I agree with Anne, there is no specific definition.

However, I personally can’t imagine calling myself a “published author.” Because that title has historically implied recognition and status, using it to describe yourself seems boastful to me. Also, the term has almost always been used by others to describe an author, not by an author to describe him or her self.

As to the scenario you describe, the traditional usage of “published author” would not include a student’s contribution to a story collection because the student is not actively pursuing a writing career – you’re not an author, you’re a student.

But, as this thread reveals, the Internet and the growth of publishing-on-demand technology and vanity publishers has cheapened the meaning of published author. I prefer the older usage that conferred status and honor on the author. Now that any idiot with a keyboard can be a published author, the phrase means nothing and anyone trying to claim it for themselves is probably attention-starved.

My recommendation is to do as Anne says. Don’t boast, be humble. Just say you contributed to the collection. If someone else chooses to call you a published author, just let them.

r

You don’t have to use a symbol to insert an em dash, just type two hyphens. Your site and many others automatically convert that to an em dash, and if not, two hyphens is the other accepted method of representing an em dash.

I agree that Michelle should keep going for it — let me know if I can ever help you, Michelle! — but don’t dream. Understand the reality of this business, and what it takes to be successful. Those Indians are not going away, but it will be awhile before they are able to compete with American writers who write with clarity and can express in words our unique culture. Applying what you learn from reading, especially current events and classic American literature, will help differentiate you from a foreign writer.

Good Luck, ladies. And thanks for this site, Anne!

Dashes on the web – a hyphen with a space on either side because it’s too much work to insert a symbol for no good reason.

Yes, there does seem to be a different attitude about fiction and non, although my dreams of writing weren’t about fiction… just being paid to write – whatever.

Michelle, keep dreaming and going for it…

I think Mr. Chartrand is generally correct — diplomas are not necessary to land most freelance writing jobs and one shouldn’t waste their time talking about diplomas. I never do unless it’s relevant — for example, I have a legal education, and if the job is to write on legal topics, I will mention my education. Or, if it is a software related project, I’ll mention my years selling software and my work for software companies, such as the project I did for Microsoft. Otherwise, I just point to any relevant examples from my portfolio, in which I try to keep diverse examples of my work.

He also says that writing skill is unimportant, and he’s generally right. Of course, I never stated that one needed a diploma to get freelance writing jobs; I was talking about getting a book published by a reputable publisher. There’s a huge difference.

However, I think his rationale for that reality is only partially right. Yes, attitude and personality are important — I know, I’ve lost business because of mine. But I think there is another important reason: most employers of freelance writers don’t know the difference between good and bad writing. If they did, they probably wouldn’t be hiring a writer; they’d just write it themselves.

Also, based on what most employers are willing to pay for freelance writing, it is obvious that they do not want or expect great writing — or at least they shouldn’t. Either way, the chances of them getting excellent writing for that low wage is nil anyway.

It’s very frustrating for a person like myself, who obsesses over his work to make sure every word, sentence, and paragraph are exactly right, to lose a writing job to someone who can’t even write at an 8th grade level. For example, occasionally (rarely) an employer on Elance will not “seal” the project bids, such that bidders can see each others proposals. I am shocked by those bids. The last one I saw had about 20 bids, and besides mine, only one other was grammatically correct — probably because his was only a single sentence. Several had atrocious grammar. Honestly, I’m embarrassed to be included among them, but even more embarrassed when one of those writing frauds’ proposals are selected over mine.

On the other hand, if you are trying to earn top dollar for your writing (say, $75-85 an hour, or $1 per word), as I am, the employers willing to pay that fee definitely recognize the importance of writing skills.

As for the second article that discusses self-publishing; Ms. Sandefur’s examples of people who have self-published bestsellers are not realistic for 99% of the wannabe published authors out there. Specifically, this quote from that article is so blatantly untrue that it sounds stupid:

There’s no doubt, my friends, that this self-published author’s success story proves that word-of-mouth is — and probably always will be — the best way to earn an author the title of bestselling author.

Her description of Steven Oliverez’s marketing efforts for his book, The Elder Staves, does sound like something anyone could do; however, whether #1,139,333 on the Amazon sales ranking qualifies it as a bestseller is debatable.

Her second example, Still Alice by Lisa Genova, at #645 on Amazon’s list is certainly a bestseller. I assume Ms. Sandefur’s claim that it is a self-published book is true, although the book is now published by a division of Simon & Schuster. I don’t know how to tell how many copies she sold when she was self-publishing versus the number sold by S&S. Still, certainly self-publishing led to the later success.

However, Ms. Genova confirms my other assertions. She has an excellent education — BA from Bates College and PhD from Harvard University. She is also an expert and frequent lecturer in the field that is the subject of the book — Alzheimer’s disease. Go get a Harvard PhD, and I’ll support your efforts to self-publish.

Ms. Sandefur’s final example, The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry, is totally unrealistic for most people — the author and her husband spent more than $50,000 publicizing the book, including hiring a publicist and copy editor. But most importantly, Berry once again confirms my assertion — she studied literature and creative writing at Green Mountain College and the University of New Hampshire and worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood for ten years.

All-in-all, I think Ms. Sandefur is simply pandering to the same audience as PublishAmerica et al — wannabe authors desperate for readers and frustrated by how hard it is to get published by the top tier firms. Undoubtedly, if you are a gifted writer, such as her three examples, lightning can strike — anything is possible. But, as I’ve shown, it sure helps to have a great education and to pay your dues. Yet, she doesn’t mention any of that because she knows that most of her readers are 1) not gifted writers, and 2) don’t have that education or industry background. As in my allusion above, she’s telling 80-pound weaklings that they can be sumo wrestlers, if only they try hard enough. It’s similar to the false hopes given to thousands of black children over the last generation that led them to focus more on sports than their education, such that they waste valuable college scholarships by pinning their hopes on a professional sports career that they have no realistic chance of attaining. Their four years expire without a degree or decent education to show for it.

However, don’t get me wrong. If you are truly gifted, or a 7-footer with point guard skills, chase those dreams. If not, dabble on the side if you must, but focus on your education. Or, be satisfied with those low-paying freelance writing jobs, if you don’t mind competing with writers from India that can also write at an 8th grade level, but who will work for $5 a day.

No I did not understand the reference to Franz Kafka’
s work, but have heard of him. Don’t know if we are in fact related though.

Thanks for the offer of helping Ron. Wow your comments are the longest comments I’ve ever read on any blog.

What I wanted to point out was these two links

Want More Work? Don’t Pitch Your Diplomas by James
http://freelancewritinggigs.com/businesstips/don't-pitch-your-diplomas/

and

Successfully Market Your Fiction Book–Secrets From The Pros! by Misti
http://mistisandefur.blogspot.com/2008/12/successfully-market-your-fiction-book.html#comments

Took me a moment to find them as I have many folders of favs. and normally I don’t go on the computer on the weekends much.

Both posts are really good and get you thinking.

And that was my first time debating and taking criticism. Thanks I did learn alot here from Anne and Ron.

Michelle Kafka’s last blog post..Happy New Year!