"Is Everyone An Author?"

Is everyone an author? I believe that the answer to this question is a matter of personal opinion.  I read the introduction to the textbook Everyone’s An Author and searched the modern definition of the word “author.”  According to Miriam-Webster’s Dictionary there are two main definitions of “author.”

1) A person who has written something; especially : a person who has written a book or who writes many books

2) A person who starts or creates something (such as a plan or idea)

                Due to advances in the arts and technology, there are many ways to create things and express yourself. You could write stories, poems, songs, reports, articles and blogs. You could create animations and films, music and various other styles of art.  By this definition, yes, everyone is an author.

                On the other hand, this might not be the case. Some people may still define an author the way people did back in the 18^th century.  “And while anyone could potentially be a writer, an author was someone whose work had been published.”  (Lunsford) This definition narrows it down to writer’s who have created a published book, article, or song.

                I personally tend to lean towards the 18^th century definition.  While I firmly belive that everyone is a writer, not everyone is an author.

Citation

Lunsford, Andrea A., Lisa Ede, Beverly Moss, Carole Clark Papper, and Keith Walters.

Everyone's an Author. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print.