What is the definition of "writer" on HubPages :D
This one is a bit controversial: My WordWeb 'free edition' says that a writer is "someone who writes (books, stories, articles or the like) professionally", or "a person who is able to write and has written something".
So all those guys who say that HubPages is only for generating the newest cookie recipies, and not for poetry, give me a break! Poetry can save and transform lives while your cookie recipies are just cookie recipies!
"If I shop, I'm a shopper." Only if you buy something.
"If I bathe, I'm a bather." You win.
"If I moth, I'm a mother." You definitely win.
What about window shopping?
Hello there, Forum Queen and fellow writer. The HubPages adventures they do continue.
If I don't buy anything, I'm a browser. Which sort of brings us back to windows.
Hey Bev
I browse, then I'm a browser, hehe. That's meeeeeeeeeeee
Re the topic: My thoughts are that even though I'm not interested the least in poetry, if some of my own not-poetry at all articles bore me to death; and my favorite lectures are memoirs from past characters; I tend to agree with you that if we write, then we're writers.
If there's any evidence that people who write aren't writers, what would Mrs de Maintenon, Mrs de Sévigné, or the Duke of Saint Simon have been? Even Louis XIV wrote a guide for Versailles' garden visitors.
In my agenda and the one of the world, they're, at least, writers if not respected authors.
I wouldn't pretend that writing down your shopping list makes you an author, even though you're your shopping list's author.
But on HP we are all writers, aren't we?
*Ok, back to writing that boring article my readership enjoy so much*In my last TR I put "extra" as here we have to pay fees for "self employed artists" for a lifetime in case we dare writing "writer"... Copyright stuff you see - but in my area, that copyright thing profits to all so-called artists (writers, comedians, singers, even those that never did a single thing, etc.)
Haha, we have the same "extra" occupations, Bev I just am not a dog walker these days since my dog left home and didn't show up in a week now 
All I know is that writers write... No matter their skill level. I really think that the word used to qualify writers' work is subjective. I mean, I don't like popular literature, does that mean that these authors aren't writers/author?
I know that MaM won't agree with me, we've already argued about it, but I'm a humble person and don't consider myself as a writer or an expert in anything, even though I'm a French History passionate. If anybody wants to see me as such, good... If not, it doesn't matter.
It's all subjective. In my case, I consider all Hubbers as writers.
*ETA - Boring article completed, now let's go doing another one.*
Back when I used to watch all those courtroom TV shows long ago, I've seen on more than one occasion where the judge suddenly starts interrogating the claimant, who is declaring themselves as an artist or whatever, about how many previous sales they'd made and all that. A previous track record of earned income, or the lack thereof, from one's declared profession does indeed affect one's legal rights.
And as for the IRS... If you tell them you are a writer, but then declare a loss from your writing endeavors; the IRS will fall all over themselves informing you that you are a hobbyist and not a writer. Trust me.
Slow network. Thank you.
I would comment in depth on this DasEngel, but it seems I've caused some controversial opinions already here on hubpages. That was not my intent, but it's life. However, I think you know where I would stand on this issue.
I will say that poetry is inspirational, and who couldn't benefit from a little inspiration from time to time.- Helen Bolamposted 8 years ago
0 To me, if you're, say, earning your full-time living as as, say, a hairdresser; and you write about hairdressing on HubPages; or if you're earning your full-time living as, say, an auto mechanic and all your Hubs are about that; AND if you're earning enough from your Hubs (or other, similar, online, writing) that you need to file a self-employment form... I'd say you should call yourself whatever you are in your full-time work but with the earnings from HP it would probably be correct to call yourself "writer". (I forget what any of the options on the self-employment form are. I do know there's the thing about sole proprietorship - but I forget what other options there are for "calling yourself something" There's also the "other income" thing on tax forms. So, I don't know, someone who makes a few extra dollars writing Hubs but not enough to file a self-employment form may (if this is appropriate for them, but, I don't pretend to know anything about anything other than what I've done myself with the self-employment form) end up using the "other-income thing" on their "main" form.
If a hairdresser or auto mechanic who writes about their own field of expertise makes little or no money with their Hubs they don't have to worry about what to call them-self (other than what they always call themselves on their tax forms). If I were writing on those terms on HP I'd call myself "hairdresser" or "auto mechanic" on here as well (in the author bio, on the profile) because I think that would work to anyone's advantage.
For a writer who is working for a company in any writing capacity and/or for someone who earns his/her living writing on their own, I think that goes back to thing about what would belong on tax forms associated with that one line of work, writing. I think that person should obviously call himself, "writer".
I think the person who has made money in any writing capacity, including freelance writing could "legitimately" describe himself/herself as a "writer" on here. Also, I think if someone devotes serious time to one or more writing projects of any kind but hasn't yet reached the stage of marketing and/or earning anything from it; it would be reasonable to call themself "a writer" (or "published author", which would be better still; but particularly for someone who, say, writes creative fiction or poetry, I don't think there's anything wrong with just saying that (but if the person is a hairdresser in "real life" I don't think there's anything wrong with saying (on this site, at least) that one is a hairdresser who is working on a first novel. If the person writes fiction (for example) on here, I don't think there's anything wrong with just calling himself a "fiction writer" working on a first novel" on here (this site).
I had times when my kids were little when I was only making part-time money writing and/or when I'd do more writing at one time than at another time; and whether way back then or in more recent times, I've had projects that I've worked on but put on one or another back-burner. Then, too, I've had times when I've made money writing online, on through some online company (and sometimes earned more from writing than at other times).
Depending on who (or what form) was doing the asking, I've at times called myself, "unemployed writer", at other times called myself, "writer", and yet at other times called myself, "part-time writer". Then, too, there have been times when I've had one or another "writing thing" going on but just called myself "unemployed" because it was easier to just say that than try to explain either to someone unfamiliar with "the complexities" of my own writing-related efforts, aims, long-term, goals, etc. (not to mention the complications of a number of things in my life); or else to someone who wasn't interested anyway.
I have always separated any offline writing efforts and any "for-hire" efforts from what I write online "for myself". Since I've made income with both (enough to need to file those tax forms) I think it's reasonable enough to call myself "writer" on here BUT I've always tried to highlight my background/efforts as they relate to the stuff I write online, and for myself (and/or because I just want to for one or another reason).
If you think about it, the only times one has to decide what to call himself are generally either on forms or one kind or another), on things like profiles/bios (in which case, I'd say, "aim to be as honest as is called for within the context of whatever the profile/bio is" (and if you're a hairdresser who bakes wedding cakes as a hobby then just say that). In offline/personal life, there are the people who know you and don't require you to call yourself anything. Then there are the people you just meet or are just getting to know, in which cases there's usually also opportunity to explain things like, "aspiring novelist" or "online article-writer".
These days, at least until I see what I want to do from here on and with regard to stuff I've written online, I'd call myself "nothing" while I re-organize, sort out, and decide about stuff/accounts that need spiffing up, polishing, or deleting. The only thing I've been writing ONLINE in recent times has been what I call, "blah blah", on one or another of my own blogs. When I decide what to do with any number of the pieces/projects I have stored in my PC (because of any number of issues with online posting and/or because they aren't things I'd post on the Internet anyway), then I'll stop calling myself "nothing", "part-time writer", and/or "unemployed writer" and take it from there. (Tax season is months away. I have no real need to worry about what I call myself right now anyway. ). (Long post, I know, but there's only so much nothing-doing and "blah-blah"-writing) the writing-inclined are able to do before going a little wild and yet not having to worry about "the elements of a high-quality Hub".)Based on your traffic accolade, you've been paid. Sorry, dude; you're a writer.
Haha, well, at least HP **is** a step up from where I used to post my writings... bathroom walls, restaurant table tops, school desks, etc.
Here's what I've got to say.Poetry's never saved me .... cookies, on the other hand
A writer is anybody that can write.
A successful writer is anybody that can draw an audience that isn't there just to mock.
I write
Therefore I am
Now ... where's that cookie I just baked....
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