When are you a writer?

  1. Sean
    Sean
    I was watching Charlie Brooker's screenwipe a few weeks ago and one screenwriter for Eastenders happened to say something that bugged me a little. I can't remember the exact phrasing but his point was along the lines of "until you have the work published you are not a writer".
    Now, while I haven't business cards or T-shirts advertising the fact, I consider myself a writer, despite being as yet my first serious work being unfinished and unpublished. I was just wondering everyone else's opinions on this, given the word "aspiring" in the group title.
  2. Bright Banana Beard
    Bright Banana Beard
    Being a writer means you write something to the audience you want to reach, publishing isn't one of them as you can pass off your paper to the audience too. If you inform or entertain and the audience liked it, then you are a writer. Don't eat this bourgeoisie mindset.
  3. Plagueround
    Plagueround
    You are a writer when you create written works, any other criteria is just elitism. I don't think anyone would say "You aren't really an actor if you haven't been in a Hollywood blockbuster". Same thing.
  4. Sean
    Sean
    Are you a writer while currently writing, or a writer after you have written?
  5. apathy maybe
    I've had my work published. In a student magazine.

    Anyone who claims that you aren't a "writer" until after you are published is stupid. Writing is mostly all it takes. You may not be a professional writer until you can basically live off your writing, but that isn't the question. (Anyway, who would want to be a professional anything? I'm an amateur porn star, it's much more fun.)
  6. Dust Bunnies
    I think that once you write you are a writer. Also, I would not want, at this moment to be published. I would rather make my works available online and if you like it, donate.
  7. Led Zeppelin
    Led Zeppelin
    When you write, you're a writer.

    When you're published and can live off of your writings, you are a professional writer.
  8. Sixiang
    Sixiang
    Being a writer means you write something to the audience you want to reach, publishing isn't one of them as you can pass off your paper to the audience too. If you inform or entertain and the audience liked it, then you are a writer. Don't eat this bourgeoisie mindset.
    I agree with this. I really only share my writings with my brother and a couple of friends, but that's still an audience I share with and they also share with me their writings.