Authors are a special class of people who spend their lives writing. While some authors work for publishing houses, others write as freelance writers or for their own self-publishing efforts. Writing may not be easy, but it is incredibly rewarding when your words connect with others and make an impact. Authors must be creative, thoughtful and passionate to create works that leave a lasting legacy. Understanding the historical evolution and philosophical underpinnings of authorship can help authors approach their craft with a greater sense of responsibility and purpose, striving to become true authors.
Foucault’s Lecture on the Author
French philosopher, sociologist and historian Michel Foucault gave a famous lecture in 1969 about the concept of the author. The lecture, titled “What Is an Author?” challenged many assumptions and ideas about authorship. It also introduced a new way of viewing texts and books.
Foucault discussed the four features that make up an author’s oeuvre. These include a text’s origins, the fact that it is an authored document, the ways in which it points to its author and the manner in which the author functions within a text. He pointed out that the author of a book is a kind of Derridean “center” of the text that is outside the work but at the same time creates it.
In addition to these features, the author of a text should be considered as a kind of “figure” that appears in the text. A figure is a sign that carries a certain amount of power and authority because it is used to represent or stand for an idea or concept in a text. This idea of the author as a “figure” was an important part of the discourse on authorship.
While the idea of an author has evolved over time, it is still a critical concept to understand for anyone who writes. For example, a person who writes journal entries or scripts for movies is a writer, but not necessarily an author. An author is a person who originates the content, plot and originality of a book and has the goal of getting it published.
An author can be a freelancer who does blog or newsletter content for various clients or a full-time writer who has the goal of having their own book published. The difference between an author and a writer is that authors aim to have their works published on a large scale and are likely to put in significant periods of time editing, proofreading and marketing efforts before their work is ready for public consumption.
A good author bio will establish your credentials in your topic area. For example, if you are writing a diet book, then mention things like professional degrees in nutrition, nutritional training or accomplishments, places you have worked and awards you’ve won. These will signal to your audience that you are an expert in your field. Your objective should be to create a biography that signals your knowledge and passion for your subject matter while leaving the reader wanting more of you.