authors

An author is a person who originates or composes written works and is credited as the creator of texts such as novels, poems, plays, articles, or scholarly monographs. Authors are typically responsible for the ideas, expression, and structure of their works. The term comes from the Latin auctor, meaning originator or promoter, reflecting traditional views of authorship as the source of creation.

Authors may work alone or as part of a team. Collaborative authorship includes co-authors of a paper or editors who curate a collection; some works employ ghostwriters, and some creators publish under pseudonyms. In academia, attribution is explicit through author order and contribution statements.

The publication process involves drafting, revision, and often oversight by editors. After submission, works may be edited, designed, and licensed for reproduction. Copyright provides authors with exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, adapt, and publicly display their works, typically for a limited time. Moral rights, recognized in some jurisdictions, protect authors from misattribution or derogatory modification. Ethically, authorship requires honesty about sources and proper citation; plagiarism is a fundamental breach of attribution.

Technological changes have long shaped authorship, from the spread of printing to modern digital platforms. In the internet era, self-publishing and online distribution broaden access but also raise questions about compensation and discoverability. Overall, authorship is both a creative act and a professional identity that influences how texts are produced, marketed, and read.