WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WRITER AND AN ASPIRING WRITER?

I have been writing for more than 30 years, and like just about every other person passionate about creating written text, I have explored numerous resources to help me to become a writer. Here are just a few of the resources I have explored:

1. Local Newspaper Reporter: After completing my Associate in Arts in mass communications with a journalism emphasis, I began to look for opportunities to work as a reporter. I had gained some experience as a reporter for a community college newsletter and felt that I at least had enough experience to land an entry level job. Unfortunately, it was not that easy. The closest I ever got to becoming a newspaper reporter was signing on with a startup weekly newspaper, but I spent most of my two-month stint trying to sale ad space.
2. Magazine Editor: My next writing “job” was as editor-in-chief of a local magazine focused on the hair stylist and beauty salon industry. We managed to get three issues published, but we could not sale enough ad space to keep the magazine up and running; that, and I was not getting paid for my time.
3. Writing Programs: Next, I enrolled in three different writing programs to improve my creative writing skills. One of the programs was geared towards teaching its students how to write children’s fiction. Another program was focused on Christian Writers, and the third program was focused on improving the novel writing skills of its students. I only completed one of the three programs and earned my certificate of completion for the Christian Writers Guild.
4. Script Writing: One afternoon I received a call from my martial arts instructor, asking if I would like to write a “screenplay” for a local film production. Of course, I heard the word “write” and immediately answered “Yes.” A moment later, I asked “What is a screenplay?” My martial arts instructor gave me a copy of an old television drama shooting script, and I used that format to write the first draft of the screenplay. A year later I discovered that I was using the incorrect format, and the script was never produced into a motion picture. However, that all mattered little to me because I was hooked on scriptwriting. Over the next couple of decades, I would write scripts for a stage play, several industrial video productions, a television variety show (never aired beyond local cable), two fan-fiction Star Trek scripts (not produced), three independent films (none were produced), a solo dramatic reading, and a filmmaking student produced film. I have written more than a dozen scripts or film treatments, but none have ever been sold. I even joined a filmmaking alliance that was focused on producing family friendly films, and almost had two of my film treatments advanced to production by a panel of peer screenwriters, directors and film enthusiasts.
5. Novels & Short Stories: About the same time that I was writing for the community college newspaper, I began working on an adventure novel, and even had one of my professors read a draft of the novel. I actually began writing the novel in long hand and later rewrote it using a typewriter. I still have a copy of that novel draft, but it will take a major revision to get it ready for publication. I also began writing and submitting short stories and received more than three dozen rejections before my one and only short story publication.
6. Poetry: I actually began writing poetry in high school as part of an assignment for a creative writing class. I rediscovered my love of poetry when I was married and wrote volumes of poetry for my wife. Later I began to write poetry for online poetry communities.
7. Creative Writing Degree: After earning by bachelors in organizational communications, I decided to pursue a masters in English with a creative writing emphasis. After completing my masters, I continued to work on screenplays, short stories and novels. I have a half a dozen of each collecting proverbial dust on storage devices and cloud storage.
8. How-To Articles: I have published 19 how-to type articles online and received a small payment for each article. While it has been a while since I have been paid to write an article, I still enjoy technical writing.
9. Non-Fiction Books: My co-authored book on titled The Family Link to Education: The Road to Personal and Professional Success (to be published September 2018) is my first legitimate book publication; not counting my Masters thesis (a published collection of short stories) or my doctoral dissertation. I am currently working on a second co-authored non-fiction book that I hope to publish in 2019.

Here is a question to consider:

Was I a writer or an aspiring writer before my how-to articles or my soon to be published non-fiction book?

Even before the how-to articles, I had received a couple hundred dollars payment here and there from individuals and small production companies for a few of my writing assignments. So, does getting paid for writing make you a legitimate writer or does the very process of writing make you a writer? It is a complicated question, and the answer probably depends on who you ask. For example, a literary agent is only interested in the person who can write well and write a complete manuscript, but a hiring manager probably wants someone with publication credits.

My personal belief is that a writer is anyone with a passion for creating written text, and with the discipline to complete a draft. I am, however, aware of the distinction that academics and publishers make between a writer and an aspiring writer. Anyone who is published or who earns an income from writing is a writer, and all others who write are aspiring writers. The latter, however, is more perception than it is semantically accurate. I say this because aspire means to hope to obtain a goal, so if your goal is to write and poem, and then you write a poem, you are a poet.

The definition of writer has become synonymous with good writer, while aspiring writing has become synonymous with someone who is still developing their skill as a writer. If you enjoy writing and you have completed writing projects (poetry, short stories, novels, how-to articles or screenplays), then you are a writer. It does not matter if you are published or if you have been paid for your efforts, but if you aspire to become a good writer, then that is the subject of another blog post.