One of the things I sometimes hear from those who consider themselves a writer, is what makes someone a writer and someone else a "hack?"  Well, first off, I would never call anyone who is slaving away over a novel or anything of that nature a quot;hack."  I don't think that just because your novel hasn't been published yet doesn't mean you aren't qualified as a writer.  The literary history of the world is littered with the bodies of those who were told that their book was no good by far too man publishers before someone took a chance on them and then their book went on to tremendous success.

Stephen King is one of my idols.  I love his writing and I think the guy is very cool.  He once said that to him a writer is someone who wrote something (article, press release, short story, novel, poem) , got paid for it and the check did not bounce.  That money was then used to pay for a bill or to buy a car or to pay for a good or service.  I think that as far as a definition for a "working writer" that works just fine for me. 

I think people spend too much time trying to put themselves and others into nice, neat little boxes.  The world, however, is a big messy blobby place that doesn't fit nicely into those nice rectangular boxes.  So, if you write a poem people immediately want to label you a poet and then when you write a short story they suddenly act confused.  I think if you write, you should try writing as many different things in as many different styles as you can.

So, if you are out there pounding away on a keyboard and posting to your blog and then tearing your hair out worrying that you aren't really a writer, relax.  It doesn't matter what you write.  I spend a lot of time writing articles for other companies that don't have my name anywhere on them.  I write a lot of press releases.  I write articles that go into magazines and have other people's names on them.  I also write books and novels and blog articles, though, too.  I get paid to write and I am appreciated for the writing I do, and thus, I consider myself a writer.

If you keep at it and you keep writing, then you are a writer.  I suggest you keep writing even if you are earning money to pay the bills as an accountant or office worker.  Never let the heart of your writing ever die out.  Keep it as your way of expressing yourself.  Knowing how to write can help when it comes to writing a company e-mail or letter.  When you know how to write, you have a valuable skill and you will be amazed where that skill will come into play.

I'd love to have other writer's takes on this.  What do you think?  What do you think defines a writer?  Leave a comment and let's discuss.