
Writing Style: Are You A
Real Writer?
I hear it all the time from my students and at the seminars and workshops I lead. The writers that I work with are excited to work with a “
real” writer. Most people define a “
real” writer as one who
is publ
ished. Therefore I, with three publ
ished novels and innumerable newspaper and magazine articles under my belt, certainly qualify.
However, the longer I am involved in the business of professional writing and the teaching of writing the more I question that definition. For me, being a “
real” writer
is much more about a state of mind rather than a state of being. I believe very strongly that you need to become a
real writer before you can become a publ
ished writer for I know that while most (if not all) publ
ished writers are
real writers that the reverse
is not necessarily true. I have known many
real writers who have not yet been publ
ished but I believe they will be some day — if they just stick with it.
Real writers are made. No one
is born to be a writer although many
real writers are born with a drive or need to be a writer and th
is is certainly a help during the difficult times and challenges that all
real writers face. A
real writer requires five essential tools.