Writer vs Author

CindyB · Jan 14, 2006

When can you go from calling yourself a writer to calling yourself an author?

Is a writer an author? Is a writer only an author when money is exchanged? Is a writer who has had an aritcle published, but no money exchanged an author?

The definitions I looked up are the same for both--so is there a difference?

Writer:
1: Writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
2: A person who is able to write and has written something

Author:
1: Writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
2: Someone who originates or causes or initiates something

Any thoughts appreciated.

Cindy

jhmattern · Jan 14, 2006

I think that most people outside of the writing community think of books when they hear the term author. Personally, I would consider anyone who's created any kind of written work that's being made available for people to read an author, paid or not.

maestrowork · Jan 14, 2006

Oh oh, here we go again.

To me, writer writes. I think "author" refers to the creator of the work (book, essay, short story, website, blog, etc.) They're not mutually exclusive, but there is a difference.

"I am a writer, and I write novels. I am a writer at the New York Times."

"I am the author of The Pacific Between."

Tish Davidson · Jan 14, 2006

On my CV, I list the substantial works I have published or worked on. After each one I indicate what I did - editor, development editor, writer or author. If it is work for hire I say writer. If it is a major magazine article, short story, or book, I say author. In this situation the distinction is that as a writer for hire I don't originate the project and I usually have little input into the finished product. I write my bit, send it off, and a check shows up in the mail. When I am the author, I am involved with the process from conception through revisions, galley proofs, and publication. In casual conversation, I usually say I am a writer. Then if someone asks me what I write I say something like "I am the author of six books blah blah blah and I also write patient information, encyclopedia articles on blah blah blah, and so on. I think you should do whatever sounds natural to you.

blacbird · Jan 14, 2006

Semantics. Until you've got something respectably published, you're a bum, just like me.

caw.

SeanDSchaffer · Jan 15, 2006

Twilight Angel said:
When can you go from calling yourself a writer to calling yourself an author?

Is a writer an author? Is a writer only an author when money is exchanged? Is a writer who has had an aritcle published, but no money exchanged an author?

The definitions I looked up are the same for both--so is there a difference?

Writer:
1: Writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
2: A person who is able to write and has written something

Author:
1: Writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
2: Someone who originates or causes or initiates something

Any thoughts appreciated.

Cindy

My dictionary* has a different definition than yours does, to some extent. I thought I would throw this out for you all to ponder as well.

Author:
1. One that originates or creates
2. One that writes or composes a literary work

Writer:
One that writes esp. as a business or occupation.

*The Merriam Webster Dictionary, New Edition, ISBN: 0-87779-930-X

loquax · Jan 15, 2006

I'm a novelist.

Most people are writers.

Mike Coombes · Jan 15, 2006

Who cares about petty definitions?

Just write. Get published. See what the reviewers call you.

Vanessa · Jan 15, 2006

Most would think that anyone who writes a book is an author.
But a writer is also one who writes a book, right?
An essayist, novelist are all writers too, aren't they?
I think it all boils down to simply being a writer.
The other names are fancy titles that sound good and look good.
One day I'm gon' be one of those fancy names.

L.Jones · Jan 15, 2006

Mike Coombes said:
Who cares about petty definitions?

Just write. Get published. See what the reviewers call you.

There you go. Perfect.

I tend no to call myself anything but if people ask what I do say "I write."
(Conversations with nonwriters about the whole deal are painful. I try to avoid them but then adding, "hey, look, a bird" and pretending to follow it.)

annie
Luanne Jones
Heathen Girls (available everywhere now)

Cathy C · Jan 15, 2006

I've always separated it by TYPE of writing. My magazine articles make me a "writer". My books make me an "author."

Nobody ever says, "I'm a freelance author." when they mean periodicals.

Since I do both, my business cards say, "Writer and Author."

Just how I do it... :Shrug:

Jamesaritchie · Jan 15, 2006

Author

I go along with a writer being someone who writes, and an author as someone who has written.

But I'm a writer, pure and simple. "Author" sounds too pretentious. I write short stories, I write articles, and I write novels. I don't "author" a damn thing.

Julie Worth · Jan 15, 2006

Cathy C said:
I've always separated it by TYPE of writing. My magazine articles make me a "writer". My books make me an "author."

Exactly right! Except I'd say that, unofficially, author is a subset of writer. Any idiot can be a writer, but only after a long period of idiocy, can one be an author.

victoriastrauss · Jan 15, 2006

When people ask what I do, I tell them I'm a novelist--it avoids the "What kind of thing do you write?" question that nearly always follows if you say you're a writer.

- Victoria

Jamesaritchie · Jan 15, 2006

victoriastrauss said:
When people ask what I do, I tell them I'm a novelist--it avoids the "What kind of thing do you write?" question that nearly always follows if you say you're a writer.

- Victoria

Probably a good idea, though I suspect they still ask what kind of novels you write, and probably still say "Why don't you write real novels?" But I write pretty much everything, be it short stories, articles, novels, columns, essays, or recipes. Writer just fits me much better than author or novelist.

sirensix · Jan 15, 2006

An author is what you call someone else who writes books.

A writer is what you call yourself.

veinglory · Jan 15, 2006

It's flexible but i tend to think a writer writes but an author is published.

blacbird · Jan 15, 2006

Jamesaritchie said:
Probably a good idea, though I suspect they still ask what kind of novels you write, and probably still say "Why don't you write real novels?"

Chances are they'll say, "But do you have a real job?"

triceretops · Jan 15, 2006

I associate "author" with having sold a book, and writing as something I do all the time.

I've written 14-books

I've authored and sold only two of them.

Tri

CindyB · Jan 15, 2006

Thanks for the input everyone. I appreciate it!

Cindy

scarletpeaches · Jan 15, 2006

veinglory said:
It's flexible but i tend to think a writer writes but an author is published.

Yeah, I've always said a writer writes but an author has a readership.

And I don't mean betas; I was referring to Joe Public who pays to read what you've written.

Jamesaritchie · Jan 15, 2006

sirensix said:
An author is what you call someone else who writes books.

A writer is what you call yourself.

I think "author" is what you call a writer who's out on the road promoting his books.

zeprosnepsid · Jan 16, 2006

Like the dictionary definitions mention, 'author' relates to more than writing. It has a sense of being an inventor. If you've created something (and presumably patented it or sold it in some way) you can be consider it's author. Like Maestro said, you are 'the author of my-book'. I happen to also be a 'DVD Author' and that is the technical name for it. You author a DVD.

Author is a bit out of style in writing land. But I kind of like it. If I get my novel published I think I'll say I'm an author. (Even though I'm already considered an 'author' in other fields, I don't advertise myself that way. I am the author of a software program for Kodak digital cameras but I don't tell people I'm an 'author'.)

But obviously it's personal preference.

Monet · Jan 17, 2006

I've considered myself an Author with my first piece of published work that I was paid for.

:Hug2:

I really felt like an Author, when the love of my life made me a brass name plate from scratch (his profession is Tool and Die Maker) with the title: Author underneath my name! It's nice to be reconized by those we love!

James D. Macdonald · Jan 17, 2006

When speaking of myself, I use the terms "writer" and "author" interchangably.

There's no sense in getting hung up these terms. Spend the time writing.

Writer vs Author

CindyB

jhmattern

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Tish Davidson

blacbird

SeanDSchaffer

loquax

I verb nouns adverbly

Mike Coombes

Guru

Vanessa

Writer and Music Producer

L.Jones

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Jamesaritchie

Julie Worth

What? I have a title?

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

Jamesaritchie

sirensix

Mediocre Sorceress

veinglory

volitare nequeo

blacbird

triceretops

CindyB

scarletpeaches

Jamesaritchie

zeprosnepsid

Monet

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle