A Writer Writes

That’s what I tell all my friends who say, “I should write a [insert literary endeavor here]!” The whole thought is essentially, a writer writes and a coward talks about writing. I rarely ever say that because people usually think I’m calling them names.

I bring this up because even though I’ve been paid to write for the last 11 years of my life, I’ve never really considered myself a writer. The reason being is simple: I’m that coward I spoke of earlier.

I put text down on paper (or into text fields) but that doesn’t make me a writer. A writer needs to accomplish something, sell something, have people recognize them from their book jackets or from interviews on Leno after winning an award for their latest screenplay. A writer isn’t someone who talks about doing it nor is he/she the person who writes clever slogans for products. Nor is he/she the person who slaves eight hours a day writing synopsis for short films on AtomFilms and descriptions of games on Shockwave.com (contrary to what the poor schlub who took my job might think). I am not a writer, but I am a copywriter which isn’t the same thing… not by a long shot.

A copywriter writes copy… not novels, or screenplays, or plays, or anything worthwhile. So, what’s the meaning of all this? I just wanted to put it down on paper (er, pixels) that I am going to be a writer by March 5th damn it.