Writer vs. Author?
I’ve been a writer for a very long time—since I first became obsessed with writing down the stories that wouldn’t leave me alone. I didn’t tell anyone I was “a writer” until after attending my first professional writers’ conference (Blue Ridge in 2001) when I realized God was calling me to pursue publication.
I didn’t call myself an author until the box of my author copies of Stand-In Groom arrived at my house.
Maybe it’s a matter of connotation, but in my head, there’s a difference between a writer and an author. Anyone who writes is a writer. But not everyone who writes is an author. My paternal grandfather was a prolific writer—he wrote dozens of letters to the editor of the local (Hot Springs, AR) newspaper over his lifetime. My maternal great-grandfather was a writer and an author (and an editor)—not only did he write for and serve as the editor of all the publications of the Home Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, but he authored several books as well. Both of my parents are writers—my father writing articles that were published in professional journals, and my mother writing grant proposals and research for years.
Am I the only one who makes a distinction between writer and author? What are your thoughts? What must you accomplish before you can call yourself writer or author?
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KayeDacus.com 
I make the distinctions as well. I’m a writer but by no means am I an author. I want to be. 🙂
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Yeah, but you’re one of my minions. Of course you’re going to agree with me. 😉
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In the wise words of Whoopi Goldberg when she was giving, in my opinion, stellar advice to Lauryn Hill in the movie Sister Act. “If when you wake up in the morning and all you can think about is “writing” then you’re a “writer” girl.”
Yes- I changed what was supposed to be singer to “writer” but the same rules apply. Writing is always intertwined in my daily thoughts. So- I AM a writer- whether I am an author, that is still to be discovered in my journey. :). Glad I have good friends that are with me in the process… 😉
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So the question is: what do you need to accomplish before you’ll consider yourself an “author”?
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My distinction is more about genre/writing-focus than state of publishment.
In general I think of fiction-writers as authors once they’ve moved out of “someday” and finished a novel. Non-fiction has to work more before they reach the title, in my mind.
For example, I suppose I think of Phillip Yancey as an author, but even with all his publishing credits (lots of mag articles) he doesn’t trip the “author” line until I’m holding a book.
And this distinction could easily be b/c I write fiction, and I’ve given it to beta readers and have to identify myself as an *author* to recruit them.
{shrug}
It’s no hill I’d die on, but I’ve crossed the bridge where (at least mentally) I’ve referred to myself as an author.
Though I usually stick with “writer.” If I mention it at all.
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Do you think that nonfiction writers have to identify themselves as authors to get beta readers?
I kind of see where you’re coming from . . . it’s the same as me seeing someone who writes articles for technical journals or professional magazines/newsletters as writers and not authors, even if they write as much or as often as people who pen novels. Not sure why I make this distinction though. It’s not as if they put any less work into what they write than fiction writers do—and often their work is much harder because of all the research they have to do. (Not that there isn’t research involved in fiction, but nonfiction is much more dependent on correct facts and figures than fiction many times.)
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I agree, I am a writer. Once I had a column for a newspaper, but I don’t consider myself an author. When I get a box of books on my doorstep with my name on them, then I’ll be an author. Like Jason–I want to be.
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And here’s another distinction. What makes someone a “journalist” or a “columnist” or just someone who writes for a newspaper?
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I make the distinction too. But I don’t go as far as I’ve seen others go over the past 5 or 6 years, such that if one isn’t traditionally published in long-form (novel or non-fiction title), then he isn’t an author.
Publication for short stories, self-published imprints, ebooks…it’s all the same in my book. The rise of ebooks and non-traditional imprints is making this so.
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You’d consider someone who pays to have their stuff published an author? On the e-mail loop, someone made the distinction that anyone who’s published is an author but only those who are published by traditional, royalty-paying publishing houses can call themselves “professional authors.”
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I consider myself a “writer” though I did have a few newspaper articles published. If all it takes is finishing a novel, then I’d be an author (finally got my first beta reader feed back today – why is it like pulling teeth to get help with that?)
Still debating the whole “author” part considering the industry…
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What’s your goal with finishing a novel manuscript? How does that play into your debate on the meaning of “author”?
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My goal…that’s a really good question (and while praying for clarity of direction for you, I’ve been asking for my own). I always thought I’d write, submit and be published. Now I know that’s as naive as someone thinking they can get into a car, point it in the right direction and end up where they need to go. My husband believes publishing is the goal, and used to be completely on the side of going the traditional route. He’s also a tech geek and is closely following the effects of ebooks on the industry. So while we debate traditional vs self-pub and whether or not it’s even worth it, I’m wondering about my own motives. Clearly God’s glory should be first. Does that mean the money shouldn’t matter? Maybe the guy who buried his talents simply couldn’t decide which bank to deposit them in. (Either way, I don’t want to be him.)
As for your second question, I would still say an “author” has been vetted and has had a book published. So I guess that means I’m not an author until a professional has decreed that I’ve written something that’s good enough to publish.
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Wait…you have minions???? 🙂
I think exactly the same way as you. A writer writes, an author is one who writes AND is published.
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Yes, I have minions. It started out when I misspoke when talking to Steve Laube about my mentees, and now it’s come to mean everyone at Middle Tennessee Christian Writers . . . though I’d go so far as to say anyone I’ve ever mentored (even just through the blog) could count as one of my minions out doing my bidding. 😉
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I agree. When I hold in my hand my own published work, THEN, and only then, will I consider myself an author. And so, I write.
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When did you start calling yourself (and telling others you are) a writer?
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I’m not an author. No one so far wants to read what I have written.
But there will come a day if the good lord is pleased that I will become an author. Until that day I keep plugging away.
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I am a writer. My heart heaves I want to be an author so badly. I guess for now I will just take it a day at a time and just try to be faithful to what God has called me to do. If I become an author, it will be because He chooses to bless me that way. (I’m with Gwyn. I’m just going to keep plugging away.)
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I love the comments! I thought my definition was simple. Authors are published. Then I read the comments. Self-publishing has really put a hitch in that, hasn’t it?
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This is a question that can obviously be answered in more than one way according to the person doing the answering. For myself, I’ve been writing since I was ten years old and have had the dream of publishing almost that long too. Even after my first book was published in 1978, the words “I’m a writer” tripped on my tongue. All these years and 20 published books later, I do tell people who ask what I do that I’m a writer and while it’s easier to say now, I still sometimes feel like I’m claiming a title I shouldn’t. I’ve never even thought about saying I’m an author. Maybe I should just stick to writing and let everybody else figure out if I’m a writer or an author or both.
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