What's the Difference Between Writers and Authors?

Every author is a writer, but not every writer isconcept.
an author. Kind of like the every vegetable is aAuthors often think so big, they fail to think small
fruit, but not every fruit is a vegetable thing. Soenough to overcome writer's block, which could
what's the difference? When does a writerbe why authors tend to be struck with that
become an author?dreaded ailment so often.
Simply put, a writer is, well, one who writes.If you are an author, I encourage you to keep
Rocket science-I know! Writers' work can varyyour large vision in mind (the book-the goal) but
from freelance magazine and newspaper articlesthink small enough to get that next sentence
to copywriting for websites and corporatedown on the page. Even if you have to take
marketing.baby steps once in a while, that's better than no
A writer typically writes for a living, oftensteps at all. Eventually those baby steps will turn
freelance, or on the payroll of a company largeinto a flat out dead run.
enough to have its own copywriting or journalisticAnd for all you writers (non-authors), don't dismiss
department.your talents to being too small to ever fit into
An author, however, is a special breed of writer.book form. A short story can be the synopsis of
Don't get me wrong, all writers are special! Buta best-selling novel. A collection of articles can
authors see a larger vision. They see the worldbecome the Table of Contents for a how-to
through the pages of books. Nonfiction, self-help,book.
novels, children's, fairy tales-you name it; they seeIf you dream of writing a book one day, start
it in book form.calling yourself an "author" instead of simply a
Authors don't usually think in terms of "articles." In"writer." And if you don't dream of writing a book,
fact, many authors I have met with considerkeep doing what you do best-helping to change
writing articles to be difficult and a totally newthe world, one word at a time.