This is the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as the
Insecure Writers Support Group
founded by the one and only,
If you are a writer, insecure, or just supportive of writers—insecure or not—please join us. It happens the first Wednesday of each month. It would be sweet of you to visit at least a dozen or so new blogs and leave a comment. Your words will be appreciated.
The awesome co-hosts for the October 7 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner!
October 7 question:
When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if latter two, what does that look like?
Hmm?
Interesting question.
I have been a copywriter for many years...
For video, film, TV, radio, and print...
And have won awards too...
So, I’ve always known I am a writer...
But author?
Well, that took years...
Before I would consider myself that...
And only after I was published.
For me...
There’s an emotional difference...
Between being a writer and being an author.
Copywriters, whether freelance or inhouse,
Write “copy” for a specific job or assignment.
They're given the subject to write about...
Or at least know the direction the writing must go.
When the editing is done and job approved...
It's handed over to the client or boss..
And the writer’s part is done.
Shortly after, they can see or hear their work and are paid.
But authors...
Whether they’re writing a novel, poem, short story, nonfiction or whatever...
Start from scratch...
The whole process is up to them to figure out...
And when finished...
They have to find their own path to publication.
If going the traditional route...
It starts with the query process... 🙏
Searching for an agent and/or publisher...
With all those emotional twists, turns, and detours...
(at least for me)
And if they don’t get picked up...
It’s on to the self-pub’d trail 😬
And Lord!!
That’s an arduous journey of considerations:
Editors, book covers, marketing, advertising, reviews and everything else, 😱h my!!
Just to make sales...
Though I've heard some say:
“I write for the pleasure and not for the money.”
Wow! I had to think about that one.
Guess I write for my passion of writing, the kudos too...
And in my perfect word...
Millions of sales.
So?
What’s your writing experience like?
Always,
Em-Musing
17 comments:
Yes! Self-publishing is a huge undertaking, but so worth it.
I just wrote for me. Getting published and making some money at it was all bonus.
Wow, that's an interesting way of addressing the question. But I wonder, does writer or author make that much difference to a 'working writer'? Or is about the personal commitment to what you're writing?
Thanks for joining in this month's IWSG :)
After 4 books with a small publisher, I figured I'd learned enought to strike out as an indie with my fifth book. I'm glad I did, but I still have so much to learn! But yeah, definitely a working writer. There are so many ways that title can look beyond the Big 5 trad pub deal.
I like the interesting way you have answered the question of a working writer :)
I never looked at it with that differentiation. I use both, create the book, promote the product. All writing but from a very different direction.
I had to rethink my writing life. I write for me. Then, I look at what I've written and consider which parts might be interesting to readers.
I love how we're all different, yet all writers. I think you're correct about a working writer. We're all writers, but we're not an author until we have finished a book. It doesn't matter if the book is published. We don't stop becoming a writer just because we're the author of ABC Book, but we can't be an author unless we are first a writer. The question this month has been quite interesting.
Awesome! I pretty much see myself as an old tattered author with over 28 years of experience and completing several novels (but of those I only have a few of my works published!) LOL... But when shoulder-to-shoulder with other authors like Stephen King, LOL, I feel like a peewee. Would *he* see me as an author? :P
♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller¨*•.♥
Film and TV? Wow, that is amazing.
Yep. Doing it all sure is daunting, so I don't lol
I consider myself a working writer, but definitely not an author! For me an author is someone with a body of published work. I've had to do a lot of writing throughout my career years, but now that I'm retired, I finally get to write for me, what I want. Hopefully that body of published work will come. Have a great October!
I also think writer and author are different. Being a writer is the part I can do. To become an author, I feel like someone else has to give me that title.
I didn't know you'd worked in so many aspects of the writing world! I write what I enjoy writing, then I put it out there and try to get paid for it. :)
Great distinction between writer and author. I feel such a different bond and responsibility with my novels than I ever will with anything I write for work.
In response to your comment at my blog - yes! I'm into prairies - lived my whole life in the Prairie State. And even though suburbia has build up all around me, pockets of prairie have been restored/preserved, and that's where I go to walk and recalibrate. That's so cool that you cultivated one in Ohio! Good eye on the prairie plants.
Interesting differentiation. You have certainly been a working writer. Good luck to you.
Good way to look at it. It sounds like you've been a very successful working writer. Although "author" seems to have more kudos and cachet. Although I've self-published, I still think of myself as a writer first rather than author. I think this debate could run and run!
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