mention that I needed a writing class?), she obviously took the word "aspiring" to mean that I was trying to be an author. What I really meant is that I was trying to become published. There's a world of difference there. (Are you wondering what I think she should have responded instead? How about something like, "That's great! What do you write?" or, "How lovely to meet another writer," or, simply, "How nice.") So. I write. I take it seriously. And the next time someone asks me, I won't add the word "aspiring" to it (which sounds too close to "perspiring" at any rate). Are you an "author" or a "writer?" Be both, or be either. You won't get any grief from me. Labels: writing |
About Me
I am: Mother to five stunningly individualistic children... Writer of young adult fantasy... Passionate advocate for Women At Home... Madly in love with my husband... In need of Organic Gourmet Chocolate on a regular basis. I've got a Paypal account if you'd like to contribute to the cause....
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2of my readers are feeling chatty:
I'm either a writer or a novelist. And I have a pretty successful blog, too. (I like adding that last part; it's a good way to invite people to join in)
Now if only the publication part were as easy as the way we label ourselves!
Author! Author!
Me? I'm a book-word-typing-into-sentences-guy_what spells-goodlyish
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