“The Distinction Between Writer and Author”
By John Diamond, M.D.
A writer writes as his Muse dictates. But an author writes for his self – for wealth and fame.
The writer is aware of his social responsibility to enlighten, to be, to a great extent, altruistic. Whereas the author’s intention is to use, to manipulate, his readers.
A dedicated writer can still be turned into an author by the publishers and trade. They author-ize him, whether it was his intention or not, for their own manipulative purposes. All who write and all who publicize writing have a social responsibility.
I have a good friend severely traumatized by his favorite author – yes, not writer – who suicided. Now my friend wants to emulate him. There was no social responsibility in the writings, which became increasingly death-oriented. Nor on the part of the publishers who sensed his disturbance and are now attempting to cash in on the new publicity.
Anyone who communicates publicly has the responsibility as do those who authorize him.
