What is the difference between writing and being a writer?

Anyone can write. Everyone has the ability to express themselves with words – it doesn’t matter if they can spell or punctuate. We write letters to friends, grocery lists, responses to dunning collection letters, letters to a child’s teacher explaining an absence and so much more. Perhaps we keep a diary or journal regularly – maybe we even maintain a blog online. Sometimes we chronicle family stories for posterity. But does that make us WRITERS?

The act of writing is only a facet, albeit the most important one, of being a writer. Writers need to produce the word, complete the project, edit themselves, promote and market their work, make connections, negotiate business, and keep records and financials in order. Writers must find ways to coordinate their right brain creativity and left brain organization. And even more importantly, writers must be able to balance a writing life and all of its responsibilities with their actual lives including family, jobs, and personal well being.

If you want to be a real writer and not just some fictionalized Hollywood version, there are many of us who will tell you it is worth every nail-biting bit of angst. Each time you reach a point where you can “see” that people are reading your words and hearing your message, it feels like success. If you get to see your name on a byline or on the spine of a book, it is almost an overwhelming sense of triumph. Real writers can produce novels, newspaper stories, ad copy, textbooks, magazine articles, book blurbs and more – they can write fact or fiction.

However, most writers never make it big. Most writers can’t afford to retire. Many writers need other jobs to pay their bills. Being a successful writer is not a measure of fame or income – it’s getting work that you can be proud of out there, making an impact on your readers. When your article or story can hold your readers’ attention and makes them want to read it through to the end, consider yourself successful.

It’s very easy to get published nowadays. We can host our own blogs, or self publish ebooks or print copies, or we can get lucky and go the traditional route through a publisher (independent or conglomerate). No matter what route you take, editing is crucial. Even if you are working through an established publisher, make sure your work is as close to perfect as possible – check spelling, grammar, point of view, accuracy – ask a trusted friend or a paid professional editor to double check your work, and then check it again yourself. Multiple and sometimes glaring spelling errors can be a turn off to readers and break whatever spell you might otherwise have cast. Editors and publishers considering your work will most likely discard something that is rife with errors.

Finishing your work goes beyond typing “The End”. What do you plan to do with this product? Even if all you want is produce a journal for your family, you still have to get it printed. And if you want to get published for public consumption, you have to find a publisher or self-pub outlet, market and promote your work, and make the public aware that you are out there. Arrange author appearances, distribute marketing supplies (swag) and build a buzz. Most importantly, you have to begin work on your next project.



Writing Exercise: Have you ever been fired from a job or quit one suddenly because of a disagreement? Or have you failed a class that you studied very hard to pass? Or lost an opportunity that you are sure will never come your way again? Assume that you can re-write history and write a list of instructions to yourself so that you won’t repeat the pattern and can turn the situation into a positive result.

Writing Prompt: Without thinking quickly write a (1)verb; (2)color; (3)number; (4)girl’s name; (5)animal; (6)fruit; and a (7)part of the body. Now for EACH of the seven words, write a coherent sentence – BUT each sentence must end with a word that rhymes with your response; NOT the same word. (In other words, if your color is “blue”, end your sentence with words like new, too, sue)