Writer Wanna B

So I want to be a writer. I call myself a writer as I have been writing poems, stories and essays since I was a young teen. I call it my God given gift. My grandfather was also a wonderful writer. I am blessed and privileged to have in my possession the many words he wrote.

To me being a writer is defined as a person who can put letters into words, then in to sentences, paragraphs and complete the piece with correct spelling, grammar, and structure. All the while having it be understood and making sense to the reader.The ultimate prize of course is having a piece of your own individual work published. This makes you a writer/author.

"According to Websters dictionary a writer is one who writes, one who engages in literary composition as a profession."

The difference in the two definitions is "as a profession." This means you are paid for your work? Right? Well I guess I haven't made it like I thought I had because I have never been paid for my writing works. What a let down I am feeling now. Bummer. Oh well this shall not discourage me as I am a determined soul and I have ten cents sitting in my adsense account just waiting for more to accumulate so my paycheck can be sent to me. So perhaps in a sense I may be a writer it just depends on how you look at it. Perception makes all the difference here with being a writer/author and just haven't been paid, 'yet.' A three letter word that means so much. The perception of your work to an agent can be a money maker, or a breaker. I have always been under the impression that one has to have an agent in order to be an author and be considered to be a professional writer. Not any more. The internet has opened this field in a very popular and dramatic way.

I have been researching other sites and what it means to have an agent. I wanted to know what they do for you, if it is a get an agent and forget it type of deal or what the deal is. Well, it is definately not, get an agent and forget it and let the money roll in deal. It is very involved and they have lawyers who write the contracts, so that means I should have a lawyer of my own to read their legal jargon and explain it to me. Have you ever read a legal paper or contract that was totally and completely written in the English language that we all speak and can easity understand? I haven't. So now I am paying for an agent and an attorney. They will get a cut of what my book, or article sells for. This takes money out of my pocket. Now I am not so crazy about this idea either. I also want my work and myself protected. I want to make sure I get paid for my written words, and in a lucrative and fair manner.

I have also discovered that it is necessary to get a full and complete description of what I write and make certain it is what they are expecting to receive. Accuracy is paramount. A misunderstanding between the publisher and my final piece could mean my work will not be accepted.

There are terms such as 'rights' and 'subsidiary rights' to deal with. Well I thought 'rights' refer to my copyrights. In a sense they do but there are time limits included in this term which means how long the company has until they no longer have the 'rights' to publish my work. This they call 'media.' That is not what media means to me, however.

Trade paperback is what you see in a bookstore versus grocery stores which carry 'mass market' material. Associated rights include e-books and audio books. Then a royalty, (payment) should be specified for each platform. How many languages will your work be printed in which is known a 'territory.' Again, separate items in a contract. Will the publisher have 'rights' for two years or for the life of the copyright? LIFE OF COPYRIGHT usually means the life of the author plus 70 years. That is a very long time! I had no idea that this term even existed let alone what it means.

Subsidiary rights is essentially what the split will be between you and the publisher or a third party such as your agent. He or she is essentially your go between with the publisher. Remember you also have to pay an attorney. There is a 50/50 deal, where each party gets half or 90/10/ split which goes in the authors favor. That sounds really good.

Advances on a book is a term I do know and understand as it is upfront money to me, the author. I would be so psyched about getting a real live publishing deal that of course I want to take the money and run. Here is where an agent can make your deal. When emotions get involved we all know mistakes can be made rather quickly. Once you sign a contract on that dotted line be ready to live with that deal. Of course you can pay your attorney more to have it changed but how long will that take and how much will it cost? Your works are not being printed and sold but you are spending money anyway. This is not what I want. Will I be paid when the publisher receives my work or after it is finally approved? Or after it is published? How often will I receive the 'royalties' and how much of the advance? If for some reason my final work is not accepted will I be required to pay back the advance?

This is also very important and one that seems to be misunderstood by many, including me. Who will file the necessary paperwork with the Copyright Office in D.C. and who will pay for it? What time limit should be assessed to the filing time. Generally it is done within 90 days of publishing, but this is another item to be certain is in your contract and is clearly understood.This is a necessary part of publishing and a requirement in case you need to hire a lawyer due to Copyright infringement, (plagiarism, stealing your work.) Who will cover attorney fees, and damages and so on?

Writer or Author? Wanna B

I love to write and really do want to be a successful author/writer, but I now have a headache. Do those professionals who make a living as a writer look down on someone like me just because I call myself a writer? Am I taking away their success and the title of writer? This is what I am now asking myself? Do I have the qualifications and the right to call myself a writer?

Author is defined as "the writer of a book or article, a person who writes as a profession, a person who originates or creates something."

Now I am really confused. Isn't that what a writer is? At least according to the Webster Dictionary. So here is my dilemma. Where do I fit in? Am I an author because I have not been paid for my work yet? Or am I a writer because I can put words into a understandable piece of art? I like to say I am a writer because it makes me feel accomplished and important. One day I tried on the hat of an author and described myself as such. They both felt really good. So which hat will I wear? A white one for a writer or a pink one for an author? I own both.

Shall I continue writing? Absolutely. Hub Pages is my current platform. My blog is another. I will claim myself as an author of a petition 2 congress which I have on my biography. This being another passion of mine. I also read several news-feeds a day and add to my networks. No matter which road one chooses to travel down the road of a writer it is not easy and it is time consuming. So for now I will keep telling myself that good ole cliche, "good things come to those who wait" and I will throw in " a little hard work never hurt anyone." Besides, I have met some awesome people on this and other sites and I have learned a great deal in this process. Those two things are worth much more to me than ten cents.