When can you truly, unabashedly call yourself a writer?

1. 69

   BennyTheWriterposted 13 years ago

   When can you truly, unabashedly call yourself a writer?
   
   Is the title earned through hard work, or is it shared among all literate people on Earth?  Can you call yourself a writer as soon as you produce a creative work, or only when you're published by a traditional publisher?  Only when you're work is recognized by others on a grand scale?  Only when you get paid for it?   I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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2. 61

   MickSposted 13 years ago

   The answer is not being published and paid, you can write a brilliant book or article and it never sees the light of day.
   It's a revelation, an understanding of the hard work involved in converting the brilliant, abstract ideas running through your head into coherent prose, and then doing the work.  That is what makes a writer.

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3. 91

   Pcunixposted 13 years ago

   When you believe it.
   
   However, convincing anyone else will require you to earn your living from it.  In most peoples eyes you remain an "aspiring writer" until you consistently earn money and lose the modifier.

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4. 60

   Hridyapal Bhogalposted 13 years ago

   When you fail to get any publishers...thats the time when you become a "TRUE" writer....coz' then you would have to write your own destiny with your mind,body & soul.....

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5. 84

   wychicposted 13 years ago

   That's a tough one, and I think does vary...some people are writers by occupation, while others are writers by dint of their skills in manipulating the written word regardless of what they do for a living. Personally, I only started calling myself a writer when it became my sole occupation and everyone else was calling me that too...and it's even on my tax return, so it's official .

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6. 59

   Jaggedfrostposted 13 years ago

   "What
   do you do?" What will you tell them?  Will you stammer your way to
   saying, "Nothing important? I have a day job,"?  I should hope
   not.  When you are a writer, the question has nothing to do with money.
    Is this what you do with your time... read more

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7. 67

   b. Malinposted 13 years ago

   When you finish a piece and you give it over to the public to read, be it Hub Pages or a publishing house, and someone says  "That's good...or I truly enjoyed... or It made me cry...or laugh...or just feel good after I read it."  To me, that's a writer! 
   '

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8. 79

   Karandaposted 13 years ago

   What does it take before a writer is recognised as such? Is it that first published article where an agreed amout of money changes hands or is it the calibre of the author? read more

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9. 0

   BIKTMIAposted 13 years ago

   Basically , for me,  truth when you are recognized by a publisher my opinion.  After writing for years, and published , I still didn't really feel the change until a publisher accepted my book for publishing.  Once on the road my plans just to do a lot public relations.  I really have over the  years learned that not really in for the money of the venture  but the challenge.

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10. 59

    Marturionposted 12 years ago

    I answered another question earlier by stating that "When I reach 1,000,000 published words, I'll think of myself as a REAL writer.  That being said, I honestly believe that the moment you write down a single thought that you truly believe in, you are a writer.

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