Are you a writer?
By Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
Centralia, Missouri
October 9, 2015 6:44pm CST
Are you a writer? Depending on the definition you may or may not be one. When asked Google came back with these definitions.
1. a person who has written a particular text, aka "the writer of the letter"
2. a person who writes books, stories, or articles as a job or regular occupation.
3. a person who writes in a specified way, aka "Dickens was a prolific writer"
We have all written something, like perhaps a letter. Since we are on here, we have written discussions! Have we written a book? I have. Some others have, and they even have published.
No, I think pretty much everyone is a writer under one definition or another. The question I guess really should be, is are you a GOOD writer? You can be solid on spelling, and grammar and still be terrible, by the way. Technique does not necessarily equate to quality. Also, I don't think this is something you can determine for yourself. Your audience does that for you. People will either like, or not, what you wrote. It make take years to find the right audience (like the authors only famous after their passing). Or a work may never be liked and well read.
For example, I love the poems I have written. I know they are good, but does that make me a good writer? I can't answer that. I can say one thing though, being egotistical is rude, talking down is rude, tearing down others makes you small and a waste of memory. So even if you personally think you are the best writer in the world, have some respect for others, and for yourself.
ps- heh, thanks for the inspiration, you know who you all are! 
17 people like this
18 responses
@allknowing (130064)
• India
10 Oct 15
There have been posts here about writers praising themselves. So I dare not say that I am a good writer. And about getting an audience that does not really help one come to any conclusion. The writer has to be in an environment where they will find those who like their writings. A lot of work requires to be done to find them. To give you an example. I upload poems here. I hardly get any responses while there are others here who are appreciated. Should I take it then that I am poor composer?
3 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
10 Oct 15
@Tita417 I am not fretting. But only stating facts. That is what I said that you have to be in the right environment. I hope it is clear now.
I am an old myLotter and most of my connections are nowhere to be seen You seem to be new here. .
2 people like this
@Tita417 (1228)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
10 Oct 15
@allknowing Yes I'm new and oops wrong word use . Maybe your friend have different names used.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
Oh I like that, a scribbler! Would that be like the difference between an amateur and an expert?
2 people like this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
10 Oct 15
@Jessicalynnt I write things that come to my mind, sometimes not in conventional ways.
"based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed.
concerned with what is generally held to be acceptable at the expense of individuality and sincerity.
(of a work of art or literature) following traditional forms and genres"
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
10 Oct 15
When I wrote for 'real money' I was a writer, now I'm a who knows what. I do try to do my best whatever I'm writing, it's my nature.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
10 Oct 15
@Jessicalynnt I don't like doing something half-way. It's all or nothing with me.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
I like that response, being the best no matter what!
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
10 Oct 15
I have been published before, but that was a short story in a gardening magazine. Aside from that I write all sorts of things that may or may not qualify!
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
I've always chickened out before trying to get things published on my own.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
10 Oct 15
@Tita417 Yes, it would be good if I could get things out of my head and written out.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
9 Oct 15
It is quiet hard for one to determine if he or she is a writer. I guess the readers have the perfect answer to that question.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
We can certainly know when a piece is truly good (or we at least may think we know), but unless the masses agree, or whatever audience, agrees, it's hard to actually judge.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
10 Oct 15
@Jessicalynnt Exactly. There are times we would think it is perfect but it ends up being perfect to us and not to the audiece
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
10 Oct 15
I'm a writer. I'm not a published writer, but I've been putting words into sentences into paragraphs since I discovered the joy of writing.
I think I'm a decent writer. Not great, and some people might not even say good, but I've had enough praise on some of my fiction to know I have a little talent at least.
Mostly I write for the sake of writing. And I love that the internet lets me share it with other people.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Oct 15
Exactly, feedback has helped you form an opinion on the quality of your writing, which I think is a good way to make that determination.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
10 Oct 15
I'm certainly 'a' writer with and some commercial success. I am good but not great. I don't see my work hitting the best-seller lists
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
11 Oct 15
@Jessicalynnt I'd rather get there in this life 
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
heh! you never know, some people get famous once they join the afterlife. Granted, that would be irrelevant to your own knowledge of your success. Plus things on the net never go away, who knows, maybe a mylot discussion will go viral, lol.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Oct 15
@arthurchappell well duh, lol, that goes without saying. I agree with you though, I really want to see something I write go big.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
Good shading there. Writing versus good writing. And I agree. We are all writers, after all what are we doing here. Writing. Now as to the quality of that...that can vary, heh.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
10 Oct 15
@Jessicalynnt and lets face it, there's always controversy about winners of prestigious writing competitions. Is it you who I remember is gearing up for NaNoWriMo?
@else34 (13517)
• New Delhi, India
10 Oct 15
@Jessicalynnt,I love writing.Many articles and stories written by me in my mother tongue Hindi have been published in reputed magazines and newspapers.I have also written a book,but it is not for publication.What would you say about me?Am I a writer.I don't think so.I love writing,have written some stories and articles,but am not a writer.Writing is not my profession.
1 person likes this
@else34 (13517)
• New Delhi, India
10 Oct 15
@Jessicalynnt The book I have written is the biography a great martyr of our country.I am not going to send it for publication.I don't think it's a book.It's just a manuscript,not a book.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
@else34 My writings are generally a play or a poem, or a fantasy story, probably not worth anything but I have fun with them.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
And that is certainly one way to think of Writing. As an actual profession, like chef, or teacher. I would consider you a writer, because you both write here and are published. 
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Oct 15
I would say that makes you a writer, perhaps not a professional writer, but a writer nonetheless
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
As I told @Susan2015, I do enough work as it is, I don't need more! lol
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Oct 15
I like the way you put that. Today feels like a blabbery day, words with no substance, for me, we shall see.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
11 Oct 15
@Jessicalynnt I am glad someone understands! 
1 person likes this
@Tita417 (1228)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
10 Oct 15
Very well said.We do write and I can say that only our audience will define who we are. If we are what we think we are as a writer. I don't think I am. I just do what I feel like doing and I am loving it . It doesn't matter what they say
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
13 Oct 15
No I'm not a writer, but sometimes I wish I was, or had been, not that good with words and wished I'd done better within school. I'm often amazed by people who are writers.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
10 Oct 15
if you are a writer, and a good one at that, can you write about any topic?
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Oct 15
That's a good question. On one hand to be a good writer I would think you'd need to be able to write about anything. BUT some people are good journalists, but could never write a poem. They are considered writers. So, I guess if all you can write is the best books ever on the history of the common mouse, but nothing else, you could still be a writer.
1 person likes this
@fufurinha (11930)
• Portugal
10 Oct 15
No, I don't consider myself a writer. But I would like to write a book one day.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33351)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
10 Oct 15
Yes, I'm a writer. I've written poems in the past--some were published online and in print. I never did get my short stories poems. But I've published hubs on Hub Pages (another website I've been a member of for a year), and now I'm hoping to get my novels agented and published by the end of the year.
