Profile of a Writer
What makes a writer different than someone who writes.
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What makes a writer? Is it the amount of money you make? The number of views you get? While money and views certainly makes a writer’s existence more pleasant, these things do not make a writer.
So what does make a writer you may asked?
A writer is someone who views writing as a hobby, as entertainment, as an obsession. Writers write because not writing is unthinkable. They view their life and everything in it as a possible subject for an article, a story, a poem, or a song lyric.
Their main goal in life is to touch someone else with their words. They want to make them think, to feel, to care. They want you to experience the beauty found in the written word and to make a difference no matter how small in the world of others.
A writer is sometimes, egotistical, sometimes self effacing, and always searching for a way to better their craft.
Nothing pleases a writer more than when the words seem to flow from their mind through their fingertips onto the page with little effort, although most true writers know this happens more as a fluke than as a constant.
Writing to a real writer has it moments of ecstasy and of despair. When a writer writes an article, story, or poem he or she knows is good they feel pride and a sense of accomplishment few people can understand. They want to share that accomplishment with the entire world. Not out of a desire to be recognized, though we all want that, but because we want to share our joy.
We also great agonies from time to time. It is frustrating in the extreme when you can’t seem to get what is in your mind down on paper. When you can’t find the right phrase of word to exactly describe a thought or a feeling.
Then there are those times when we are hit by writer’s block. While we know in our mind that these moments, hours, or days will pass in our hearts we fear that we may never be able to write anything worthwhile again. We tremble at the thought of what has become a constant joy in our life may be gone.
It is with vast relief, when we once again find our voice.
A writer must have persistence and a belief in themselves that goes beyond the norm. You not only have to believe that you can write but you have to persist through all the trial and error of learning your craft. You can’t be sidetracked or disillusioned by harsh criticism but rather you must learn to use that criticism to your advantage.
A writer learns to study criticism objectively. They shut off their ego and look at what is being said and how to use it to improve their writing. A writer learns that every criticism is a stepping stone to eventual success. The dues we pay to become good at what we do.
A writer is most of all a dreamer who has the persistence and the courage to make their dream come true.
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August 10th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I really enjoyed reading your article. Great insight!
August 10th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Sure know what you’re talking about. I have to agree with your views.:)
August 10th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
A very good piece, Martie.
A writer has to be obsessive (very obsessive) and spend a lot of time not only polishing-up their prose, but also their egos, and by so doing ensure their readers are entertained within that reflected glow.
Writing, in the end, has to be more than a hobby, with good writers always rising to the top.
Your writing informs and entertains.
August 10th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Good insights Martie!
August 10th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I do believe that every potential good writers should be able to take constructive critism. Like it!
August 10th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
So right you are.
Personally I write mostly to share information as opposed to entertain, but if you want people to read your information you have to be somewhat entertaining… Some of my writting is opinion based but my opinions are formed by my knowledge and experiences.
If you do not enjoy writting…. don’t do it.. you will not gain anyones attention and will probably not be any good. Either its in you, or its not.
Martie, you got it!
August 11th, 2009 at 2:08 am
Thumb Up Martie! I enjoy your piece
August 16th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Great article, although I respectfully agree, and disagree; Here’s why.
You stated that a writer is someone who views writing as “a hobby, as entertainment, as an obsession.” Personally I do view writing as a hobby, and as entertainment, but definitely not an obsession.
Although to touch someone else with my own words is no doubt a euphoric experience, it is not my main goal in life, and I neither fear nor do I tremble at the thought of losing the ability to do so upon a bad case of writers block.
I really don’t mean to be taking your words out of context, and maybe I’m looking way too far into this article, but I feel that I should speak for the small portion that I disagree with as I believe that although I’m not all the things mentioned in this article that “make a writer”, I am still a writer. I share that sense of accomplishment after a piece I believe is well written, and couldn’t agree more with your views on those rewarding feelings a writer receives.
Again, I apologize if that was at all harsh criticism. I think you captured the essence all positive things writing has to offer, Martie. Great piece.
August 17th, 2009 at 12:22 am
nice explanation.