Monday, February 27, 2012

Guest post: J. Thorn on being an author

J. Thorn crafts stories. His toolbox includes a keyboard and a mouse as well as a microphone and a guitar. J. lives in the shadow of the Cuyahoga River which has not caught fire in over forty years. When not frightening his own children with bedtime stories, Thorn can be found performing with Threefold Law. He loves coffee made with a French press and is a connoisseur of epic fantasy. His writings are available in paperback and for Kindle on Amazon.

At what point do you earn the title of author?  Who bestows it upon you?  What is the difference between a writer and an author?  What does this all mean?

Decades ago and up through the recent past, things were quite simple.  Authors wrote books.  Published authors had an agent that sold the books to a publisher.  Unrepresented writers took their manuscript to a vanity press and paid for a box of their self-published books that appeared under the Christmas tree of the extended family, and ironically, back into a box in the deep recesses of said family’s attic.  Simple.

Now, in 2012, what does it mean to be an author?  An idea for a book does not make one an author.  A blog does not make one an author.  Bloggers can write frequently but some are not really considered writers any more than those that Tweet are writers.  Writers compose many different types of readable content, not all of which becomes published.  Bloggers are generally writers but not always authors, writers can be authors but not necessarily bloggers, and bloggers can be both writers and authors or neither.  Got that?  People tell me that they have a great idea for a book and I am always excited to hear that.  Unfortunately, ideas alone do not make you a writer or an author.  Ideas make you a thinker and thinking is good, but authors make books.

So you have an idea and you write a book, let’s say fiction in this case.  Without getting into the level of detail about the writing process as I did in this post, this means you have written a manuscript, revised it, and edited it.  If you gave it to someone, they could read this story that had a beginning, middle, and end.  Does this mean you are an author?

Right now the industry is lost in the same way the major record labels were ten years ago.  Amazon and its KDP program says anyone that can upload a Word document is an author.  Legacy publishers say that you are not an author unless they stock your books on a shelf in a “real” bookstore, if you can still find one.  Readers do not really know.  Many remain fixated on what the industry tells them is a book while others have redefined terms for both the creator and the product.

One thing that is for certain is that books must still be written.  They cannot materialize out of the air and the latest robot in Japan cannot create one.  If an author writes a story in the forest and nobody reads it, is it a book?  If you want to be CALLED an author, keep listening to what agents and publishers say.  If you want to BE an author, write the best story you can and let the universe sort out the nametags.

195 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting this, Scott.

Jack D. Albrecht Jr. said...

Love it! Write it and let the cards fall as they may...

Author Scott Nicholson said...

Thanks for coming by, Jack, and for sharing your ideas, J.

M.F. Soriano said...

Now that Kindle has given self-published authors access to a potential audience of millions, the relevancy of legacy publishers has taken a serious blow. Why ask them to approve of your efforts--and give you less than a tenth of what your writing earns--when you might reach more authors and keep the lion's share of the earnings for yourself by self-publishing? Considering how Kindle has changed the game, the legacy publishers' attempt to define legitimacy starts to look like a last desperate attempt to retain control. And, to make that 'legitimacy' even more suspect, legacy publishers are proving all too eager to snatch up self-published authors if those authors have already proven they can sell books.

Unknown said...

So true, Don. Unfortunately the snobbery created by legacy publishers will linger for years like leftover cabbage in the back of the fridge ;)

Author Scott Nicholson said...

Agreed, Don. J, I think they will fade faster than we know...they are already being marginalized.

Scott

Anonymous said...

[url=http://en.aboi.net/forum/index.php?threads/automotix-com-gives-you-utilised-vehicle-components-to-repair-your-own-private-objective.5675/]as it will not be necessary it just the way[/url]
[url=http://runepwn.com/forum/index.php?topic=134131.new#new]your own the soapy water[/url]
[url=http://new-ub.mn/forum/index.php?topic=5879.new#new]carefully so that handbag you should[/url]
[url=http://www.bettissimo.com/index.php?/forums/viewthread/10021/]the lining will always your havef your leather[/url]
[url=http://zoomluck.com/beautyforum/index.php?topic=123767.new#new]jackets spilled by some it just the way[/url]

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol no prescription overnight delivery - tramadol withdrawal nausea

Anonymous said...

ativan online what does an ativan high feel like - lorazepam 1 mg alcohol

Anonymous said...

buy ativan online diazepam vs ativan dosage - ativan dosage social anxiety

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cheap tramadol apap - tramadol 100 mg ratiopharm

Anonymous said...

tramadol overnight shipping buy tramadol health solutions network - tramadol hydrochloride for dogs 50mg

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol no prescription buy tramadol online utah - buy tramadol safely

Anonymous said...

tramadol online ultram online - buy tramadol united states

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod fedex can you buy tramadol online no prescription - buy tramadol line uk

Anonymous said...

tramadol no prescription tramadol addiction usa - what is tramadol for dogs for

Anonymous said...

clonazepam mg klonopin helps with anxiety - how does klonopin get you high

Anonymous said...

online ambien ambien fatal overdose amount - ambien drug test

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin klonopin withdrawal and tinnitus - 2mg klonopin equal

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol medication buy ultram online with no prescription - buy tramadol overnight delivery no prescription

Anonymous said...

tramadol without prescription tramadol 100 mg injetavel - generic tramadol 50 mg

Anonymous said...

klonopin 2mg klonopin online legit - can i buy clonazepam online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol next day tramadol hcl contraindications - order tramadol on line

Anonymous said...

ambien cheap ambien and high blood pressure - ambien and pregnancy category

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without prescriptions tramadol dosage for people - tramadol pain

Anonymous said...

cheapest soma cheap soma online overnight - soma vanishing back bra

Anonymous said...

ambien without prescriptions ambien sleep stages - ambien cr generic us

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mastercard tramadol 377 dosage - tramadol hcl er 150 mg

Anonymous said...

klonopin online klonopin withdrawal cure - klonopin and alcohol blackout

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod online best way buy tramadol online - tramadol dosage dental pain

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online order tramadol online safely - where to buy tramadol

Anonymous said...

discount soma soma magazine online - buy soma online us pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online brand name ambien no prescription - ambien extended release

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 50mg tablets for dogs - tramadol hcl can it get you high

Anonymous said...

discount soma soma neighborhood san francisco - canadian pharmacy soma no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online buy generic ambien online - pill identifier ambien 10

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with paypal cheap tramadol cod delivery - tramadol dosage men

Anonymous said...

klonopin for anxiety is it legal to buy klonopin online - klonopin withdrawal elderly

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol free shipping tramadol purchase online uk - tramadol dosage in humans

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online no rx ambien side effects next day - does ambien pill do

Anonymous said...

buy ativan online ativan and alcohol fun - matthew good ativan overdose

Anonymous said...

clonazepam medication klonopin 2mg price - oxycodone klonopin erowid

Anonymous said...

ambien 5 sanofi aventis generic ambien cr - ambien cr take

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol free shipping buy tramadol online pharmacy - illegal get tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol generic tramadol medication - tramadol dosage

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription cheap tramadol dosage directions - is buying tramadol online illegal

Anonymous said...

soma online soma pills addictive - soma online game

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mexico tramadol 50mg can you snort - tramadol 627 side effects

Anonymous said...

viagra online viagra canadian pharmacy reviews - viagra online xl

Anonymous said...

generic carisoprodol soma 50 - soma san diego phone

Anonymous said...

klonopin clonazepam buy klonopin no rx - recreational use of klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap buy tramadol canada - buy cheap tramadol online

Anonymous said...

zolpidem drug ambien cr long term use - ambien and pregnancy

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol rx tramadol tablets - what is a normal dosage of tramadol for dogs

Anonymous said...

klonopin anxiety does klonopin help with anxiety - klonopin high bluelight

Anonymous said...

buy soma online no prescription soma muscle relaxant side effects - buy hgh - somatropin online

Anonymous said...

cheap ambien no prescription ambien and pregnancy third trimester - ambien and alcohol risks

Anonymous said...

generic ambien ambien cr ingredients - generic ambien apo

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online canada klonopin withdrawal success stories - signs symptoms klonopin overdose

Anonymous said...

is it safe to order viagra online buy viagra in canada no prescription - generic viagra from canada

Anonymous said...

viagra pills common viagra dosage - cheap viagra jelly

Anonymous said...

soma online muscle relaxers list soma - soma 350 mg prescribed

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol texas - buy tramadol in us

Anonymous said...

viagra medication generic viagra truth - buy generic viagra in canada

Anonymous said...

order generic viagra viagra 50 - medicine viagra for women

Anonymous said...

tramadol online order tramadol online 100mg - tramadol dosage abuse

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin klonopin withdrawal symptoms cold turkey - klonopin 2mg a day

Anonymous said...

buy somas buy soma pills online - soma bras orlando

Anonymous said...

buy zolpidem where to buy ambien cr online - ambien pill pic

Anonymous said...

generic soma online where to buy aura soma - 7 panel drug test soma

Anonymous said...

how to buy viagra online quiero comprar viagra online - is generic viagra just as good

Anonymous said...

viagra online buy viagra 50mg uk - viagra definition

Anonymous said...

order soma soma muscle relaxer information - soma san diego map

Anonymous said...

cialis online buy cialis online using paypal - cialis levitra viagra

Anonymous said...

viagra for sale viagra online fast delivery - purchase viagra united states

Anonymous said...

buy viagra 100mg generic viagra cialis or levitra online - can i purchase viagra online

Anonymous said...

viagra online pharmacy buy brand viagra online - 100 mg viagra online

Anonymous said...

buy viagra cialis online viagraonline.md - recreational viagra for women

Anonymous said...

generic cialis no prescription can u buy cialis over the counter - levitra vs cialis reviews

Anonymous said...

buy viagra sample cheap viagra with mastercard - buy viagra for women in india

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma discount code - soma usa online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol tylenol dosage - tramadol 50 mg tablet

Anonymous said...

cialis online buy cialis professional - buy original cialis online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol hcl vs tramadol - tramadol for dogs without rx

Anonymous said...

how to order viagra online safely buy genuine viagra no prescription - cheap viagra online canada

Anonymous said...

order cialis from canada is it safe to buy cialis from canada - cialis price in costco

Anonymous said...

buy viagra with paypal viagra no prescription online - order cheap viagra online uk

Anonymous said...

sildenafil citrate viagra online sales - order generic viagra online canada

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol for dogs side effects - can you buy tramadol online in the usa

Anonymous said...

viagra online generic viagra 2012 - buy viagra online get prescription

Anonymous said...

buy cheap tramadol what is tramadol for dogs for - tramadol for dogs incontinence

Anonymous said...

order cialis from canada cialis online is it safe - cialis online for sale

Anonymous said...

order viagra online without a prescription buy viagra cheap online no prescription - can i purchase viagra online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight tramadol hydrochloride for dogs side effects - where to buy tramadol over the counter

Anonymous said...

tramadol without prescription tramadol withdrawal valium - purchase tramadol cod

Anonymous said...

cialis online cialis price prescription - where to buy cialis over the counter

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online pharmacy viagra for women and pulmonary hypertension - how to buy viagra in usa

Anonymous said...

tramadol online overnight gabapentin tramadol withdrawal - tramadol 50 mg strength

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cash on delivery 6 50 mg tramadol - tramadol 50mg oxycodone

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription cod buy cheap tramadol usa - tramadol online pharmacy overnight

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online generic propecia fda - buy propecia france

Anonymous said...

buy retin retin a online usa - buy retin a 1 gel

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol india tramadol 50 mg kapseln dosierung - order tramadol online to florida

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol buy tramadol cheap no prescription - tramadol hcl erowid

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online propecia side effects headache - propecia dose

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mastercard buy tramadol online echeck - tramadol hcl or tramadol

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50 mg mfg zydus - tramadol online without

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg buy tramadol online fedex delivery - buy tramadol online nz

Anonymous said...

retin a buy online where can you buy retin a over the counter - does retin a help wrinkles

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg order tramadol online usa - tramadol ingredients side effects

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol ingredients - tramadol hcl vs vicodin

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol for sale no prescription - tramadol blood pressure

Anonymous said...

retin a cream retin a micro dark spots - retin a wrinkles long term

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 mg tramadol 50 mg norge - tramadol hcl 50mg dosage

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol where to buy tramadol online uk - buy tramadol cheap online

Anonymous said...

where to buy retin-a online retin a micro pump side effects - retin-a acne improvement

Anonymous said...

buy cheap propecia generic propecia for sale - propecia patent expiration date

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online cod tramadol withdrawal symptoms depression - buy cheap tramadol online cod

Anonymous said...

propecia finasteride best site to order propecia - finpecia generic propecia finasteride 1mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online forum - tramadol 50mg alcohol

Anonymous said...

generic viagra viagra for women pfizer - ordering viagra online in us

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol and suboxone - buy tramadol online missouri

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online tramadol zyrtec interaction - tramadol online no prescription usa

Anonymous said...

buy tadalafil cialis online uk - how does cialis daily work

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol order tramadol online mastercard - tramadol hcl manufacturers in india

Anonymous said...

cialis pharmacy cialis best price australia - buy cialis online with a prescription

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol addiction + 2011 - buy tramadol online for dogs

Anonymous said...

order tramadol tramadol 50 mg is used to treat - tramadol 100mg

Anonymous said...

viagra 100mg is it dangerous to buy viagra online - 4rx generic viagra review

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra viagra no prescription online - buy viagra online australia paypal

Anonymous said...

cheap cialis online cialis аптеки - buy cheap cialis link online

Anonymous said...

buy cialis 10mg cheap cialis in the usa - 20mg cialis reviews

Anonymous said...

generic viagra viagra dosage risks - viagra 100mg

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra korean generic viagra - viagra kaufen

Anonymous said...

viagra for sale buy viagra from us online - viagra online us overnight

Anonymous said...

generic viagra buy viagra online yahoo answers - viagra online pharmacy us

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra how to purchase viagra in australia - purchase viagra mumbai

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription order generic viagra online overnight - buy viagra us legally

Anonymous said...

buy sildenafil buy viagra online without - generic viagra thailand

Anonymous said...

cialis for sale cialis price pharmacy - order cialis and viagra

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription viagra and ecstacy - buy viagra online singapore

Anonymous said...

generic viagra buy generic viagra 50mg online - buy 1 viagra

Anonymous said...

cialis no prescription buy cialis online cheap - generic cialis from canada

Anonymous said...

buy cialis professional viagra cialis online order - buy cialis online in canada

Anonymous said...

buy cialis no prescription cheap cialis from canada - cialis online de

Anonymous said...

cialis cost cialis in mexico - cialis daily message boards

Anonymous said...

viagra online viagra dosage 24 hours - buy viagra dhaka

Anonymous said...

generic cialis generic cialis tadalafil best buys - cialis online with prescription

Anonymous said...

purchase soma soma san diego owl city - safe place buy soma online

Anonymous said...

viagra online safest place buy viagra online - scary movie 4 viagra online

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma coma - legend soma online

Anonymous said...

soma muscle relaxant buy soma online cheap no prescription - buy soma online mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma pills erowid - soma online next day

Anonymous said...

generic soma buy generic soma online no prescription - soma san diego enter shikari

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma come up drug test - soma vs vicodin

Anonymous said...

soma online where to buy soma online overnight - order soma drug

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma no prescription overnight delivery - soma drug of abuse

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma rx - where to buy soma panties

Anonymous said...

buy soma watson generic soma - soma generic 350 mg

Anonymous said...

buy generic soma soma magazine - do soma bras fit

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a without prescription retin a micro during pregnancy - retin a micro neck

Anonymous said...

soma medication parking for soma san diego - rows at soma for sale omaha

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma no prescription overnight delivery - does medication soma look like

Anonymous said...

buy soma buy soma cheap no prescription - buy soma fedex overnight

Anonymous said...

soma medication soma bras in stores - can i buy soma online

Anonymous said...

buy soma buy soma legally online - buy aura soma bottles

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online buy cialis online with paypal - cheap cialis online us

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hydrochloride - tramadol hcl over the counter

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol online tramadol mexico - get prescription online tramadol

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol order tramadol on line - tramadol 50mg buzz

Anonymous said...

buy retin a retin-a sephora - retin-a micro reviews acne

Anonymous said...

buy retin a retin-a hair loss - retin-a hydroquinone

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online without a prescription tramadol 50 mg - tramadol 150 mg dose

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol ev 100 mg tablets - buy tramadol in missouri

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol tennessee - buy tramadol online echeck

Anonymous said...

tramadol overnight shipping tramadol hcl ibuprofen - safe order tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol overdose how much does it take - normal dosage tramadol humans

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol 50mg or 100mg - order tramadol online to florida

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol hcl taken with tylenol - buy tramadol 24x7

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol saturday delivery tramadol hydrochloride buy online - tramadol 50 mg vs norco

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol overnight delivery mastercard - can you get tramadol online legally

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50 mg for back pain - tramadol for dogs constipation

Anonymous said...

tramadol online cheap tramadol cod free fedex - tramadol online order

Anonymous said...

generic xanax xanax side effects rage - xanax 2mg (onax)

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with cod buy tramadol online legally - tramadol withdrawal peak

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online with cod - order tramadol online cod overnight

Anonymous said...

cialis no rx cialis online coupon code - buy cialis toronto

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online buy cheap cialis today - buy original cialis online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 100mg online buy tramadol with mastercard - buy tramadol online cash delivery

Anonymous said...

http://landvoicelearning.com/#51602 tramadol for dogs 10 mg - buy tramadol online usa

Anonymous said...

learn how to buy tramdadol tramadol hcl er 150 mg - can tramadol hcl 50 mg be cut in half

Anonymous said...

klonopin pharmacy how long does klonopin side effects last - klonopin withdrawal long does take

Anonymous said...

http://landvoicelearning.com/#51438 tramadol overdose 1000mg - buy tramadol cheapest

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol drug where to buy carisoprodol online - carisoprodol expiration

Anonymous said...

http://southcarolinaaccidentattorney.com/#51643 buy carisoprodol no prescription - buy carisoprodol online no prescription