What's the difference between writer and author?

When it comes to differentiating a writer from an author, it is important to understand that both terms involve the act of writing. However, the difference between them lies in the way they engage in the writing process, the level of expertise they possess, and the recognition they receive for their work.

Firstly, a writer can be defined as an individual engaged in writing as a hobby, job, or passion. Writers may produce work in different formats – including poetry, short stories, essays, and novels – and may write for various purposes, like self-expression, to entertain or educate. They may also write using various styles or techniques, such as descriptive, persuasive, or narrative. Writers may or may not have published their work, and still, they often work towards perfecting their craft.

On the other hand, an author is a writer who has had their work published professionally. In other words, they have attained a level of expertise and mastery in their craft that allows them to produce written works that are recognized beyond personal or hobby writing. Authors work towards establishing their brand, creating a readership base, and being recognized for their unique storytelling style.

Secondly, while anyone can be a writer, not everyone can be an author. This is because becoming an author requires a higher level of skill and knowledge of the industry. Unlike writers, authors go through the hurdles of getting their work published, often dealing with literary agents, editors, and publishing houses. Furthermore, authors have to deal with the business side of things from marketing, book tours, and more.

Thirdly, writers may write for different purposes; an author’s primary motive is to make a career through writing. In other words, authors are professionals who craft stories/ideas into well-written books with the hope of being published and ultimately achieving book sales. As such, the financial benefit is often more important to authors than it is to writers. Authors rely on their books as a source of income that supplements their living, while writers may work on a wide range of writing jobs throughout their career.

In conclusion, the difference between a writer and an author may seem negligible on the surface, but there is a considerable difference between the two careers. While both writers and authors engage in the same activity – writing – they differ in terms of expertise, recognition, effort, and financial outcome. While anyone can be a writer, becoming an author requires mastery, a high level of skill, and perseverance in seeing one’s work published, marketed, and sold. Ultimately, the two camps are interconnected as writers can become authors, and vice versa.