What is a Published Writer?
The first time I read a book by James Michener I was hooked as a fan of his style. In 1971 I read The Drifters and knew his penchant for story-telling was wonderful. Since that time I’ve read much of his other works, including Hawaii, Centennial, Chesapeake and most recently, The World is My Home; A Memoir.
Among the more interesting musings in The World is My Home... is his definition of what completed writing is. His credo was, “Writing is never complete till it’s published.” He goes on to explain the three concepts in this definition, writing, complete, and published.
James Michener died in 1997 at age 90. He never used a computer, but wrote his prodigious volumes on a manual typewriter. When the personal computer came into common use he had a staff member rewrite his manuscripts in digital form. He once remarked that had he been younger he would have learned the art of keyboarding and probably used a computer. He was not averse to technology.
His definition of writing was a shorthand for the entire literary expression. For him this meant anything that could be expressed with symbols, whether it was poetry, novels or even music. It was that simple.
A completed work was not complete until a contract had been fulfilled between the writer and a reader. In other words, if a writer produces a work, he has an obligation to create a contract with someone to read it. The contract is, what he creates is not for his eyes alone, but that it be made available for someone to read. Art at any level is created to be interactive. Otherwise writing is a journal, a personal note to oneself. This type of non-sharing writing may be therapeutic for some, but it is an end in itself, and not by definition published.
He uses a case in point of the works of Emily Dickinson. She wrote 1,775 poems during her lifetime, but refused to have any published in book form. Seven were published in a small town newspaper while she lived. Why then is she now so famous and considered one of the world’s greatest poets? She circulated her her work among close friends whose opinions she valued. She shared her work with the world, even though she wasn’t paid for it.
Michener moves on to talk about different levels of publishing. It should be obvious to anyone who writes that while many write, few actually make a living at it. And of those few, a very small elite number achieve great success. Talent, hard work and perseverance help, but luck plays a major role in who achieves the great success and who is left somewhere down the rungs of the ladder that lead to fame.
More than likely Michener had never seen a blog. By his standards a blog would qualify as a published work. You have completed the contract for the reader, shared your work with the world, and you are indeed a published writer. Yes, even an email message would qualify under these standards. Dickinson also wrote nearly 2000 letters, now considered as some of the most beautiful prose ever written.
The medium makes no difference; if you write, write well all the time. On occasion I find myself reading a well written, well composed email. More than likely I delete messages that have too many LOLs and other loose garbage English. Writing, like a rose, by any other name is still writing.
Quite a few years ago I worked as a ballroom dance instructor. One of my teachers once ask me, “What is the difference between a professional dancer and an amateur dancer?” I rattled off a number of apparent things that came to mind, but she said this.
“A professional dancer always dances to the best of his ability, even when he is alone or simply out to have fun.”
This concept should be the credo of a writer. Always write to the best of your ability. Be a professional, published writer all the time.
