What is a Writer?

Recently, I was witness to a discussion/debate over what it means to be a professional writer or a hobbyist.  As I read through the discussion, I started to wonder.  Does it really matter if you are a professional, a hobbyist, or anything else?  Really, it is almost like comparing someone that writes only short stories instead of full novels.  Is one really better than the other?

In my opinion, a writer is a writer.  It doesn't matter if he or she writes fiction, non fiction, technical manuals, or anything else for that matter, as long as you have a love and passion for your literary art form, then an ranking title is meaningless.

In my opinion, someone that casually writes can be just as successful, maybe more, than someone that writes professionally for a living.  So, does that make the casual writer less important than the professional, I don't think so.

An important portion of the publication industry is the indie publishers.  Many of those indie publishers release books, and anthologies, filled with unknown writers.  I was lucky enough to find one of those indie publishers for my first short story, Rainstorm Press.  I have two published short stories with them.  My next publisher was Cruentus Libri Press, which also accepted two short stories.  I also have one more that is scheduled for release on October 30th from Nightscape Press.  If not for theses publishers that had some faith in my writing, I would never have gotten my name out in front of the masses.

Someone that writes a story, a epic journey, a short tale, or even flash fiction is a writer.  In my opinion, they may not even need to be good at it, as long as they have a passion to share that story with everyone.   We see this all the time in fan fiction.  However, I have met some fantastic writers that have grasped onto those that are not the best at expressing their ideas, and have mentored them into a much better crafter of their tale.  Those are the writers that I feel should deserve the extra attention, those that take the time away from their busy schedule to help guide another through the ins and outs of their writing.  It is those that I tip my hat.

However, as with any profession, there are always those that tend to apply ranks within the professional ladder.  According to those ranks, I may only be a hobbyist, but that doesn't bother me at all.  As with any job I have been passionate about, I have worked my way through the ranks and have become successful.  I will do the same with my writing career.

Feel free to share in the comments below, if you agree or not.  And why?  But please, let's not start an argument over why someone may, or may not be deserving of their title.  Instead, take the opportunity to connect and help each other out within the craft we are so passionate about.