A writer is someone who creates written works for a living, whether it’s novels or short stories or even blog posts and articles. However, the word author packs more clout than just a writer; it denotes an individual who is responsible for the content of their writing.
A book’s author is the person who writes its contents, from start to finish. In some cases, writers may collaborate with other authors, particularly when the book is a work of fiction or is part of an academic research project. In these cases, the co-authors would usually be listed on the manuscript’s author page along with the main author. Generally, an article’s author will be the one who conducts the research and gathers all of the relevant content, although he or she might also write the actual content.
Some people are known as multi-authors, which means that they write in collaboration with other individuals on different aspects of the article. A popular example of this is a newspaper or magazine article which contains several pieces written by a variety of people in different areas of expertise. The foreword or preface of a book will usually include information on the credentials and area of expertise of its author, while an author’s website may provide this as well.
Authorship is also complicated by the fact that a piece of literature can be interpreted in a number of ways. For this reason, there are many different types of criticism which explore the meaning or interpretation of literary texts. Critics such as Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault have examined the idea of what makes a text an author and how that can change its value or meaning.
The definition of an author changes with each type of writing. Novelists, for instance, are a type of author who is concerned with creating fictional worlds and plots in their writing. Writers, on the other hand, focus more on the delivery of a message or idea through their writing, whether it is for entertainment purposes or to impart knowledge. The difference between the two is also evident in the way that they present their ideas, as a writer will focus on conveying them in a more formal and structured manner while an author will try to capture the spirit of the writing and evoke emotions from its readers.
The best way to describe yourself as an author is in the form of a professional bio on your website or in the foreword or preface of your book. A good bio will highlight all of your relevant accomplishments and accolades, but it should also contain a touch of humility and modesty to avoid sounding too much like a braggart. This is especially important when you are trying to sell your book or article, but it can be useful as a tool for networking as well. For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep the language of your bio fairly informal and conversational in tone.