What Defines a Professional Writer?

Understanding the difference between a professional writer and an amateur can be quite nuanced. At its core, the distinction primarily hinges on whether the writer is paid for their work. However, there are additional factors to consider, such as editing quality, writing style, and overall narrative coherence.

Defining Professional and Amateur Writers

Writers are often categorized into two broad categories: professional and amateur. There are a few nuances that help distinguish these categories:

Professional writers make a living through their writing. They are typically literate, comprehendible, and produce work that meets high standards of quality. Amateur writers create work for enjoyment and without remuneration. Their writing may often lack polish, with errors in grammar and poor editing.

Writing as a Profession

According to the context, a professional is primarily someone who earns money from their work. However, earning just a few dollars from side writing projects does not equate to a 'living wage,' making the writer still an amateur in terms of professionalism. Additionally, professionals must not only be paid for their writing but also meet certain standards of quality that would make their work publishable by a conventional publishing house.

Understanding Amateurs and Professionals

Even a successful author on Amazon KDP who sells a few books using self-publishing tools may not genuinely qualify as a 'professional-quality author.' The success might be attributed to marketing tactics such as buying one's own books to boost sales, which does not reflect the author's writing skills.

While a professional writer earns a living through their writing, the quality of their work is also a critical factor. Just because an author can sell a book does not mean they have the ability to write a compelling, engaging story. Amateur writers often struggle with crucial aspects such as pacing, plot development, and coherence. These weaknesses can be revealed through errors in editing, mundane writing style, lack of imagination, and poorly paced narratives.

Professionality in Writing

Many readers base their judgment on the quality of the work alone, rather than whether the author earns money. A professional writer may have a day job but still write in a manner that meets high standards. On the other hand, an amateur might earn a small amount but not be able to create a coherent and engaging story.

The Role of Editing

Editing is a crucial aspect of professional writing. While a professional might hire an editor or a publisher to refine their work, this does not necessarily guarantee its quality. The true test of a professional writer lies in the final product—whether the content is well-written, engaging, and holds the reader's interest throughout.

Common Issues in Amateur Writing

Amateur writing often exhibits several common issues:

Style: The writing style tends to be mundane and repetitive, with little variation or imagination in word choice. Pacing: The pacing can be monotonous, with either too much frantic action or a lack of cohesive progression in the plot. Plot Development: Stories may be heavily padded with unnecessary details and flashbacks, and the plot may lack direction, plausibility, and coherence.

In conclusion, while professional and amateur writers can be differentiated based on payment and marketing success, the true test of a writer's professionalism lies in their ability to produce high-quality, engaging, and coherent stories. A professional writer earns a living from their writing and consistently produces work that meets the highest standards expected by readers.