A. Lee Martinez, an American fantasy and science fiction novelist, once said, “Those who write are writers.” And no other definition of that phrase could be more appropriate.
Continuing along this line of thought with the same level of minimalism, an author is someone who has had their work published. Is that all there is? Well, no. There are various categories of writers and authors, and sometimes very little distinguishes one from the other. In many cases, the line that should separate the two is often somewhat unclear.
So to explain the difference between a writer vs author, let’s look at each individually.
What is an Author?
Writer vs author has been a hot topic in the world of writing. Authors are skilled writers who devote a lot of time to their craft. People who consider themselves writers often have less expertise in studying and publishing than editors and researchers.
In order to become a published author, you need to devote a significant amount of time and effort to the art of writing and producing, irrespective of whether you work in fiction or nonfiction and have it published.
However, if an author who has their book self-published goes through this procedure, by the time it’s ready to go to print, their work will have been validated to the same level that a professionally published book would have been. Since it’s going to be published in a reputable outlet, the writer will be able to confidently refer to oneself as an actual author.
An author may also decide to retain the services of a literary agent, who is in a position to facilitate the author’s career development in areas such as book tours, marketing, and publication.
What is a Writer?
The definition of an author and a writer has the sense of being a less formal title than “author,” which is the title that is more often used. But were you aware that writing professionally full-time without having published any books is possible?
A writer has various career options, including ghostwriting, content writing, and editing.
As a freelance writer, you have the potential to have a prosperous and satisfying career, and there is a constant need for your services. Businesses, journals, and other professions often engage writers to assist in the creation of material for their publications. Consider all of the websites that are available on the internet. Every page, as well as each blog post, has to be written.
As a professional writer, you can assist customers in creating blog entries, website material, social media postings, and many more! You may not be recognized as a published author, but you have the makings of a successful writer.
The Difference: Writer vs Author
It is not easy to break into the writing industry. Being an author calls for self-discipline, a significant amount of labor, and a genuine devotion to one’s task. While the writer, especially blog writers, after completing one assignment, a writer will then go on to the next one.
On the other hand, a single book can take the author years to complete one project. As an author, you are responsible for several things, including the following:
- Create an exciting tale.
- Find out whether you will tell the story from the first person, the second person, or the third-person perspective.
- Create some depth for the characters.
- Check to see if the narrative moves smoothly.
- On top of that, the book must be engaging enough to appeal to readers so that you can sell it. Although authors can finish many projects in a single month, an author is typically immersed in a single work for at least a year.
When a writer has a book or manuscript published under their name, they are considered the work’s author. Therefore, to be an author, you must first achieve the goal of effectively publishing and selling your career as a writer.
It makes no difference whether the piece you’ve produced is a piece of fiction or nonfiction; it may even be a short tale. If you can have your work published and sold to customers, you may appropriately refer to yourself as an author.
Final Word
The world of writing is a vast and expansive one. And this is a positive development! It paves the door for authors to achieve success in various ways. As a writer, you can choose your course of events. You can work with firms across multiple business sectors as a freelance writer or ghostwriter. You may also choose to earn a career by creating books and then touring the globe to promote them.