Hey, Swatkat...you've been linked on the Daily Snitch. Muy impressive, my dear.
I've seen the discussion of which you speak. While I agree that there are some useful distinctions between the two words, I suspect that part of the conversation is being driven by the need, of some people, to "be" something they feel gives them some status: i.e., "I'm an Author, not a mere writer." I don't derive my sense of self-identity from writing activities, and so the distinction isn't as earthshakingly important to me.
As for whether one has professional aspirations or not -- that's an issue that affects more than fiction writing. I've seen it with friends who pursue music and art, as well. People who learn guitar are expected to want to be in a band; a friend of mine who is quite serious about voice lessons gets looked at askance because, at "her age," she's never going to be able to break into the music industry. Someone who takes up painting *must* want to have her work displayed in galleries, or else it's deemed a waste of time.
In the past, people used to entertain themselves more than they used to (in part because they had to, of course) -- today, everything is a commodity. If you can't sell what you do, then it has little value. Fanfic -- as a pursuit by serious people -- doesn't fit into this mode of thinking, which is why so many seem to feel the need to excuse it as merely a stepping stone to "real" authorship.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2004-10-14 07:26 pm (UTC)I've seen the discussion of which you speak. While I agree that there are some useful distinctions between the two words, I suspect that part of the conversation is being driven by the need, of some people, to "be" something they feel gives them some status: i.e., "I'm an Author, not a mere writer." I don't derive my sense of self-identity from writing activities, and so the distinction isn't as earthshakingly important to me.
As for whether one has professional aspirations or not -- that's an issue that affects more than fiction writing. I've seen it with friends who pursue music and art, as well. People who learn guitar are expected to want to be in a band; a friend of mine who is quite serious about voice lessons gets looked at askance because, at "her age," she's never going to be able to break into the music industry. Someone who takes up painting *must* want to have her work displayed in galleries, or else it's deemed a waste of time.
In the past, people used to entertain themselves more than they used to (in part because they had to, of course) -- today, everything is a commodity. If you can't sell what you do, then it has little value. Fanfic -- as a pursuit by serious people -- doesn't fit into this mode of thinking, which is why so many seem to feel the need to excuse it as merely a stepping stone to "real" authorship.