Professional writing, non-professional writing, serious writing, novice writing, hobbyist writing. So many terms, it would make your head spin. I’ve heard some arguments that professional writing relates to money: if you are earning enough to make a full-time living from your writing then you must be a professional writer. I beg to differ. In my opinion a professional, or if you like, a serious writer differs from a non-professional writer in a few distinct ways that are nothing to do with money. What are those ways, I hear you ask?
Professional:
1. Makes time to write on a regular basis, even when not in the mood.
2. Takes editorial feedback well and improves their craft based on advice given from proofreaders and beta readers.
3. Works to deadlines if doing work for other people, including editors, copy editors, etc.
4. Views writing as their profession and takes a serious approach to advertising and marketing their work.
5. Has a thick skin: takes rejections in their stride and not as a personal attack (if submitting to publishers) and does not brood on negative reviews. It’s all part of the job.
Non-professional:
6. Writes occasionally and/or as a hobby.
7. Afraid to share poetry/stories due to fear of rejection or worried about what others may think.
8. Writes mainly because it is required as part of a creative writing course, or class and not because they view it as their profession.
What do you think? Any more you could add to the list? Do you disagree with my differentiation between the two? Feel free to comment if you have any thoughts.
Leilanie Stewart 