Are you an author or a writer?

1. 0

   Motown2Chitownposted 11 years ago

   What's the difference?  Which are you?  Are words your passion or your business?  Are you a creator or a teacher?  Is the product of YOUR writing meant to inspire or inform?  I'm so curious about this.

   replyreport
   1. 82

      dghbrhposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I truly do not know which category i fall in. I like to write and express my feelings by the means of poetry and prose also sometimes. But preferred choice is poetry as actually I can hide behind the game of words there...Its an way of expressing my emotions to be honest.
      Words are my passion not business.
      I am sure not a teacher.
      The product of my writing is mainly to SATISFY my inner self...then in course if some body can relate with these I always think that my endeavor is successful.
      Thanks you:-) What you write for ? To inspire or to inform?

      replyreport
   2. 55

      Wayne Terbushposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like to write to inspire even though I am far from an accomplished writer.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I like to write for inspiration also, Wayne.  It takes a lot of writing to become accomplished, I think.  The major difference that I see is that an author has created something unique and meaningful in the grand scheme of things.  I see in the responses here the overwhelming idea that "authorship" requires publication, but now, with self-publishing actually available to virtually everyone, is publication really the benchmark?

         replyreport
   3. 0

      Brenda Durhamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not sure of the specific definitions....
      But I'm pretty sure HubPages considers all of us writers as authors........

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I think I'd agree with you, Brenda.    Like I said in another post, though, I'm really just exploring the differences as seen by the writers themselves.
         
         Thanks for popping in.  Been praying for you.

         replyreport
         1. 0

            Brenda Durhamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Well, thank you!
            I really did say prayers for you and hubby's health too.   (Ya know how sometimes we promise to pray for people, then we forget to?   This time I didn't forget).

            replyreport
            1. 0

               Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Me too!  I always ask the Lord to remember all of those I may have forgotten.  But I did pray for you specifically. 

               replyreport
   4. 0

      Deepes Mindposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm just a person who keeps record of his thoughts. I'm not published and I don't really see it as a passion of mine. I think of a lot of stuff and write them down in order to clear my head.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I've always used writing as a means to clarify my thoughts, Deepes.  Actually one of the reasons that I love internet forum.  You actually get the chance to think about what you want to express and exactly how you want to do it before it comes spewing out of your mouth.

         replyreport
         1. 0

            Deepes Mindposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I agree, Mo. This is part of the reason for my name. Putting my thoughts out, I sometimes dig deeply to pull some stuff out

            replyreport
2. 78

   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   I write for pleasure and for money, sometimes at the same time.  I don't care what people call that.  I generally just to point to the end result and say: I wrote that.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like the directness and honesty in that answer.

      replyreport
3. 84

   DonnaCSmithposted 11 years ago

   All of the above. I have six published books, so I am an author. They include both fiction and non-fiction. I also do freelance writing, non-fiction. So, I write both  for fun (the fiction) and to inform (the nonfiction) I teach writing workshops and do school author visits, so I also teach. I think we have to watch out how we label ourselves. We want to keep growing and exploring what's out there as writers/authors.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree that we need to exercise caution with labels, Donna.  I was mulling this over in regard to a line from the movie "Dead Again."  A guy offers the protagonist a cigarette.  He declines with the remark, "No thanks.  I'm trying to quit."
      
      The man (a trained psychologist) points out to him that he's looked at the pack on the table about thirty times in as many seconds and tells him, "You're either a smoker or a non-smoker.  Find out what you are and be that." 
      
      Just got me to thinking.

      replyreport
4. 80

   Enigmatic Meposted 11 years ago

   I'm a little like Donna.... I've written opinion pieces for newspapers, had published an article based on work process, and endeavour to write novels. None of it is a full time paid position, and I've never received any money for anything I have written, though eventually I would love to have it as a dream job.
   So, I write in hopes of becoming an author as I deem the pieces I have written too short to be more than a 'mere' writer. But, I think that whatever it is you define yourself as, its good!

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Donna is right about labels I think.  But I also feel that a person's attempt at self-definition is more than just an act of labeling.  I like what you say too.  I'm not as concerned about how others label us as I am with how we define ourselves. 

      replyreport
5. 79

   Seafarer Mamaposted 11 years ago

   I am both an author and a writer.  I authored a book that was published in 2010, which took me 8 months to write. And...I have been writing both poetry and fiction since I was 10 (which is about 30-something years). I have several manuscripts dear to my heart the I have alternatively worked on and let lay dormant for years.
   
   I authored a book about growing your own fruits and berries. Wrote a hub about the process, and have links to my book, which can be purchased from Amazon...which is the only way I will earn income from it now that the publisher has dissolved their affiliate program. I am a great believer in making a living from doing what I love. Though I enjoyed creating that work of non-fiction about gardening, it was commissioned and I wrote it on a publisher-dictated schedule, on a pay schedule. There a was a modicum of creativity allowed on my part, but the editing and rewriting process was brutal. The publisher gave me an "opportunity" to contribute to another book after that, but I needed to reclaim some balance in my other affairs, so I turned them down.
   
   So the writing that I love to do:  There is a chapbook of my poetry that I self-published and sold a number of copies of that more than covered the costs. Want to have another run done, too...or make some books of some of my haikus. I also have 2 picture book manuscripts that I am working to finish and send out to publishers by the end of the summer. Finally, there is a middle-grade chapter book for children that I have written 3 chapters of and want to eventually finish. I'd feel like I've won the lottery if an editor decides to "adopt" it. :0)

   replyreport
6. 90

   RachaelLeflerposted 11 years ago

   Hm, well I consider "author" to refer to people who have published books. I haven't. I'd say "blogger" or "blog writer" to make it clear that I'm an internet writer, not a fiction or non-fiction author. I also think Amy Tan said something about preferring the term "writer" because to her "author" seemed like a dead person's name attached to a book, whereas "writer" connotes someone who is still a living, breathing part of writing.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like that idea, to a point.  But authorship implies a greater degree of creativity, according to its definition.  But what kind of creativity?  The kind where you bring forth constant new ideas or the kind that helps you to make ideas not so new into something people want to read about over and over again?  I'm not trying to force labels onto anyone, I promise, I'm just exploring the minds of writers/authors to see if they feel the words can be used interchangeably?   For example, investigative journalists are writers, but their ultimate interest is the 'story' not the craft.  That doesn't mean their stories are not well crafted, but that their ultimate mission is to get the story out there, and does it always have to be the written word they use as the vehicle?

      replyreport
7. 90

   RachaelLeflerposted 11 years ago

   I would say information is my passion, words are just the most effective medium I have to convey them. I care about ideas and stories, words are necessary tools I use to describe them.

   replyreport
8. 69

   To Start Againposted 11 years ago

   well I call myself a writer because I write but I won't consider myself an author until I have a published book in my hands. But that's just me
   
   What I write on HP is meant to inspire, teach, help, humor and entertain....I hope...
   Mostly, it's just things I am passionate about and like to share. Words are my passion but I would love to make them my business. I'm a creator first but if I manage to teach somehow then so be it
   The product of my writing is meant to be enjoyed. That's all I really want.

   replyreport
9. 78

   Laura Schneiderposted 11 years ago

   Well, I've been writing all sorts of stuff, almost exclusively for money, for over 20 years. From a Haiku to a short story to an installation brochure to a 4" thick maintenance manual. I'd guess I've "published" (through my employers) 250 - 300 or so 100-page or longer technical manuals, so even though I'm a tech writer by trade, I do consider myself an author as well as a writer. (Sorry, I felt it necessary to get on a soapbox for tech writers there. LOL) Point being, if my stupid new Win 8-based computer had come with any OFFline instruction manuals, maybe that would help me to get back ONline, rather than calling tech support (joy). Hence why I stopped in for some HubPages sanity and friendship before hitting the phone trees :-).

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh!  Laura when I first got this Windows 8 computer I considered bombing Microsoft headquarters.  (Please everyone - it's a joke, don't turn me in!  I'm just speaking in hyperbole to let Laura know I feel her pain).  If you haven't hit the phone already, Laura, what are you trying to do?  I made some tweaks and I'm much happier now.

      replyreport
10. 61

    FatFreddysCatposted 11 years ago

    I consider myself "a guy who likes to write." If and when I ever get paid for doing so, then I'll consider myself a "writer."

    replyreport
    1. 0

       Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Fair enough, but as far as I'm concerned, if you make a conscious effort to write on a daily basis because there's just stuff inside that has to come out, you're a writer. 

       replyreport
11. 78

    Laura Schneiderposted 11 years ago

    P.s. There is just as much creativity in (good) technical writing as there is in "creative" (poetry, novels,and so on) writing, having done plenty of both types. ;-)

    replyreport
    1. 0

       Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I think you're right about creativity in technical writing.  If it's good, your readers get a new spin on something they may have seen before (instructional material), and may actually enjoy your product.  Sometimes, it's about doing something routine in a new and interesting way!

       replyreport
12. 58

    A Troubled Manposted 11 years ago

    Maybe the difference is between the ideas.
    
    A writer pens things that are based on other peoples ideas while an author pens their own ideas. Just a thought.

    replyreport
    1. 0

       Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       ATM, I think that's the part that really delineates between the two....if you look up author, it specifies a creator.  To call myself an author then, I'd have to create something new (or at least find a creative new way to treat an old idea).  Of course, I have a published author friend who would say that thinking about writing and talking about writing keeps me from writing.  What he doesn't know is that I'm afraid that I don't have the capacity to create.  I can spin, if that makes sense, but can I create something new?

       replyreport
       1. 58

          A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, you can, you have a good brain and it works well, and you use it to your advantage. You can create anything you want, your imagination is limitless in that regard. Hence, with the added feature of reason, rationale and the fact you understand your religious beliefs don't follow the reasoning, you are well equipped to create the awesome.

          replyreport
          1. 0

             Deepes Mindposted 11 years agoin reply to this

             What he said

             replyreport
             1. 0

                Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                Thanks, Deepes!  Moving toward the hopeful!

                replyreport
          2. 0

             Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

             ATM, thank you.  That's high praise and fantastic encouragement.  Much appreciated!
             
             

             replyreport
13. 0

    Motown2Chitownposted 11 years ago

    Just wanted to share this wonderful blog post about this very topic.  Enjoy!
    
    http://daultonbooks.com/blog/real-autho … map=%5B%5D

    replyreport