What is a writer?

A writer/author I admire and have learned a lot of important ideas/concepts in writing from is Dean Wesley Smith. I haven’t taken any of his writing courses, but I read his blog regularly. I’ve also read several of his non-fiction writing guides. 

Unlike Dean, I’m not going to try and maintain a blogging streak, but I do have some thoughts on writing – in general and related specifically to the Chess Series. And since this is my base on the web, it is here I will write. (Yes, dear critical voice, that did sound a bit like Yoda.)

So, the first topic that I’m going to tackle for myself is: What is a writer?

And the question linked to that is: Am I a writer?

Dean sums it up this way:

• A Writer is a person who writes.
• An Author is a person who has written.

I agree with him. Because somehow, Authors are put on some kind of pedestal, and they’re special butterflies. Not everyone thinks this, of course, but it’s definitely a lofty goal.

Writers are the other hand, are prolific, and they keep producing new stories. Some are better than others (although that gets into a whole other topic of how one defines “better.”) But always moving forward to the next story. 

In some circles, one wants to be an Author. In other circles, one knows that being a Writer is better. First, because writers are authors (having finished at least one story.) But second, because writers become authors over and over again. And who doesn’t want to be someone who meets such a lofty goal multiple times? Until it becomes no longer a lofty goal and simply a stepping stone to different (possibly more lofty) goals. 

So, given that, am I a writer? Yes, I would have to say I am. I am also an Author as I have published ten books/stories available for purchase, and three available for download if you join my newsletter. 

When I originally wrote this post (August 2022), I hadn’t yet published those books. And as I update it now (November 2024), I have the next series written and in the editing stages before publishing. 

The truth is that I have more than just the next series in progress, but nothing else I’ve written is finished. Unfortunately. I still keep writing, though, knowing I’ll get back to them eventually. So if you like the Chess Series, there’s lots more to come in that world. I’m also writing a contemporary romance and a paranormal/vampire romance series. 

Bye for now!