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Graham, I was surprised at the responses so far, because I thought the answer would be obviously the same as mine. Professional writing is, like Russ says, "writing you get paid to do". But I think it's more than that. I think a degree or course in "professional writing" should qualify a person to write for pay, for example, as a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader-- a person who can make a profession out of writing! A writing career that you can count on-- usually not of the "creative" writing type, because it's rare one can make a career out of that. Being a professional writer means usually dealing with non-fiction prose such as newspaper/magazine journalism, academic theses, technical manuals, business proposals. I think such a course/program is wider than a journalism program, and develops more non-fiction writing skill than a traditional English Literature program does. -Tania Smith. At 01:43 PM 8/12/98 -0500, you wrote: >Folks, > >I'm teaching a graduate seminar in Professional Writing Theory at Purdue >this fall. One of the first issues I want to look at in the seminar is the >question of how to define "Professional Writing." As grist for the mill, I >thought I'd ask a number of people in the field to define what they mean >by the term. I wonder whether you'd like to venture taking a stab at >describing in a sentence or two (or three or four) what "Professional >Writing" means, as you see it? Thanks a lot. I'll be happy to share the >results of the exercise with you. > >Apologies to anyone receiving multiple copies of this message. > >Graham > >********************************** >Graham Smart >Assistant Professor >Department of English >324 Heavilon Hall >Purdue University >West Lafayette >Indiana 47907 > >Office phone: (765) 496-1593 >Home phone: (765) 496-2373 >e-mail: [log in to unmask] >********************************** > >