Which is it? Novice Writer, Amateur Writer, Aspiring Writer
I can say I'm a novice when it comes to building a blog (in fact I'd rather that title than digitally illiterate). An example: Just recently I wondered if anyone would follow my blog by subscribing, I thought it would be nice if that happened. I had an email from a dear friend saying she would like to know when I've posted so she could visit the blog on a regular basis. I blithely said, 'you know you can subscribe simply by putting your email address in the right spot on the blog', then, 'hang on and I'll do it for you'.
Oooppss. I'd forgotten, or didn't know, there were steps to take to make this function happen. So, some hours later I was able to let her know I had registered her to receive updates. Thanks Barbara for raising the question that sent me on the path. I'd like to think that was simply being a novice.
Just recently at a Christmas celebration someone introduced me to her friend as an 'amateur writer'. Somehow that didn't seem quite right, and yet I wasn't sure if 'professional writer' was correct either and someone played around with the term 'published writer'.
Then just this afternoon I was reading an interview with Matthew Riley in the back of one of his books and he talks about the word 'aspiring'. He was asked "Any other tips for aspiring writers?"
And he replied. "Yes. There is no such thing as an 'aspiring writer'. You are a writer. Period. I was told that once and I have never forgotten it." (An Interview with Matthew Riley: The Writing of Area 7)
I agree with Mr Riley, we write so we are writers. Even when we are learning the craft we are still writers. What do you think?
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