This past weekend at the coffee house while making out with my new IPad (What else was I going to do with my bonus?), I heard this *very* interesting conversation.
Dude #1: Wannabes always tell anyone who’ll listen. ‘I’m a writer.’ Or ‘I’m an author.’ But they’re not. Real writers get paid. Until you get a check, you should just keep your mouth shut. Don’t tell anyone that you’re a writer. And if you don’t have a book out — you’re not an author either.
Me: *Stops french kissing my IPad and starts to eavesdrop*
Dude #2: So you’re saying until they get paid that they’re fake writers? Then what do you call yourself?
Me: *Leans forward and thinks: This should be interesting*
Dude #1: I keep my mouth shut. I don’t broadcast it. I don’t put it on my Facebook page. I don’t blog about it. I just do the work. And when I get a check, then I can say I’m a real writer. When my book comes out, then I’ll be an real author. Until then — I’m just another wannabe running his mouth.
These two guys go on and say some other things but this little snippet was interesting to me. I do know a lot of people who say that you aren’t a real writer if you have nothing published or that you can’t be a novelist without a published novel, etc. Just from my observation of this guy, he seemed to have a very restricted definition of a writer/author/etc.
For me, writing is something that I do — so I consider myself a writer. Novels are what I write, so I consider myself a novelist. But since I haven’t received a check or have published novels, does that make me a fake writer or a fake novelist?
What do you think?
Should we only identify ourselves as writers or novelists by professional or industry standards?
Are people who say that they are writers or novelists just wannabes?
Or is Dude #1 just bitter but secretly screams he’s a writer in the mirror at night before he cries himself to sleep?
Would love to hear your comments! :)
I don’t know. Some people who haven’t published anything really should go around show boating but that’s even true if you HAVE published something. He probably deals with way too many stuck up pretentious wannabe writers. I’m sure you can imagine.
Ahhhhhhhh! Jealous of the make out session with the ipad. That’s the real story!
I think dude #1 is afraid to call himself a writer because he’s afraid of failure. Embracing the idea you may not get published and still calling yourself a writer is a hard,but we must do it. If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, is it still a duck if no one pays it to be?!
Liana: Ha, I’ve been having a torrid love affair with my IPad for the last few days. I blame my software geek co-workers who made me covet it. Good point about show-boating though. Maybe this is what he meant? Who knows!
Heather: I think Dude #1 was really restrictive on his definition. He could be afraid of failure too. But it obviously hits a nerve with him. He was getting kinda loud and heated. Ha.
Dude #1 has issues! You can’t get to point B (publishing) without putting in the work and starting with point A (writing). I am sure there are plenty of people who have written their entire lives and haven’t received a check for it. I don’t think it makes their lives less lived, their passion less intense or their writings less qualified. Besides, the best things in life are often the things we would do for free. A paycheck should be the icing on the cake. If you are true to your art form and remain dedicated, money will come. That’s my two cents. ;-)
I consider myself a writer. But until I have a book contract, I won’t consider myself an author. Does that make sense? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with calling yourself a writer if writing is what you do!
Sherry: LOL. I agree that he has issues. I’m thinking that he’s either had bad experiences with these “wannabes” or either he’s been burned by people when he’s stated that he’s a writer or is working on a book. Or it could just be that he wasn’t drinking coffee and maybe something a little stronger?
Ghenet: I totally know where you’re coming from. I don’t consider myself an author either. But a writer? Definitely. It’s where I spend a lot of my time! And as of now, my fiction isn’t paying my bills yet. :)
Hi Karen….
I was the same way when I first got my iPad as well :D As for the topic at hand, I don’t think getting paid for writing makes a person any more a writer than someone who does not get paid. A writer is someone who writes, right? An author is someone who has published a writing, whether in book form or on the internet. I think I know where the guy was trying to go with his thought, but I just don’t agree with it. I had a story of mine professionally published in an anthology of fiction stories, I did not get paid for it except for in free copies of the book when it was published. Does that make me not an author? I hope not :D But writing is what I do so I will always call myself a writer, pay or no pay. As long as my short fiction stories and poems are published online on my blogs and on other blogs/mags/websites I will call myself an author, pay or no pay. :) That’s my three cents :D
Happy Writing :D
I totally disagre with the concept that you’re not a writer until you get paid for it. I went to college and trained to be a teacher, first elementary school, the a reading specialist. It took 2 years to get a teaching position. Did that mean I wasn’t a teacher? Not hardly! If I worked with children in any setting and shared knowledge with them, even if I was volunteering, I was teaching and that made me a teacher. So if one is writing and sharing stories, paid or not, you ARE a writer. As for author, I think that one has more leeway. Do you believe there are published and unpublished authors or does the title imply publication cred? More philosophical than I care to be! I am a writer; and even though I have retired from my classroom job, I STILL am a teacher! Okay, off the soapbox now :-)
I’m going with the bitter screaming answer. I’m didn’t come out of the closet as a writer until I got some articles published. But still, I think that if we write, finish, and submit, then we are writers. At least I’d like to think so!
I struggled with this question for a long time. Even though I’ve been published in a few magazines and a couple of anthologies, because I haven’t yet had my book published, I doubted I was really a writer. Maybe it was just a hobby…?
Then I realized: having a book published is just the fruit of being a writer. But a writer is who I am. I hope to get my book published–I PLAN to get my book, and more, published–but no matter what, I am and will continue to be a writer.
Good question! New follower here. Met you over at Tammy’s :-) Glad to meet you!
Psst. There’s an award for you on my blog! :)
Saba: That IPad is really addictive! I fought it as long as I could and finally caved in and got one! :) Good point about getting paid in copies — this happens sometimes especially in small literary magazines. So even getting “paid” is relative.
Gail: Ha, you’re fiesty today! :) Totally agree with you though — if you write then you’re a writer. And I get the author-title thing. But even when I do get published, I think I will think of myself more as a writer than an author.
Julie: I wish you had of been there. He was very bitter. Ha. I think he’s just been burned. But one thing I do sort of agree with — shouting it to anyone who will listen. I actually don’t tell a lot of people I’m a writer — the last time I mentioned it at a party the person stated, “You know all writers are crazy right?” Sigh. You can’t win! :)
Kenda: Thanks for stopping by! :) Yes, I remember agreeing with your comment over at Tammy’s blog. What a great concept — a published book is just the fruit of being a writer. We can get so caught up sometimes — that is just *one* of many things that happen to us as writers.
Ghenet: Ooh, I loves awards. :) Going over to check it out! Thanks!
I love this post. I am a writer the Dude is nuts. Anyone who writes daily and is working towards publication of any kind is a writer.
I wonder what he would say about writers who self-publishes…would he consider them ‘fake’ writers/authors as well?
Kristi: Ha, the conversation was highly entertaining. This was just a snippet of the “sane” portion.
Saba: I think asking him that question might have taken him over the edge! Ha. I’m sure it would be something negative. If I see him next weekend at the coffee house, I’m going to give him a hug — I think he needs it! :)