What's the difference between a writer and a wannabe writer?

I think the answers posted already cover one aspect of the question: people who work/have worked to have the skills of writing verses people who don't/haven't.

I think there's another way this cuts. Among the people who can write, there are people who do it, and people who don't. I have one friend in particular who does make his living as a writer... one of those corporate jobs... but he doesn't accept himself as a 'real' writer. The reason for that is, he's not writing anything he likes. I get so sad for him because he has a fascinating life story, but instead of taking lessons from Frank McCourt about learning how to tell the story of his life, he wants to be Earnest Hemingway or D.H.Lawrence. He places no value on the stories he can tell best, so he doesn't write them.

Me - I have the skill to write, I enjoy it, I have made a living at it (in another one of those corporate jobs, but also as a tech writer)... but these days, I do most of my writing right here at the Fool. I don't make any money at it, but it keeps me putting words to screen!

- Anne