Writers vs. People Who Write...and Why Mark Patinikin Gets On My Nerves

Why is it anyone who puts their mind to recording their thoughts in print on a regular basis considers themselves a Writer? If someone does their own car repairs, do they consider themselves a Mechanic? No. If someone home-schools their children, do they consider themselves a Teacher? No. So why is it people who upchuck their every thought or idea into printed words consider themselves Writers? I believe the reason that the person who repairs their own car or home-schools their children are not considered professionals is because they cannot do what they do on a professional level. Why is writing so different?

I consider myself a Writer because once upon a career, that is how I made my living! People found my work to be of such merit that they actually paid me to produce it! I guess this is why I get so annoyed at people who call themselves writers, yet have never had a single word published by a discerning entity that pays its contributors - regardless of how many freelance contributions they have attempted to see published.

I know that this is why Mark Patinkin's column gets on my nerves - aside from the sexist commentary he has been producing since his marriage started to dissolve, which would upset me even if I was not a Writer. Until quite recently, half of the stuff he has been writing for the Providence Journal have been lists - which my seventh grade Writing teacher always told me to avoid, as they are "the fodder of the unimaginative". I get angry because I know the man has an amazing talent, and he is producing work that is beneath him; work that is on par with "people who write", who use the oft heard on Thayer Street phrase, "I've lost my muse" as they try to excuse the drivel they know they are producing.

Until this class lit in me the flame that had faded, I never thought I would go back to professional writing. Now, I am not so sure; and this confuses me as to what I am: Am I a former and possibly future Writer? Am I a Writer on hiatus? Or am I just someone who writes? The search for identity continues.

P.S. Over the last few months, Patinkin's stuff has been amazing...I do hope that he has got his grove back!