Sometimes a form asks for my occupation and I was wondering just now exactly what I am. Usually I put writer as my occupation, but I believe a writer is so much more. Most people can write, but as authors we are artists, technicians, novelists, romantics, computer operators, and story tellers. Most of the time we are poorly paid slaves, working all hours of the day and night.
So what are we really?
I just thought I'd give you all somethint to think about on a cold Sunday afternoon.
Interesting point. When I fill in a form requiring me to describe myself broadly speaking, I sometimes hover between retired and writer or author. I put 'author' on my business cards as I felt it a better description than writer. I'd also point out ... we are women ... so all of the things you mention plus a whole heap more!!
ReplyDeleteChrissie
I am not one of the pocket novelists but think that either 'author' or 'novelist' has a more specific meaning that 'writer'. As you say, anyone can be a writer, but they don't all achieve author or novelist status, do they?
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right Shirley, nice to see you visiting the blog. It's true that 'author' or 'novelist' does imply something more specific in all sorts of ways. Above all to me it implies that a writer has finished something which is a main issue when people say they're writing something. Quite often I find people writing the same thing for ages and ages and never actually completing something. It's not until you complete something that you can send it to an agent, a publisher or even upload it as a self published e-book. Completing a piece of writing is so much a part of becoming an author or novelist. Cara Cooper
ReplyDeletePS oh my can I really have used the same word, 'something' so many times - yup, I can. Just goes to show why you have to read what you write through before putting it 'out there' and take out all those words that get repeated. Sorry! Cara
ReplyDeleteI tend to describe myself as a writer, even though I've been published. This is because I don't think I've published anything that makes me an author yet, by which I mean a full length novel. Even if that happened, I'd probably still call myself a writer as calling myself an author would still feel too grand for me. I know I'm a bit of a hack and am not ashamed of that. It pays for that extra order of fries, as they say in America.
ReplyDeleteLet me be the first to predict here and now Sally that you are very close to being taken up by a mainstream publisher if that's what you want. I'm absolutely sure you could place a full length novel if you've written one and that with your light touch and humour it would do very well. Readers love humour and it's a very difficult thing to achieve. There, you heard it here first! Cara
ReplyDeleteAw, Cara, I wish I could carry you around in my pocket for the days when I wonder why I bother ;-)
ReplyDelete