Writers vs. Authors

Hello, my creative critters! I hope you have fun reading this as much as I had writing it. Please comment and let me know what you think of this post. I’m still very new to the author world, and not everything I say will be accurate or factual. Even if I research for hours, days, or weeks before I start writing, I will get some things wrong. Please let me know if anything seems off or if you learned something new today. 

Anything helps.

With that out of the way, let's get into the topic of today’s post: Writer Vs. Author.

Writing is writing; why does knowing which category you fall into matter? The answer is easy: it depends on what you desire. When someone says they’re a “writer,” it's all fine and dandy, but that term is too broad to determine what kind of writer they are. They could be a journalist, poet, screenwriter, playwright, author, or any other career that falls under the umbrella of a “writer.”

I am an author. I write fantasy-based books that feature adventure and romance, weaving stories together, much like how the stars are woven together to make constellations.

Technically speaking, according to Google, an author is only someone whose work has been published in a professional manner. As I write this, I am not published in the traditional sense. But according to the dictionary, the explanation of an “author” is ‘a person who composes or creates a written work, especially a book or other professional writing.’ But once again, we come across the word “professional.”

I get into the nitty gritty of traditional and self-publishing in this post, check it out after this one!

Either way, the term “author” has become something more. But what is the difference between being a writer and being an author?

Well, if we put “writer” under its own umbrella, it means someone who writes… duh. But that can still mean many things, so I like to classify it under one other thing—a hobby. When there is a title like "Journalist" or "Poet," we’re classified under one group, namely, these are careers. A simple writer is more along the lines of a hobbyist.

A key difference between a writer and others is that they write for fun. They make fanfictions about their favorite characters and weave the story together in new, imaginative ways. Create Dungeons & Dragons campaigns and incorporate each character’s backstory that their friends make. Some writers even put original ideas into a story, but keep them and don’t publish the work. These writers do all this and more because they want to, not because they have to. It’s something to pass the time, or helps them think through situations they’re going through in their life, maybe the only time they write is in their journal. Either way, it’s a hobby.

Don’t get me wrong by assuming I’m talking down on writers. Everyone starts somewhere, including me. I started out writing fanfics (No haters! Writing is writing, no matter what it’s about!), and stories that will probably never see the light of day, if I can help it. But it got me writing every day. The story sparked one idea after another, making my escape into the world I had imagined. Until I decided to switch dynamics—that I wanted to be something more than a writer, and was willing to go through the storm, headaches, and sacrifice to make it happen.

I loved the days when I could write, not caring how coherent the story was or how much it excited me to get the next word on the page, even as I had two well-known characters find their love story beyond the chaos of the canon.

An author’s situation is far different than being just a hobby. Our motivation may differ from person to person, but it extends beyond simply writing for enjoyment. And I say we do it for fun because, in the beginning, there’s no money involved. If we’re lucky, we get the chance to quit our day job because there’s enough money coming in to pay for the bills, but there’s not much of that going on as a debutante.

Deadlines come into play as an author. From editing the manuscript to making adjustments to the cover art, writing convention attendance, and getting your book on the shelf, there are things to keep in mind while in the middle of writing. Which, if you’re not careful, can lead to burnout. Granted, depending on the publishing route you take, there could be plenty of time to do everything and more.

One thing that makes an author is the criticism. As a writer, you can waive this step. Even as a fanfiction writer or someone creating D&D campaigns, you can choose to ignore or block criticism, whether good or bad. But as an author, it’s something you’ll face every day. People can love your work, praise it, and call it their favorite, but there will always be those who hate it.

People will curse your name and comment that you should never have done this professionally. There will be those who dislike it, but they will comment on why, whether it’s the storyline, plot holes, or certain elements that make them put the book down. Even fans of your work will suggest edits and share their ideas on how they would approach it.

As an author, it is partly your job to take the criticism and make something good with it. Some things will be out of your control, but some can make or break your story. If you can take the good and bad and not get upset, offended, or discouraged that people think that way about the story, or even about you, you are prepared for an author’s life.

Being an author is a lot harder than most people think. Don’t understand how difficult it is to create a story from practically nothing, have someone edit it, tear it into pieces, and then find the right place to publish.

I love the part of writing out a book, but everything else that comes with being a professional is less than ideal. Marketing, keeping up with websites, the editing process, meeting demands, and ensuring everyone receives their rightful payment… it can all be exhausting. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Remember that even if you’re an author, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy anything but writing. I have several arts and crafts projects that are half-finished and others that I want to complete. Yes, I have a lot on my plate with everything listed above, but I still make time to enjoy life and not worry about the deadline, at least not too much. I still write fan fiction, and I still create stories that I have no desire to get published. I may be an author, but that doesn't mean I can’t also be a writer.

Being an author isn’t for everyone, but writing is centered for everyone.

Writing is writing, no matter what form it takes, from starting and writing personal stories to friends and family to creating a story to post online about your favorite characters from a TV show, anime, movie, or books that can be shared worldwide.

So, what are you? A writer, or an author? I hope this helps you figure out which one you want to be.

Thanks again for reading!

-E.L. Dawn