I've written a novel. I think it's pretty good. It's off being read by someone I trust and I think I'll be sending out queries to agents in the next couple weeks. Does that make me an author? Do I have to be published before I can say to people, "I'm an author."? Or do I just not say that because it sounds priggish and egotistical?
I know I'm a teacher. For one, I'm employed to be one. But that's not the main reason I believe it of myself. To be completely frank, there are people I know who are employed as teachers who are no more actual teachers than I'm a lumberjack (and I'm okay...). They are, in many cases, assigners. They assign reading or problems or tests or whatever. But no real teaching goes on. I know in my heart that I am a teacher. It's baked right in. I believe I would be a teacher even if I were employed as a ditch digger. It's not what I do--it's what I am. I teach because I'm a teacher, not the other way around.
I guess the question is at what point I will feel like I'm a writer. I guess writer is a more accurate word than author anyway. Or is it? I write. But so does nearly everyone else in the world. But what I wrote was a book. Not many people (comparatively, at least) can say that. So what is it about writing a book that makes me more of a writer than someone, say, who writes letters or writes down recipes, or whatever else people may write down? So maybe author is the word I seek. Is published author different from author? Or is it like being a teacher? Do I write because I'm a writer or am I a writer because I write? Do these questions have any meaning? Will knowing the answers change me in any real way? I have no idea. But I do ask them of myself and of anyone else who may stumble upon this entry. If you consider yourself an author, what makes that word true in your mind?
I was a teacher too, now I do staff development for teachers, not because I wanted to leave the students but because I wanted to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI have considered your question myself (which is how I found your post). At the moment, I have published 24 nonfiction educational books and will have 30 out by the end of 2013. I could live on just my royalty checks. I only share thus because I am still debating what title I have. If peopl ask, I am a teacher first (for the same reason you mention). Then I am a presenter and I have written some books. That is exactly it. If need be, I will pull the publisher author card but I don't feel that is who I am. I am just sharing information to a larger audience through Barnss and Noble and such. I guess I am an author - but I almost reserve that term for people like JK Rowlings and John Grisham. It is a question to ponder.I am a teacher too, although now I focus on conducting staff development for teachers, not because I wanted to leave the students but because I wanted to make a difference for as many students as possible.
I have considered your question myself (which is how I found your post). At the moment, I have published 24 nonfiction educational books and will have 30 out by the end of 2013. I could live on just my royalty checks. I only share this because I am still debating what title I have - even with this number of books out. If people ask, I am a teacher first (for the same reason you mention). Then I am a presenter and I have written some books. That is exactly it. If need be, I will pull the published author card but I don't feel that is who I am. I am just sharing information to a larger audience through Barnss and Noble and such. I guess I am an author - but I almost reserve that term for people like JK Rowlings and John Grisham. It is a question to ponder.
I fixed those typos... Errrr. The corrections didn't take.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I hate it when that happens to me too! Thanks for the comment. You've given me even more food for thought. Plus, it's nice to know someone actually read my post!
ReplyDelete