[M. Thatcher]

"Words are my business." Translation: I am a professional writer. I support myself and my family writing. People pay me to write.

Sorry if I was not explicit enough to suit you (of course, I was not addressing you in the first place); in any event I expect I have now clarified it to within an inch of its life; you do get the point now, I trust. It's really not a profound enough idea to discuss past a single post.

[Terriergal]

No, I'm just curious as to how you thought it was obvious enough *before* to have called me a twit.

Nice dodge.

[Terriergal]

I understood the "words are my business" thing, by the way. And you *were* addressing me when you called me a twit.

[ClancyJ]

Translation: I am a professional writer. I support myself and my family writing. People pay me to write.

Hope they are not paying you for manners or respect for those that might discuss things with you.

[Cyrano]

I am a professional writer. I support myself and my family writing. People pay me to write.

For the record, I believe your posts this thread have been, for the most part, easy to follow. Arrogant and too brusque by half, but comprehensible.

What I don't understand is why your claim (which I'll accept) to be a "professional" should mean anything. It doesn't (as you seem to be implying) suddenly give your words greater clarity. And it certainly doesn't give you any greater credibility or claim to quality. Terriergal et al are supposed to be intimidated because they've been addressed by a Real Author...? Please.

Frankly, I'd expect a writer who wants to be paid would tend to give his or her audience more benefit of the doubt, seeing any gaps in comprehension as things to be addressed in the writing, not the reading.

Cyrano