tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post5027575757737573254..comments2023-04-14T05:46:16.714-04:00Comments on DB McNicol, Author: #IWSG - What makes a writer an author?Donna B. McNicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209611782116113024noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-66547104489530426662012-12-04T21:15:46.000-05:002012-12-04T21:15:46.000-05:00I've published two books and I still don't...I've published two books and I still don't "feel like an author." I prefer the title of "writer" or even "storyteller." "Author" has a slightly stuffy feel to it, as though I should have grand literary aspirations. "Storyteller" seems to better encapsulate my goal: to tell a good tale that entertains the reader.<br><br>I saw an image on Facebook I loved: "I'm a wordsmith. It's like a blacksmith, but without all the fire and metal and stuff."Lissa Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-38877214613653131772012-12-05T02:22:56.000-05:002012-12-05T02:22:56.000-05:00When I decided to take the step to publish I novel...When I decided to take the step to publish I novel I claimed the title of author but I never really embraced it or believed it until I signed a publishing contract. Now I'm proud of it and not the least bit hesitant. In my opinion once you have a some writing available to be bought, you are an author. Before that you're basically just writing for yourself so you're a writer.<br><br>http://chrissteen.wordpress.comChristine Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-29226939522881298962012-12-05T02:24:56.000-05:002012-12-05T02:24:56.000-05:00I considered myself an 'aspiring writer' u...I considered myself an 'aspiring writer' until I read a post that said if you are writing you are not aspiring, you are doing it. First hurdled down, I'm a writer! Whew! I self published my debut novel this year and at that point, I considered myself an author. It's done. It's out. I did it! Next stop...Best Selling Author!<br><br>But first I need marketing! :)Liss Thomasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-46713556297172885202012-12-05T02:35:30.000-05:002012-12-05T02:35:30.000-05:00Donna, after being published I finally (tentativel...Donna, after being published I finally (tentatively) called myself author when people ask what I do. I think once my second book comes out I'll feel that this really validates my "title." Kudos to you for cranking out 2 novels recently! Happy writing...and editing, author!Donna Galantinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-8215864012097792022012-12-05T04:22:00.000-05:002012-12-05T04:22:00.000-05:00I do consider myself a writer and an author (autho...I do consider myself a writer and an author (author because I am published). But I know what you mean. I haven't published any full-length works yet either, so I tend to skim over the fact that I am an author. People want to know about novels, and they seem disappointed when you tell them it's a novella or a short story collection, etc. But we should be proud to put our work out there. :)Cherie Reichnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-77730176437380632792012-12-05T07:02:52.000-05:002012-12-05T07:02:52.000-05:00I love the wordsmith quote!I think the trick is to...I love the wordsmith quote!<br><br>I think the trick is to call your self something you feel comfortable with. If you don't believe in it then no one else will either.Debbienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-43550460692331349542012-12-05T08:24:01.000-05:002012-12-05T08:24:01.000-05:00I like the sound of the word 'author' so I...I like the sound of the word 'author' so I prefer that to writer.<br>I think the idea of having one or two books/novels/novellas in my hands, that can be understood and processed by a reader without any help from me to explain the bits that don't make sense yet, will be the cut-off point between being an author and not.noonebutablogheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-30017938387183106352012-12-05T09:37:45.000-05:002012-12-05T09:37:45.000-05:00I prefer writer over author because I feel comfort...I prefer writer over author because I feel comfortable with it. And yeah, November flew by fast!Livianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-24173023173739025982012-12-05T11:23:23.000-05:002012-12-05T11:23:23.000-05:00Personally, I considered myself a "profession...Personally, I considered myself a "professional writer" when I was getting paid to write non-fic, but I didn't consider myself an "author" until I was paid for my first fictional short story. I don't think I'll consider myself a "published author" until I see a contracted novel of mine in print and that may never happen.<br>But like with readers' tastes, everything is relative. As far as I'm concerned -- you're an Author! Yay! :-)Lexa Cainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-69662462813328584442012-12-05T12:50:15.000-05:002012-12-05T12:50:15.000-05:00This makes me wonder if I'll ever be comfortab...This makes me wonder if I'll ever be comfortable calling myself an author. I hope so. It's funny, though, because like you, I've written non-fiction. I've been paid for articles. I even have a story coming out in an anthology. Yet I still call myself a writer. Hmph.<br><br>Shannon at <a href="http://thewarriormuse.blogspot.com/2012/12/iwsg-linkies.html/" rel="nofollow">The Warrior Muse</a>Shannon Lawrencenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-36673829467334682192012-12-05T20:11:43.000-05:002012-12-05T20:11:43.000-05:00I write. I have drafts, three, nothing finished, n...I write. I have drafts, three, nothing finished, nothing published. Hmm.. I've had lots of pieces published in newspapers but that was for work years ago, nothing fictional or novel-wise. Authors write books so when I have a book published I might deem myself to be an author.. Until then I write. Have you noticed I'm struggling with the term writer? Ahh.. Bless me, I have more work to do.. How do I turn 'I write' into 'I'm a writer'? Add 'm a er.. Need to practice that one.. Happy editing..lynneinpboroughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-6572724674845065602012-12-06T05:59:10.000-05:002012-12-06T05:59:10.000-05:00I still feel funny saying author but I will admit ...I still feel funny saying author but I will admit it is exciting to be intoduced as an author in Barnes & Noble, schools and libraries, etc...Doreen McGettigannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-71836735773814284732012-12-07T05:35:18.000-05:002012-12-07T05:35:18.000-05:00Thanks for all the great comments. I glad to see t...Thanks for all the great comments. I glad to see that I'm not the only one who struggles with calling themselves an author. Still have to visit and read other IWSG posts....off to visit some now!DB McNicolhttp://donnamcnicol.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963015679650968932.post-53689124828173694672012-12-07T07:36:56.000-05:002012-12-07T07:36:56.000-05:00It took me a bit before I got comfortable calling ...It took me a bit before I got comfortable calling myself an author. I felt weird and like I was giving myself a title I didn't deserve. I got used to it, but it still leaves me feeling excited to have that claim.Patricia Lynnenoreply@blogger.com