What Kind of Writer Are You?

I'm not a writer, but I play one on TV. I wish. haha. It's interesting to see all the types of writing there is. I just write rambles about nothing. Someday I hope to be able to put them all together to form something that makes sense.

A wanna be novelist. :)

According to some here on Gather, I'm not a writer because I just started writing for the first time last February and I'm not a 'professional'. They think they're the 'elite ones' and accused me of stealing their thunder...and the attention others should be getting. Not to mention I was making more money here than they were and they felt they should be getting paid way more even though they hardly ever post and when they do, it ends up being a chat thread where they sit around and make fun of others. When I do write, I usually do humorous articles or posts about historical figures. I don't think I'm all that great and have never claimed to be, but others here seem to enjoy what I've published. After starting with only one connection, I earned enough points to switch to the cash option in my first 28 days...I have 900 people in my network now...and even had another member create a group dedicated to me with over 350 members who have joined it. After not writing anything for half a year, due to the attacks the 'elite' were making on me, I posted my first humorous article two weeks ago...and it has over 100 comments. I posted another article yesterday updating people on my new life; changes I've made; and that has over 60 comments already. If you'd care to read anything; I'll let you determine what kind of writer I am. :)

I would fall into the "hopeful" novelist category. Love to write stories. Completed 6 manuscripts, only one is ready, the others need edits. Nothing published, which is where the "hopeful" comes into play.

I write only for fun, at this point anyway. My work is related to academic writing though...I edit articles for a scientific/medical journal.

Novelist ("Invisible Hand" here on Gather), technical writer (compouter documentation), essayest (sp) in doing articles for Gather.

By profession, I am a technical writer. I also write academically and some freelance. I also do some marketing and web sites.

I've done copywriting for advertizing and I've done some grant writing. I've written for a couple of small newpapers--many moons ago.

I enjoy writing. I am consentrating on writing novels.

In the field of EFL, I've published some academic articles, none of which I am particularly proud of, and co-authored a reading skills textbook that generated a few bucks before sinking like a stone in the EFL marketplace.

I've also been a flop as a songwriter. My album has been on iTunes for over a year, but has hardly done diddly-squat.

My Great-Japanese-American-Hawaiian novel "Dawn in Honolulu" has been an off and on Work In Progress since 1981 (ouch!). Some of you have seen the first 30 or so chapters here on Gather. I got bogged down the week before Christmas and haven't gotten back to it yet, due to the demands of my day job, but I'm hoping to really really REALLY get it finished this year and start looking for an agent or a publisher. I'll be posting more chapters fairly soon, I hope.

#4

I'm a columnist. I give advice on the website myauntchelsea.com. I'd like to be syndicated one of these days. So please, Lea M's readers, drop by, read the letters, and send me your questions!

fabulous

(and humble)

I write short stories. I've had about 30 of them published (or soon-to-be) since January '07.

I am attempting be become a novelist. I've published a short story collection, and next out will be my horror novella. (If I ever get it finished).

Gee, you guys are an impressive lot. Officially "published" or not, THAT fact does not a talented writer make!

Oui, mes amis? (yes, I'm taking French in college)

Thank you for sharing the personal stories about your writing.

I've written novels, short stories (and seen some published), poetry (though not for years) and several technical papers. I have no idea what that makes me.

Lea, this Article was a pleasure to read. Your title alone got me here on a "helps" search. (and it did help)
I can't say for the others who have commented here if they'll be back for more of the so called "conversation" but they left some interesting answers to the final question you asked. It's only natural that people like to talk about themselves and that's OK as long as we allow others a turn. You left us with something to think about as well as an invitation to find out more about us. (See, it inspired me to leave something here for you, right?)
In general, this article is also just the right length. Many are too short or too long (according to the many comments I have read about others; depends on how much a person may or may not enjoy reading.) I love to read but never the less, a happy medium is always good for everybody!
It appears to have captured the interest of a variety of us who want to stake our claim in this field of writing. Each of us here have either hit or miss on several attempts those marks toward success. But an article like this serves help direct us to a suited genres closest to us. (Great for target practice!) We all need to keep our skills sharpened.
As well, this information you give us here may have also opened the lid for a few who are multi- talented and may have been boxed up as a "specialist" because it became their job instead of their living their dream.
Then finally, to answer your question, I've been writing for as long as I can remember:
love letters, short stories, songs, poems, essays, book reviews, articles, novels, you name it...I've tried it. And if not I will give it a shot if need be.
I don't know what I am at this moment or what else I'll be because my life is not over yet. However, today's task is hardest and why I'm seeking help... As he hangs on for dear life, I've been asked to write my Daddy's eulogy. This by far is the most difficult writing I've ever attempted.
I welcome any help I can get. Please, I need help on the other end! - Beej

Hi, Lea...thanks for commenting on my article...

I surely don't fit into any of those categories. I used to get up and write at least ten pages a day - only because I type so fast and just channelled out things - so back then I did a range of things - mostly loose poetry and thoughts - glad I have saved it all because some of it still inspires me...I wrote loads of short stories fictional but don't do that anymore - mostly now I compile other people's lives in a book form - working on number 5...and well, I guess I have to do a little of all the things listed above. Salud.

Oh yea I've written lots of lyrics for songs - but all that was long ago - and I wrote several dear John letters for friends - I was famous for doing that and was sought out because I could write so (cough) well...that is ancient history as well...I do still correspond with many cousins and many times do that in long hand (which kills me) and snail mail...I write grocery lists sometimes even poetically in the rhyming sense...Ok well, I am a writer without a definition. Salud.

I think I"m just plain eclectic. Because people pay me for writing, I do that. On deadline. But even if I don't get paid, I write. It is a compulsion. I don't know what that makes me, from a writing standpoint.

P.S. I loved that x-ray compilation you sent to Paul. Hope you check out my latest work.

And do you really have a ferret or was that just a cute photo you sent?
:)
It looks so cute and lovable...

Hi, J Corn. No, it's not my ferret. Just a pic I found on the internet. Cute, huh?
Really liked your Valentine's Day article, by the way.

So, Miss Eclectic, I say whatever makes some $$ and if you like doing it - then enjoy!

Mariana - hello! Song lyrics, huh? What genre of song? Rhyming grocery lists? LOL! Lamb/Spam? Or perhaps Broccoli Wokley? Beenie Weenie? Mellow Yellow?
Ahhh, don't get me started.

Seriously, Mariana, you compile others' lives into book form? That is super cool.

Stephanie - Makes you a WRITER, my friend. A bonafide one, at that. ;-)

Beej - Already left a message on your pages. Won't repeat it here.

Paul - Thanks for the thanks. LOL


This is what I want for Valentine's Day: