Comments on: What is an “Aspiring writer”?

By: Nita

Nita — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:12:58 +0000

I think that’s one of the reasons RWA’s requirements for PAN (Published Author Network) bother me so much. My novel, THE WAGONMASTER, recently won 1st place in the historical division of the Laurel Wreath Awards. Second and third places went to books published by Harlequin. But my book was published by a small online publisher– one who doesn’t give an advance and whose sales are not enough to qualify me for PAN. So according to RWA, I’m just an “aspiring” writer.
Of course, I don’t really care what RWA thinks. As far as I’m concerned, you can refer to me as an “award-winning author.”

By: LynneC

LynneC — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:36:03 +0000

Keep writing Danielle and never lose the love of just doing it.

By: Danielle Yockman

Danielle Yockman — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:16:30 +0000

Thank you! I love to write. I hope to be published, but it doesn’t change my desire to write! I love it now. The process of meeting and learning my characters. Of telling their stories. I won’t stop unless my body won’t let me do it!

By: Monday Morning Stepback «

Monday Morning Stepback « — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:25:38 +0000

[...] Lynne Connelly weighs in on the “pre”/”aspiring” writer debate at TGTBTU [...]

By: Lynne Connolly

Lynne Connolly — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:30:50 +0000

Yes, it’s a useful differentiation. What I don’t like is writers denigrating themselves and what they’re doing, as if it’s second best. I’ve read some wonderful unpubbed things, and people who obsess about being published as if that was all that was important about writing. Added to which, I’m listening to a program on the radio about James Joyce’s “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,” a masterpiece that took ten years to write. Worth every second.

By: Liviania

Liviania — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:18:44 +0000

I like to use the words writer and author to mark the difference. A writer writes; an author has published a book.