"How many authors are there among writers? Author means originator"
- Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
About this Quote
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel's quote is an intriguing one that raises the concern of what makes up an author. In this context, an author is somebody who is the originator of a work, such as a book, poem, or play. This definition implies that authors stand out from authors, who may be the ones who in fact put the words on the page. For that reason, the answer to Schlegel's concern is that there can be many authors amongst authors, depending upon the context. For example, a writer might be employed to compose a book based upon an author's concept, or a writer may collaborate with an author to create a work. In either case, the author is the producer of the work, while the writer is the one who puts the words on the page. Ultimately, the number of authors amongst authors depends on the context and the type of work being produced.
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