writer vs. Writer

I've been a part of writing circles for awhile now, and every once in awhile the conversation of writer vs. author comes up. This conversation is usually prompted by someone pointing out that everyone has a novel they'll write, or by someone saying "you could write a book!" The reality is, that yes--you could write a book. There are many writers who spend years working to get published but there are even more writers (talented, gifted writers) who simply don't write (John Patterson I'm looking at you!).

Forget, then, the debate between writer vs. author and let's look at writer vs. Writer (capital W). I would say the one and only difference is dedication to getting something, anything, down on paper. I tell my students all the time to allow themselves a rough first draft. To just get something, anything (really! anything!), down on paper and to worry about the polish later.

I heard Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love talk this last February (I'll write more about this later) and she chatted about how she's often asked about how to become a Writer (capital W). To seriously paraphrase she basically said: write. She also pointed out that writing is work; it's a job. What struck me most about her talk was when she told the audience that she took a vow, like nuns and priests take vows, to be a writer. This is a gal who takes writing seriously, folks, a Writer who was a Writer long before the success of Eat, Pray, Love. If you have time for a really super inspirational video, check out Elizabeth Gilbert in the video below.

And if you have time to think about being a Writer...stop it. Stop thinking. Start writing.