Writer or Author? - Writers Forum

wmd · 09-02-2007, 09:36 PM

Why are some referred to as a writer, while others are referred to as an author?

Just wondering.

valeca · 09-02-2007, 09:51 PM

I tend to think of it as: one is used to describe the other.

Like, "So-and-so is a writer. He's the author of [insert title here]."

One is what you do, the other is [one example of] who you are? Maybe?

ClancyBoy · 09-02-2007, 10:09 PM

Why are eggplants sometimes called aubergines?

surrealist · 09-02-2007, 10:27 PM

I almost always see "author" in reference to *non-fiction*. For fiction, I usually see "writer". However, I'm far more likely to see "author" used for fiction than I am to see "writer" used for non-fiction.

Jacen · 09-02-2007, 10:50 PM

I tend to think of a writer as anyone who writes anything be they articles, poetry (it's a wide range) author I at least tend to think of more along the lines of those who publish novels but that's just my view.

Joelle · 09-02-2007, 11:37 PM

Me, personally, I've always thought "writer" sounds better. I'm not sure why. Technically they're the same thing, imo.

pervarakapadiaatwforum · 09-03-2007, 01:11 AM

author and writer could be the same person. essentially author is the one to conceptualise and draw a basic framework while writer is the one who actually writes. So while we have ghost writers we don't have ghost authors as yet. the definition at Author - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :
An author is any person(s) or entity(s) that originates and assumes responsibility for an expression or communication. Authors are responsible for acknowledging contributors and are distinguished from a compiler, translator, editor, or copyist.
Frequently the word author is used to suggest a person who creates a written work, such as a book, story, article, or the like, whether short or long, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, technical or literary. Within copyright law the term "author" is often used for the creator of any work, be it written, painted, sculpted, music, a photograph or a film. For purposes of copyright, an author may be a corporation as well an individual.
In literary theory, the author function is the writer of a work as seen by the reader. Each work by the same author has a separate author function, and each work by numerous or unknown authors has a single distinct author function. In the wake of postmodern literature, Roland Barthes in his seminal essay Death of the Author (196

and other literary critics have questioned this function, i.e. the relevance of the authorship to a text's meaning.

in Writer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia : is anyone who creates a written work, although the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. The word is almost synonymous with author, although somebody who writes, say, a laundry list, could technically be called the writer of the list, but not an author. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images, whether producing fiction or non-fiction.
A writer may compose in many different forms, including (but certainly not limited to) poetry, prose, or music. Accordingly, a writer in specialist mode may rank as a Test Page for the SSL/TLS-aware Apache Installation on Web Site, poet, novelist, composer, lyricist, playwright, mythographer, journalist, film scriptwriter, etc. (See also: creative writing, technical writing and academic papers.)
Writers' output frequently contributes to the cultural content of a society, and that society may value its writerly corpus -- or literature -- as an art much like the visual arts (see: painting, sculpture, photography), music, craft and performance art (see: drama, theatre, opera, musical).

Mike C · 09-03-2007, 01:11 AM

“Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you’re a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff’s worth, without pity, and destroy most of it.”–Colette

pervarakapadiaatwforum · 09-03-2007, 01:11 AM

author and writer could be the same person. essentially author is the one to conceptualise and draw a basic framework while writer is the one who actually writes. So while we have ghost writers we don't have ghost authors as yet. the definition at Author - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :
An author is any person(s) or entity(s) that originates and assumes responsibility for an expression or communication. Authors are responsible for acknowledging contributors and are distinguished from a compiler, translator, editor, or copyist.
Frequently the word author is used to suggest a person who creates a written work, such as a book, story, article, or the like, whether short or long, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, technical or literary. Within copyright law the term "author" is often used for the creator of any work, be it written, painted, sculpted, music, a photograph or a film. For purposes of copyright, an author may be a corporation as well an individual.
In literary theory, the author function is the writer of a work as seen by the reader. Each work by the same author has a separate author function, and each work by numerous or unknown authors has a single distinct author function. In the wake of postmodern literature, Roland Barthes in his seminal essay Death of the Author (196

and other literary critics have questioned this function, i.e. the relevance of the authorship to a text's meaning.

in Writer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia : is anyone who creates a written work, although the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. The word is almost synonymous with author, although somebody who writes, say, a laundry list, could technically be called the writer of the list, but not an author. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images, whether producing fiction or non-fiction.
A writer may compose in many different forms, including (but certainly not limited to) poetry, prose, or music. Accordingly, a writer in specialist mode may rank as a Test Page for the SSL/TLS-aware Apache Installation on Web Site, poet, novelist, composer, lyricist, playwright, mythographer, journalist, film scriptwriter, etc. (See also: creative writing, technical writing and academic papers.)
Writers' output frequently contributes to the cultural content of a society, and that society may value its writerly corpus -- or literature -- as an art much like the visual arts (see: painting, sculpture, photography), music, craft and performance art (see: drama, theatre, opera, musical).

ClancyBoy · 09-03-2007, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

“Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you’re a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff’s worth, without pity, and destroy most of it.”–Colette

What if I can destroy all of it without pity?

Rumrunner · 09-03-2007, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClancyBoy:
Why are eggplants sometimes called aubergines?

That would be the fault of the French, most likely. In fact, come to think of it, the writer-author thing is probably their fault too. I like to think that most things are

-Rumrunner

The Thing · 09-03-2007, 06:35 AM

To me it's like cook and chef. A cook is somebody who cooks at home as a hobby while a chef cooks for a living. So a writer is a hobbyist and an author is a professional.

Mike C · 09-03-2007, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClancyBoy

What if I can destroy all of it without pity?

Then obviously all of your writing would be without worth. But at least you'd have the judgement to know it.

ClancyBoy · 09-03-2007, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Thing

To me it's like cook and chef. A cook is somebody who cooks at home as a hobby while a chef cooks for a living. So a writer is a hobbyist and an author is a professional.

Also cook is English and chef is French.

ClancyBoy · 09-03-2007, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Then obviously all of your writing would be without worth. But at least you'd have the judgement to know it.

No chance my standards are too high?