There is a question that gets tossed around quite often: “What makes a writer a professional?” Most people would think: “A writer who gets paid to write; a writer who sells stories.”
And as far as I’m concerned, that’s fine. In science fiction, you might stretch that definition to, “A writer who has earned enough to qualify for membership in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).” The same could go for mystery writers (MWA), or romance writers (RWA), and so on. In disclosure, I am an Active member of SFWA, which is the highest level of membership. That level of membership is based on sales, but I by no means making a living writing–which is entirely relevant to the point I’m going to try to make.
According to SFWA, I am a professional SF author. I saw a blog recently, however, that (in passing) strongly implied that SFWA’s standards were too lax, that only someone who makes his living selling fiction should be considered “professional.” So far as I’m concerned, this is just wrong.
First, very few people can make a living writing. It’s like acting; how many SAG members make a full-time living acting? Not many, but if you try to characterize all of those others as “not professional actors,” you’re going to have a real argument on your hands. Same with writers.
Merriam-Webster has a lengthy definition of “professional,” but the relevant sections reads thusly: “participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs.” Personally, I think Merriam-Webster is a pretty good source, and it says you don’t have to support yourself by a particular profession in order to be a professional.
And you know who else doesn’t think you have to support yourself completely by writing to be a professional writer? Me. And, well, Merriam-Webster. One of their other definitions is: “following a line of conduct as though it were a profession.” You see, professional is as professional does. Even if you’ve never sold a story, you’re acting like a professional, and while you may not qualify for the purposes of SFWA, or MWA, or whoever, you deserve that respect. (I have found mystery writers understand this better than many.)
And those of us who make some money on the side doing this job? We’re living our dream. And if we’re not living it at the same economic level as you think we should, then, well, I don’t think that’s very professional.
#SFWApro
Graffiti on the Walls of Time 