forfatter

Forfatter is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to denote a person who writes books, plays, or other literary works. In Swedish, the cognate is författare. The word is generally understood to mean someone who composes original written works, rather than a journalist or translator, although overlaps exist.

The scope of an forfatter's work is broad. They may produce fiction or non-fiction, poetry, essays, biographies, scripts, and other forms of literary or narrative prose. The writing process commonly includes developing an idea, drafting, revising, and often working with editors, agents, or publishers. A forfatter may publish under their own name or, in some cases, under a pseudonym.

In the Nordic publishing landscape, authors participate in a cultural and commercial ecosystem that includes contracts, royalties, literary prizes, readings, and public appearances. While some forfattere are professionals with formal training in literature or creative writing, many pursue writing independently and become established through published works and readership.

Etymology-wise, the term is understood as denoting “one who composes” or “one who writes.” Variants exist across the Scandinavian languages, reflecting shared roots in the concept of authorship. See also author, writer, novelist, and poet.