i was thinking the same thing myself actually, i do use a pen name (which, if you follow the progress journals, you'll see me using there) and it does kinda help, because i tell people i write, but i can still in some ways keep it seperate, because i normally dont mention the pen name (i know it seems pointless, but until i have more published under my pen name, theres no point me saying about it.)
There is a more serious note as to why I have a pen name but I'm hoping to attend a book club as a visiting author within the next six month so that would be done totally under the pseudonym. It also helps that I'm a Gemini so have always had a split personality anyway!
if you ask me, you are not a writer until you get published. so i say i write but never say i am a writer
Yes. She writes and she's published, by @Poet of Gore 's standards, she's a writer. Who's to say she's not?
Anytime you write and have it where others can read it, you're published. That includes putting your work on a blog for free.
It isn't something that I openly declare -- But if the question of my hobbies appears then I am usually pretty open about it. As for discussing what I write exactly is different.
Yes, I tell people that I am a writer but don't tell anyone about my upcoming book or about what I am writing right now.