The concept of amateurism dates back to the 19th century, when it was used to describe individuals who participated in sports and games for recreational purposes, rather than for financial compensation. The term gained popularity in the world of sports, particularly in the Olympic Games, where amateur athletes competed alongside professionals. Over time, the definition of amateurism expanded to encompass a broader range of activities, including hobbies, creative pursuits, and scientific endeavors.
In the 1970s, a group of amateurs at a place called the Homebrew Computer Club—teachers, students, hobbyists—began tinkering with circuits in their garages. The professionals at IBM said they were wasting time. These amateurs built the first personal computer. They weren't efficient. They weren't certified. They were in love.
A professional photographer must take photos that sell. That often means discarding experimental, weird, or challenging work in favor of safe, marketable shots. A professional athlete must win games. That often means playing conservatively, avoiding injury, and sticking to the playbook. A professional writer must produce copy that converts. That often sounds sterile, optimized for SEO but empty of soul.
Amateurs are not confined by the narrow specializations of professional fields, allowing them to make unique connections and challenge conventional wisdom. The "Lover" Perspective:
And so the painter becomes an accountant who paints on Sundays, furtively, as if committing a crime. The poet becomes a lawyer who scribbles verses on napkins during lunch, then crumples them up. The inventor becomes a project manager who files patents for the corporation, never for the soul.
To be an amateur writer is to be in a state of becoming—a stage defined not by a lack of talent, but by a lack of seasoned discipline and refined craft. As Richard Bach famously put it, "A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit". The Amateur Mindset vs. Professional Discipline
Amateurs often feel like frauds because they compare their first draft to professionals’ final drafts. Stop that. The professional was once an amateur who refused to stop. You are not an imposter; you are an amator — a lover. And love is the oldest, most legitimate qualification there is.
The concept of amateurism dates back to the 19th century, when it was used to describe individuals who participated in sports and games for recreational purposes, rather than for financial compensation. The term gained popularity in the world of sports, particularly in the Olympic Games, where amateur athletes competed alongside professionals. Over time, the definition of amateurism expanded to encompass a broader range of activities, including hobbies, creative pursuits, and scientific endeavors.
In the 1970s, a group of amateurs at a place called the Homebrew Computer Club—teachers, students, hobbyists—began tinkering with circuits in their garages. The professionals at IBM said they were wasting time. These amateurs built the first personal computer. They weren't efficient. They weren't certified. They were in love. Amateur
A professional photographer must take photos that sell. That often means discarding experimental, weird, or challenging work in favor of safe, marketable shots. A professional athlete must win games. That often means playing conservatively, avoiding injury, and sticking to the playbook. A professional writer must produce copy that converts. That often sounds sterile, optimized for SEO but empty of soul. The concept of amateurism dates back to the
Amateurs are not confined by the narrow specializations of professional fields, allowing them to make unique connections and challenge conventional wisdom. The "Lover" Perspective: In the 1970s, a group of amateurs at
And so the painter becomes an accountant who paints on Sundays, furtively, as if committing a crime. The poet becomes a lawyer who scribbles verses on napkins during lunch, then crumples them up. The inventor becomes a project manager who files patents for the corporation, never for the soul.
To be an amateur writer is to be in a state of becoming—a stage defined not by a lack of talent, but by a lack of seasoned discipline and refined craft. As Richard Bach famously put it, "A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit". The Amateur Mindset vs. Professional Discipline
Amateurs often feel like frauds because they compare their first draft to professionals’ final drafts. Stop that. The professional was once an amateur who refused to stop. You are not an imposter; you are an amator — a lover. And love is the oldest, most legitimate qualification there is.
