The Fragmented Identity of Authorship

In today's world, concepts are becoming increasingly blurred, and words and titles can lose their meaning over time. On social media, for example, anyone can describe themselves as a “writer”. But what does this mean? The fact that new concepts have not yet been fully developed while the meanings of old ones are changing is causing increasing confusion. This not only causes words to change, but also the values they represent, which may diminish them in the process. So, who can be called a “writer”?

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First, let's take a historical look.

The word “writer” has its roots in Old English, a language that was spoken until the 11th century. At that time, it referred to “one who can write; clerk, scribe, copyist” and was a concept used to refer to “one who produces philosophical books or literary compositions”. As we know, few people were literate at that time — mostly monks in monasteries. These individuals were highly valued and were usually tasked with writing epics about the royal family or copying religious texts.

During the Middle English period (between the 11th and 15th centuries), the term came to mean “reporter of events and deeds, chronicler, translator.” As the word began to be used in surnames, related terms also emerged.

Graph showing the frequency of use of the word “writer” between 1800 and 2019. Detailed source available in the image - Source

The steady decline above is noteworthy. Let's continue. There is also the word “author”. It began to be used in the mid-14th century, and in Old French (between the 8th and 14th centuries), it meant “father, creator, one who brings about, one who makes or creates”. Remember this for clarity: The word “authority” is also derived from this. In Latin, the word can have all of the following meanings: “promoter, producer, father, progenitor; builder, founder; trustworthy writer, authority; historian; performer, doer; responsible person, teacher.” Now let's examine its graph.

Graph showing the frequency of use of the word “author” between 1800 and 2019. Detailed source available in the image - Source

As periods change, professional groups grow and literacy rates increase, the frequency with which different regional names are given to people doing these jobs naturally changes, as does their perceived value.

Thus, distinct names have emerged for individuals who engage in reading and writing as part of their profession. This phenomenon can be attributed to various factors, including the emergence of literary and artistic genres, writing becoming a sustained source of income, technological advancements, digitalisation, and the need for personal expression. For these and other reasons, the emergence of the options you will see below has become inevitable.

Google search engine results for “what are some words like writer and author” query

Let's also share the frequency of use graphs for some of these words:

Graph showing the frequency of use of the words “Novelist”, “Columnist”, “Wordsmith” and “Screenwriter” between 1800 and 2019. Detailed source available in the image

Thus, we can see that many new and contemporary words have become popular alternatives to “writer”. As I mentioned, this has led to the concept of writing becoming fragmented. I believe that the increase in job titles for similar types of work has blurred the original concept of a writer. While the term “writer” once encompassed many functions, it has probably begun to lose its prestige as a result.

Of course, this is just my personal interpretation. Perhaps you interpret these graphs and the current situation differently. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me.

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We have examined the words in terms of their etymology and provided the relevant statistics. Now, let us move on from this topic. Let us focus entirely on the present day. While I have no intention of delving into the philosophical aspects of this topic, I will touch on psychological, cultural, sociological, technological and digital issues to explain it.

To make sociological observations, long-term local research must be conducted, as well as an examination of the society's values. However, this is not an academic study, and I am content to offer a superficial overview of my thoughts.

Writing and reading every day means putting other activities aside. This is not possible for most people. Taking a step back and examining this situation in a broader cultural context involves considering the impact of daily life on society over time. In the field of writing, this can be measured through literary works. Thus, we can make statements about how frequently different types of literary works are produced and how they are accepted and resonate in society, as well as looking at reading statistics. After all, reading is fundamental to writing. Can one become a writer without reading? That is a different question, but I will tentatively answer “no” and move on to another article.

I believe that storytelling predates the invention of reading and writing in all societies. Traditional stories and exaggerated tales that have gained local validity have always compelled us to hear more. Thanks to their historical permanence, many of these stories have become part of our cultural heritage, playing a leading role in shaping our society's epics. These are the narratives that help build society: they are deeply rooted and familiar to all.

The abundance of these stories, our desire to overcome complexities, and our commitment to passing them on also motivate us to write. After all, transmission does not have to be solely through words. This is why the proverb “words fly away, written ones remain” exists. Storytelling has now given way to the role of the “storyteller” based on text.

However, this raises questions about the literary merit of these narratives. Otherwise, people will say, “Anyone can write and tell stories.” In other words, literature could be considered the domain of the public. But aren't epics already narratives that circulate among the people? Wouldn't it therefore be reasonable for an epic storyteller to be someone from the people, perhaps someone who has only recently learned to read and write? Is it necessary to understand literary conventions, such as correct grammar, to achieve this? Detailed questions.

Thus, we recognise the importance of literary genres. In other words, when we examine the concept of authorship, we see that narrative forms influence literature and enhance its value. While literary works can be produced by individuals with the relevant academic qualifications, they should also be created by individuals who are skilled in this form of expression, as demonstrated by epic storytelling. This probably gave rise to the term “literator”, which distinguishes these writers from other “novelists”.

Similar to the epic narrator mentioned above, we will briefly consider the example of writing travelogues. To write a travelogue, one must, of course, have visited the places in question. Academic qualifications are not a prerequisite for this, nor would they suffice. Without first-hand experience, writings will either be unfounded or unable to transcend fiction if their purpose is to provide information and record events. This can best be achieved by a traveller.

Photo by Wendy Aros-Routman on Unsplash

First, we examined the etymology of the terms; then, we presented cultural and social examples. In both cases, we discussed the alternatives that influence the concept of “author” and its impact on value. Finally, let us conclude by examining the concept in technological, digital and psychological contexts.

Being a conscious individual is always exhausting. This is because it requires considering events from logical, moral, and emotional perspectives. In my opinion, the same applies to the subject of being a writer. The question on all our minds — which I have addressed in this article — is clear: “Who exactly is a writer?”

The issue goes beyond the idea that “if I write something, then I am a writer”, because we are questioning this notion. We do this because we know it is not true. Nevertheless, as people who are inclined to read and write, we are curious. The meaning of writing has changed over time, leading to differences in effort — another debatable topic — in line with literary diversity. This has made the question of who is and isn't a writer more ambiguous and unanswerable than ever. This requires us to take a multifaceted approach and reach common conclusions through discussion.

From a personal standpoint, most of us aspire to earn this title. Even if we publish a book or write regularly, we may not feel worthy of it.

However, when we consider society as a whole, we see the importance of titles. If you are a writer, it is quite possible that you will also be referred to as a poet, essayist or blogger. This is because unfounded and exaggerated labels can contribute to material gain, fame, and instant ego satisfaction — even though these things are considered insufficient or temporary, and can lead to psychological problems later on. I exempt real and self-aware writers from this.

Today, there are many opportunities to obtain these labels. It's a democratic technological advancement that allows anyone to become a writer! Anyone who can sit down at a keyboard and arrange words can publish something on a writing platform, their own website or blog, or social media account, and in a sense become a “writer”. Writers' inner voice: “Oh, the internet!”

This situation is, of course, frustrating and can diminish the value of original authors, causing them to fade into the background depending on your perspective. It's similar to how original musicians and singers are overshadowed by “newcomers” on music streaming platforms. Remixes of the same song, for example, can generate more revenue and reach a wider audience than the original track. The primary reason for this is undoubtedly the frequent use of social media. Thus, we see that the temporal needs and tastes of society (or perhaps the influence of each new generation) create certain necessities for professions. These can play a significant role in shaping concepts such as “writer” or “musician/singer”.

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We find ourselves in a dilemma: Being a writer has become both more difficult and more confusing, yet also easier, due to the abundance of options available. The seriousness of the past has been re-evaluated in light of the demands of the present, and today, writing has fallen prey to the web of technological possibilities. Conversely, the idea that writing should not be considered a freely distributable profession, but rather a limited title, is a contrasting perspective.

I do not know what the future holds, but with artificial intelligence now accessible to all, handwritten letters could become as valuable as gold.

I believe the real issue lies in maintaining continuity. If you stop writing or take a break that you consider too long, how much can you call yourself a writer (without caring what others say), whether you have a published book or not?