- Wordsmith redirects here.
For other uses, see Wordsmith
.
A
writer is anyone who creates a written work,
though the word usually designates those who write creatively or
professionally, as well as those who have written in many different
forms.
Profession
The word is almost synonymous with
author, though somebody who writes, for example,
a laundry list, could technically be called the writer of the list,
but not an author. Skilled writers are able to use
language to portray
ideas and
images, whether
fiction
or
non-fiction.
A writer may compose in many different forms including (but
certainly not limited to)
poetry,
prose, or
music. Accordingly, a
writer in specialist mode may rank as a
poet,
novelist,
copywriter,
composer,
lyricist,
playwright,
mythographer,
journalist,
screenwriter for
film or
television, etc. (See also:
creative writing,
technical writing and
academic papers.)
Writers' output frequently contributes to the
cultural content of a
society, and that society may value its writerly
corpus – or
literature – as an
art much
like the visual arts (see:
painting,
sculpture,
photography),
music,
craft and
performance art (see:
drama,
theatre,
opera,
musical).
In Colonial England, a "Writer" was the lowest grade in the civil
services abroad. With respect to society, little has changed in
this regard. The East India Company requirements for a "Writer" was
a basic knowledge of accounts and youth. Applicants had to sign a
bond and obtain a nomination.
In the British
Royal Navy, writer is the trade
designation for an administrative clerk.
In several instances, writers are also referred as
wordsmiths because of their ability to compose
words.
Internet writers
The popularity of the Internet opened the door of opportunity to
many established and aspiring writers alike. The new medium created
concerns over writing quality in the Internet age. Writers’
advocates believe the Internet has led to a lower level of writing
standards. While new modes of communication through the Internet
are constantly advancing and changing, the issue of writing quality
questions the very definition of writing in the Internet age.
Whether writers are devoted to the craft or not, they are expected
to be able to write well both offline as well as online, or at
least recognize the difference between the two. When writing for
the Web, it is the content that matters. Writing for the Web is
very different from writing for print. Print today remains superior
to the Web when it comes to visible space, image and type quality,
and speed. Web visitors are quickly scrolling through sites seeking
specific information and will not always take the time to read
every word. Traditional writing techniques and standards are less
of a priority, as multiple headings, bullets and lists are needed
to aid scanning readers. Although reputable writers compose much of
this writing, the quality can appear less than professional. Also,
with the increase of tech people working as a
website content writer, the rules of
grammar need to be put into effect.
Writers not writing for a living often find enjoyment and small
payouts from Web sites seeking material to raise their sites higher
in the search engine rankings. Although this is a legitimate
practice, the writing being published on the Web can often be less
than professional. This lack of professionalism distorts the line
between qualified and amateur writers. Writing standards are often
not the highest priority as Web sites seek to drive traffic to gain
advertising exposure. It seems as if readers are not as concerned
about the writing quality, as long as they find a relevant account
on a particular topic.
See also
References
- O'Malley, L. S. S. (1965) The Indian civil service, 1601-1930.
London : F. Cass. p. 228
- http://www.nwu.org/nwu/ National Writers Union
- Bly, Robert W. “Weaving your web.” Writer’s Digest 2005 Aug.:
22.
- Wonnacott, Laura. “Site Savvy: When writing content for a Web
site, make sure to tailor your efforts to the media.” InfoWorld
2000 July 3: 48.
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