Melanie Nilles

There was a discussion–quite lively, in fact–last week on Fangs, Fur, and Fey about what differentiates a professional writer from a hobbyist.

The conclusion I’ve drawn from the ways people approach their writing (including bestselling authors) big difference, besides being published, is that true writers are dedicated to putting words down. That may not mean every day, but it does mean finishing projects and submitting them. It does not mean putting down a little here and a little there whenever one feels like it without any real end in sight.

Real writers write, and they are determined to start and end a story. I write every day. Some write in spurts and go days between without any writing (see Melissa Marr’s reply to the post), but they get to THE END. Writers MUST write. It gives us a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It’s the imagination’s outlet.

Writing is BIC–butt in chair. It is not thinking about writing or browsing the internet. Yes, we do that too, and daydreaming is a way to formulate the story. We DO have to think about it, after all. But in the end, those images are transcribed in words to be read. That is what makes a writer.