Elitist much?<p>So first you go on like:<p><pre><code> I think a line needs to be drawn in the sand so that we know who is the real deal.
There is a stark contrast between being a writer and being a professional author.
Calling everyone authors who puts words on a document and submits them to the public devalues the word so much, it makes it meaningless.
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And then you mention:<p><pre><code> In order to join these organizations you have to earn ‘x’ amount of money over a single calendar year, where the specified amount for indie publishers is a *multiple* of the requirement for traditionally-published authors minimum income, because it is easier to make money by going indie
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Facepalm. Let me translate that for you. You're proud of your "real authors" tax, basically. It works like this: If you run a marathon that takes say 4 hours usually, you're considered a "real runner" if you make the run with your legs shackled if you make it below 24 hours. But if you don't use shackles, you're only a real runner if you make the marathon below 4 hours. At the end of the marathon the fastest shackled runner gets a gold medal, and those who made it without shackles but slower than 4 hours get nothing.<p>Let me propose that this definition of a "real author" is the most arbitrary and meaningless award achievable. It conveys zero information about the quality of the author and is arbitrary biased to favor those who masochistically forgo better profits just so they can wear your meaningless "real author" badge of honor.<p>Not only is the criteria arbitrary and meaningless, you also reward "real authors" by exhibiting economic stupidity.<p>Are you really sure, that's what you wanted to write? Really?