What's the difference between an amateur and a professional writer?

A question I have been pondering for the past couple of years, and one I'd like to see some discussion on. <br><br>Now, I write this as not to come across "elitist" but rather as an observation of the relationship between the two types of writers and the quality of work they produce, not necessarily the quality of the *writer* him/herself. For example, I'm still an amateur and I do not pretend to be wise enough to know the difference between an amateur and a professional. Heck, if I knew I'd probably consider myself a professional writer right now lol. <br><br>So here are my observations: <br><br>For amateur writers, I imagine we have mostly all been there before. We sit, and we write, but for some reason we do not feel like our work is quite up to par; maybe we struggle with grammar, or do not have an innate ability for strings sentences together, or even lack the vocabulary to create the desired atmosphere or the personalities of our characters, or maybe it's something else entirely. <br><br>Regardless of our errors, we do our best and consider their story complete when it is done, and it is a great feeling of accomplishment (I'm sure we all know it) to read through our work and know we did it, that this is the culmination of our efforts, the best we could do at this moment in time. <br><br>I do not mean to make it sound bad because it's not; it's like seeing an artwork in a local gallery created by a relatively unknown artist. It may not be 100% polished, but you will still admire its beauty because of the effort and the love the artist gave it, and it will likely be made all the more beautiful for that. <br><br>Now, for me at least, when I read a story from an established author that's a very different ballpark. It's more like seeing a painting in the Louvre or something. I mean, it's hard to even see what it could be compared to, because everything from the characters' personalities, to the world they live in, to the dialogue, to the plot and the pacing, to the way the author strings words together is completely flawless. <br><br>This is the magic of reading; seeing inside of the mind of the author and appreciating the depths of their imagination. <br><br>With that said though, I think that's where the difference lies between a professional writer and an amateur; the professional writer is fully capable of tapping into his mind and extracting the full potential it has to offer. Which is why I see writing as a profession, or even a lifestyle, not a hobby or an ability you either have or you don't.<br><br>I'm sure any writer will tell you that; the more you write the better you become. Life experience wise too. They say you can only see what you know, and I think that's true. Things like first heartbreaks, or losing a loved one, or moving away from your childhood home, will broaden your range and help to make you a more empathetic person. Empathy for those who are different than you is key for a writer, because every character is an expression of an author's own take on a certain personality. <br><br>So, what is the defining difference for you, if any?