Aspiring Writer or Writer

United States
July 23, 2010 5:39pm CST
For writers who have yet to publish any material or receive an income for writing, when people ask you about your writing, do you say you are a writer or an aspiring writer? It seems that saying one is a writer may be best because of the frame of mind it will put you in. A writer writes.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@ip5217 (1655)
• Philippines
28 Jul 10
I can say one is a writer if he has been paid for his works. Yes, I've been paid for my works. Thus I say I'm a writer but not the best one yet. I hope to get to that level someday.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Oct 10
It is better to get to the best you can do versus trying to compete with another writer. Different people have different experiences, time to write, etc.
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
24 Jul 10
I agree with you, a writer writes and so should consider him/herself a writer regardless of financial compensation. What is important is the personal satisfaction the writer receives from writing that helps inspire the writers writing and helps make writing a part of who the writer is.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
27 Jul 10
I'm a published writer. One novel and I'm working on the sequel. Yes, a writer writes. I much prefer to be called a writer over being called an author. One can "author" anything-including the words on a package of toilet paper. LOL
@chulce (1537)
• United States
24 Jul 10
This is actually an extremely good question. If you wake up in the mornings and all you think about is writing and that is all you really want to do, then you are a writer. If writing only comes once in a while to you, then you are an aspiring writer. Writing can get deep into the blood. When I first got into writing, it was shortly after I started college, I found it as my release, then my imagination just went crazy. I am currently a freelance writer and have written over 400 articles. I am a published writer and set goals for myself every day. Currently, my goal is to write at least one if not two articles per day. If you truly enjoy writing, set yourself with small goals, it will help to keep you focused and get you published. Happy Writing!
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Jul 10
I say "unpublished and unpaid" writer. "Aspiring writer" sounds too much like you're just thinking about writing maybe someday instead of frantically scribbling novels on every available sheet of paper like I am. But then again when I say that I am a writer... people ask what I've published. *facepalm* Does one really need to be published in order to write something?
• Philippines
26 Jul 10
for me.. Publishing my work will be just a bonus for what I've write. I write because I want to express my opinion, my feelings.. so publishing it and sharing it to others is just a bonus for me.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Oct 10
The aspiring writer does make it sound like it is something one wants to do, but hasn't mastered yet. But then again, does one ever master writing? Each project is so different and has the potential to offer so many problems or solutions. The professional writer writes even when money from projects is low and when he does not feel quite up to the task of doing so.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Oct 10
I'd say it sounds like they WANT to write... but for whatever reason they aren't. Not even "not fully mastered" but nothing on the sheet of paper. I think everyone who wants to write... should just write. Maybe they're a little rough, but they're not just "aspiring" they are DOING, and in my mind that makes them better than anyone who just thinks about writing. Professional writers usually write because they love it too. I doubt anyone actually writes for the money... seeing as how it's so hard to get to a place where you can make money... and it's not much money when you get there.