When people ask what you do, their question is really:
"What do you do for a living?"
If (like Marc Pearson) you earn your living as a writer, then you say 'writer' if you (like Mikey Jackson) earn your living running on-line businesses, then you say 'writer'.
It's that simple.
I would feel dishonest if I ever told a civilian I was a writer. Plus, I'd be worried this might happen.
Me: Hi, I'm a writer.
Sexy Lady: Oh... Dave told me you were a programmer.
Me: Well Dave's a lying c*nt!
Quote: Nogget @ July 14 2010, 7:56 AM BSTOn this site, in order to see the writers' discussions on 'Active Threads', you have to submit that you are a writer.
Well, you don't need to do that. That's only if you want those threads to appear automatically on the board after you've signed in.
You can just click on the box on the bottom right and scroll to the appropriate section.
Quote: ShoePie @ July 14 2010, 9:29 AM BSTI would feel dishonest if I ever told a civilian I was a writer. Plus, I'd be worried this might happen.
Me: Hi, I'm a writer.
Sexy Lady: Oh... Dave told me you were a programmer.
Me: Well Dave's a lying c*nt!
I'm sure many of us have been writing since we were children, and 'live and breathe writing'. But as I said, until I get a book in WHS I'm going to feel a bit of a ponce referring to myself first as a writer in conversation. 
Like Mikey I was good at writing at primary school - but then I went to a crap secondary school which destroyed all my confidence and creativity.
I think like zooo said we have it inside us to be writers - and we all are to a greater or lesser extent. It just depends how distracted we become.
I think you need some decent achievement to pull off the "I'm a writer" routine.
Depends what you mean by achievement. Van Gogh never sold a painting, but does that mean he wasn't an artist?
I would say you are a writer if you have the ability AND the compulsion (and even then there are commercially successful writers who have been distinctly lacking in one or other of these prerequisites.)
Ultimately though it whether you can justify the use of the term 'writer' to yourself rather than to others that matters.
Quote: Mikey Jackson @ July 14 2010, 2:21 AM BSTI "consider" myself a writer. This is the reason:
When I was as young as 6 or 7, I used to create comics.
Quote: Timbo @ July 14 2010, 11:19 AM BSTDepends what you mean by achievement. Van Gogh never sold a painting, but does that mean he wasn't an artist?
His finest achievement was killing that space chicken.
Quote: Timbo @ July 14 2010, 11:19 AM BSTDepends what you mean by achievement. Van Gogh never sold a painting, but does that mean he wasn't an artist?
It meant when he did describe himself as one everyone laughed at him, which helped drive him into a deep depression. 
Ultimately though it whether you can justify the use of the term 'writer' to yourself rather than to others that matters.
Ah, well in that case I'm definitely a writer, no problem.
Quote: Ben @ July 14 2010, 11:11 AM BSTI think you need some decent achievement to pull off the "I'm a writer" routine.
I would agree, because otherwise people will ask, 'Oh, so what have you done?' If the answers is, 'Err, oh, well, nothing really. News Revue performed a sketch of mine once' Then you look like a tit.
if you (like Mikey Jackson) earn your living running on-line businesses, then you say 'writer'.
ouch.
Ah, but I haven't just done "a few sketches here and there."
I do a lot of private freelance writing work which comes through people contacting me through my writing website.
Also, on one of my other websites, I sell a lot of non-fiction ebooks (mostly about web business related stuff) that I have written.
I "consider" myself a writer. This is the reason:
When I was as young as 6 or 7, I used to create comics.
Heh, that's just the 1st line of my explanation.
The stories of comic strips need to be written.
When talking to the opposite sex I will tell them I'm a primary school teacher. If there's any still hanging around after that (mainly the hard of hearing)I may drop in the fact that I've written some stuff for a review or two. Then after they've gone I just stare into my beer.
I have found airline pilot or Max Mosley works better.
No.