...and I can't tell you how I got here, because I can't remember. Please excuse the drive-by post.
But this...
I would be willing to guess that the majority of writers in the fanfiction world are Storytellers rather than writers, because it is such a highly interactive environment, and the Storyteller seeks the communication and interaction with their audience.
...gave me some pause because I'm ancient enough to remember the pre-computer days of writing fanfic longhand, long before I'd ever heard the word fanfic, without a clue that others in the world might be doing it too, or wishing to see mine. It was the opposite of interactive, but I went at it like a fiend. And yet, I think of myself as a storyteller (well, really, I think of myself as a hack, but that's my thing), because my method of writing is to think "Ooh, what if this happened? And then this happened?" -- that is, I'm telling a story. I was just telling the stories to myself -- and I wonder does that mean I was an artist (because I told my stories to myself for my own pleasure without thought for any further audience) but am now a storyteller (because I post my fanfic and am pleased that others enjoy it)? Even though my method of and motivation for writing fanfic hasn't changed (at least I don't think it has)? I'm not trying to be snide; I suppose I'm just having a bit of trouble with the definitions. Or maybe, as you indicated, it's not always black and white, storyteller vs. artist.
Very interesting thread...
But this...
I would be willing to guess that the majority of writers in the fanfiction world are Storytellers rather than writers, because it is such a highly interactive environment, and the Storyteller seeks the communication and interaction with their audience.
...gave me some pause because I'm ancient enough to remember the pre-computer days of writing fanfic longhand, long before I'd ever heard the word fanfic, without a clue that others in the world might be doing it too, or wishing to see mine. It was the opposite of interactive, but I went at it like a fiend. And yet, I think of myself as a storyteller (well, really, I think of myself as a hack, but that's my thing), because my method of writing is to think "Ooh, what if this happened? And then this happened?" -- that is, I'm telling a story. I was just telling the stories to myself -- and I wonder does that mean I was an artist (because I told my stories to myself for my own pleasure without thought for any further audience) but am now a storyteller (because I post my fanfic and am pleased that others enjoy it)? Even though my method of and motivation for writing fanfic hasn't changed (at least I don't think it has)?
I'm not trying to be snide; I suppose I'm just having a bit of trouble with the definitions. Or maybe, as you indicated, it's not always black and white, storyteller vs. artist.