Dave Sandel of Low Gravity Ascents posted a tweet this morning that caught my eye: “Still not a writer. Still just a blogger.” I stared at it for a second, processing, and trying to decide what I thought. Is there a difference?
For many, blogging and writing are the same. If you blog, you obviously write, so therefor, you are a writer. It’s like a process of deduction or something, no? Is writing one of those activities where if you do it at all, it counts, regardless of how well or where?
However, it’s not that simple! When I hear the term “writer”, I think of someone that writes for money or writes for highly-recognized sites. You know, someone who does it quasi-professionally and has proper grammar skills and a decent-sized vocabulary. As much as all of the blogging world would like to fall into that category, it just isn’t real. The majority of bloggers don’t make their full-time salary via their blog, and let’s face it: the grammar and writing skills are sometimes lacking. This isn’t a criticism; it’s merely an observation. But that’s the beauty of blogging, right? That you can write what you want, how you want and for whom you want without an editor or managing company hanging over your head. {I’ll be the first to admit that I frequently publish posts without even proof reading them! I would never do that for my editors!}
So, are you a writer? Am I writer? I honestly don’t know! Will always says I’m more qualified in the industry because of my undergrad degree in journalism, but I spent a long time away from the field. I was an associate editor for a magazine for a year before traveling, but I never returned to full-time writing and even now, I merely dabble. I regularly contribute to a few online sites and I have my own section in the fall edition of the print publication of a popular outdoor magazine (more details this September!), but I still question the label.
What makes a writer?
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