Comments on: What Makes a Writer?

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:10:29 +0000

I think there’s a subset of people in every profession (or hobby, for that matter) who look down on others who don’t have the same practices or standards. They’re just snobs. I know their attitude bothers a lot of people and I’ve even heard writers complaining about them or letting them hinder progression toward some goal. Me? I just ignore them

Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..A Story for a Song

By: --Deb

--Deb — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:14:43 +0000

Of course, this is just the flip side of “You can be anything you want to be.” I’m willing to acknowledge a difference between professional and amateur standing. Until you’re earning your living (or at least making “decent” money, even if not a living wage), you’re an amateur–whether it’s writer, photographer, whatever. But that doesn’t take away the fact that you write, photograph, run, design, bake, knit, sew….

–Deb’s last blog post..What Makes a Writer?

By: Friar

Friar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:02:06 +0000

If you’re a doctor, engineer, or chemist, it’s easy to define your profession. It implies that you’ve obtained a minimum certification, from an acredited university or college.

Whereas with the arts, it’s a more grey definition.

Writer. It can mean you’re a world-renowned Nobel Prize winning author. Or maybe you’re someone who just likes to jot things down in their diary.

Same thing applies to artist, painter, photographer, sculptor, woodworker, etc.

Hey, I have a garden. I’m a horticulturist and landscape architect.

Hey, I ran a 10 km race. So I’m an athlete.

You can pretty much be anything you want, nowadays.

I had a friend who considered themself a “Professional” photographer, because they took hundreds of photos each vacation (after which the photos sat in a box for years).

Suuuure….of COURSE you are!

When they say this, I try not to roll my eyes and I compliment them. If it makes them feel happy..whatever…

Friar’s last blog post..My Favorite Touron (*) Moments

By: --Deb

--Deb — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:39:37 +0000

That’s the tricky part–you can spend hours every day doing nothing but writing, but until you’re being paid for it, “outsiders” are never going to consider you a writer. If you say, “I’m a writer,” at your high school reunion, the first question is going to be, “What do you write?” If you want to sound convincing, you need a better answer than, “Well, I have a blog.” That’s why we writers have to stick together–whether we’re paid authors yet, or not!

–Deb’s last blog post..What Makes a Writer?

By: Writer Dad

Writer Dad — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:34:33 +0000

My wife and I were just discussing this yesterday. I’ve only been writing for a year (though she’s been trying to get me to start for ten). I’m finally comfortable calling myself a writer. I even bubbled it in under occupation for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Last night, I said, “Okay, I’m a writer, but until I see at least one red cent, I’m not an author.”

By: --Deb

--Deb — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:38:20 +0000

Technically, I’m one of the underdog’s too. I have an unpublished novel, and most of my writing is done for my own blog. I still have a hard time saying, “I’m a writer,” because there’s a part of me that doesn’t entirely believe it. I know that I WRITE, but that’s what I do (my self-doubting part whispers)–but writers ARE.

Or, something like that. An amateur carpenter is still a carpenter.

By: Nathan Egelhof

Nathan Egelhof — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:19:47 +0000

You will certainly win the heart of every writer with this piece, from essayist to diarist! It is, to confess, one of the most debated topics in the writing profession. I’ve seen many theses, many approaches to this topic, and rarely any have I truly liked. Although some may criticize your Universalistic view on it, I have to say that I appreciate your take on what constitutes a writer. Thanks from the underdog

Nathan Egelhof’s last blog post..An Unexpected Source of Love

By: --Deb

--Deb — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:08:48 +0000

Well, everybody has to grow as a writer! (grin) --Deb's last blog post..What Makes a Writer?

By: Lillie Ammann

Lillie Ammann — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:57:36 +0000

Deb, I must confess my first romance novel wasn't very well-written. Though I got good reviews, I look back now and cringe. I hope the one that's coming out October is much better. Lillie Ammann's last blog post..Life is a Piece of Cake

By: --Deb

--Deb — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:51:52 +0000

Certainly some are better than others! My only real complaint about a lot of romance novels is that they're so badly WRITTEN. I've read YA books that were miles better than some of them--but the ones that are truly good? Well, that's all that matters! And, honestly, just about every novel is better off for at least something like a love story (grin). --Deb's last blog post..What Makes a Writer?