When can you consider yourself a writer? Am i a writer?

Question

I've wanted to have my own novel published since i was 7/8 im 18 I write as often as i can, I wrote loads when I was a kid then on and off now I write a lot. I read a lot, I read books about writing as well as fiction, I enter competitions ( and lose except for one im came 2nd)
what makes a person a writer though? is it the amount they write, the enthusaism, am I a writer?

hey stop going on about my grammar i was writing v quickly as short as i could online i don't write my stories like this you know
people always make typing errors :)
if i had a problem with grammer or anything i think my teachers at school (ive left now) would have said so
thanks for the advice everyone! you've been great!

Answer 1

You cannot choose to be a writer, writing chooses you. It is the same with any art form: poetry, painting, etc. It is a way of seeing and of looking at the world. In that sense, it makes no difference how much you write or whether you are published. It is a burning passion that consumes you, batters you, destroys you. But, in the end, it creates - it builds something out of nothing; coherence out of chaos. If you live your art, you are a writer.

Answer 2

On the movie "Sister Act 2" Whoopi Goldberg's character tells a young girl that she is a singer if she wakes up in the morning and all she thinks about is singing. Well I say if you wake up and you think about writing, If you are are out with friends and some comment makes you think of something you could add to story or write about, then you are a writer. If you are passionate about writing and you write often then you are a writer.
If you want to be a published writer then you should start submitting short stories or poetry to magazines and such. It may not be a book YET but it's a start.
You ARE a writer. I wish you luck. It's a hard career but fulfilling.

Answer 3

A lot of people will answer that a writer is someone who puts their thoughts down and has something to say. Anyone who puts a pen to paper or uses their computer to write poetry (or other area) is a writer. I argue to the contrary.

A writer is someone who spends their days learning, exploring, seeing the world around them by constant observation, growing, and being willing to be open to criticism and change. A writer finds their weaknesses and grows from them. A writer develops their style, corrects their mistakes, and pays attention to their passions. A writer writes not just for the sake of writing, but to express their outlook on the world around them.

I'd say you're a writer, but I'd also say you have a long way to go since your grammar and syntax is off. And writing a few pieces for competitions is only a piece of the puzzle. Reading a lot definitely is useful. Will you ever be published or become a professional writer? I have no idea. At your age, you can do many, many things.

If writing is a passion for you and is something you want to develop further, take classes or major in something like Journalism or Creative Writing in college. The more you can learn from your peers and instructors, the better the writer you'll become. You have to listen and be open to change, criticism, and people who say you're not a writer.

Writing is a blast; but it's hard work, commitment, dedication, and passion. Without it, you're just another person who happens to write a few things down on paper or on the computer.

Answer 4

Of course you're a writer!

Are you a professional writer (i.e. someone who makes her living by writing). No. Not yet.

But you're a writer, and I don't mean "Well, if you write, you're a writer." I mean that it sounds as if you not only want to write, you like to write. That's a big part of being a writer.

A lot of people say stuff such as, "I should write a book..." but very few ever do. Why? Because good writing is the product of hard work!

Don't be discouraged if you're not winning competitions. Keep writing, and keep trying to get better. Read lots of good writing, but keep developing your own style.

And most importantly, keep writing!

P.S. The previous poster is wrong. You did use "lose" correctly as it came in a parenthetical expression in the midst of a sentence in present tense. A tense shift from present "I enter" to past "and lost" would be grammatically incorrect.

Answer 5

a writer is a person who writes constantly and does not give up. A writer loves what he or she does and writes for him/herself. Through practice and a lot of reading a writer becomes better and explores different styles. i think that if you love writing and cannot stop yourself from writing then you are a writer just dont give up and keep writing.

Answer 6

I would say when you have completed two full lengh books (say minimum 50 000 words) or a simular amount of poems or short storys or novells than you are a unpublished writer. Whenewer you have done two books that have been published then youre a writer.

Why two books? Its seems to be the universal standard for entering a writers guild. Johan

Answer 7

A writer is a person who writes. Currently, you're an unpublished writer. Keep writing, and buy a book called "Writer's Market." Eventually you'll reach your goal.

Answer 8

What a person a writer is person who writes. If you write you are a writer but if you do not publish your stuff your an unknown writer. Either if you write your a writer. Hope this helped!!

Answer 9

put pen to paper and your a writer. its lost not lose though and i not I'm. your grammar is not good but neither is mine. write something good and I'll buy it as long as you'll put your signature in it. good luck.

Answer 10

it's your enthusaism your love of writting that makes you a writter. and from the sound of the above you are a writter!