The Author: A Writer with Authority

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority. (Mark 1:22, NLT)

A Word For Writers

What sets apart the author from a mere writer?

Even the word gurus cannot agree on the distinction.  Merriam-Webster defines an author as “the writer of a literary work” while The Oxford Dictionary defines an author as “a writer of a book, article, or document.” 

Meaning that genre – what she writes – doesn’t define an author. 

Digging further, I finally got somewhere when I looked at how the term “author” came about.

I discovered being an author is less about what a writer writes (or if she is published or not) than how she writes.

The root word, used throughout the New Testament, comes from the same root word as “authority.” The term indicates a special power – power that is original to the bearer, not given by another.

People recognized this authority in Jesus in the way He communicated. In fact, He is called the Author of life (Acts 3:15), the Author of salvation (Hebrews 2:10), and the Author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Which helps me understand an important truth: an author is not defined by what kind of genre she writes, but how she writes. With authority from the Holy Spirit.

Call me an author. As long as my words are rooted in the Author of life.

A Wise Word

An author writes with authority.

A Word To Pray

Heavenly Father,

All authority belongs to you. I want to honor You and be used by You. Let my words be rooted in you, the Author of life.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

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