Dictionary.net

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

The beginner, former, or first mover of anything; hence, the efficient cause of a thing; a creator; an originator.

One who composes or writes a book; a composer, as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler.

The editor of a periodical.

To occasion; to originate.

To tell; to say; to declare.

The beginner, former, or first mover of anything; hence, the efficient cause of a thing; a creator; an originator.

One who composes or writes a book; a composer, as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler.

The editor of a periodical.

To occasion; to originate.

To tell; to say; to declare.

In terms of copyright protection, either the person who creates the work, the person or business that pays another to create the work in an employment context or the person or business that commissions the work under a valid work for hire contract. For example, a songwriter may write a song, but if he is employed by a company to do so, the company is the author of that song for copyright purposes.

The beginner of anything; a creator; one who writes a book; one who makes a profession of writing; a composer.

Authoress.

One who originates or brings into being: a beginner or first mover: the writer of an original book:-fem. AUTHORESS.

One who produces; an originator; the writer of a book.

An originator; creator; the original writer, as of a book; also, one who makes a profession of writing.

n. [Latin] The beginner, or first mover of anything; the efficient cause; creator; –specifically, one who composes a book; a writer in general.

The first beginner or mover of any thing; the efficient, he that effects or produces any thing; the first writer of any thing; a writer in general.