I think you've put your finger on the important aspect of the question--the writer's actions speak louder than the label attached. I think of myself as a writer, primarily, a playwright second, and, in the future, a screenwriter. My best project is my screenplay, In the Mouth of the Lion, but it's not ready yet, having gone from a one-act, multimedia play to a screenplay, to a novel, not following any theoretical by-the-numbers process for film writing. Yes, it's problematic. So is my previous screenplay. And the third. I'm still learning, even taking an acting class to inch my skills a little further in that dimension. I have a plan of action and hope to make this all gel this year.

How about "perspiring screenwriter?"

I just like 'screenwriter' really. I write screenplays, therefore I am a screenwriter. Keep it Simple, Stupid - as some marketing guy once said.

Jeff, sounds like you've adopted CIBerger's suggestion: "perspiring screenwriter". Sounds like you're learning the craft by practicing and being productive. That's essential stuff. Keep on keeping on!

Love it, CIBerger!

That seems to be the consensus on my Twitter feed: Just "screenwriter".

Ooh good topic! I think it's tricky partly because there is a grey area between aspiring and pro... that can stretch on for maddening years! I was quite happy being an aspiring writer when my writing was exclusively between me and my laptop, but once I had sold a couple of options - but not quite enough to fully quit my day job* - and started being invited to pitch - but not always succeed in selling, hence the day job - I admit I started bristled at 'aspiring'. At the same time, I felt a bit awkward saying I was a pro writer when I still mostly paid my bills with copywriting. (Even now I top up with other bits and pieces depending on where my projects are in development). All that said, 'pre pro' sounds wanky as heck to me, so I'd probably just use 'screenwriter/fiilmmaker' then explain if challenged! I think that your anecdote sums it up - 'pro' is a state of mind regardless of what pays the bills. *I should maybe explain I'm in Europe, where we're lucky if option fees cover a couple of months' rent!

Personally I loathe the term "aspiring", and "pre-pro" is just stupid. If you write screenplays you're screenwriter. Maybe you're unproduced, okay, so you're an unproduced screenwriter. But you're still a screenwriter, you write for the screen. (It's the same in the prose world. "Aspiring writer" yuck.)

When I refer to friends who are already being taken seriously in the business even though they don't have any produced credits, I call them "emerging screenwriters." When I refer to myself, I say I'm still learning how to write screenplays. (And then there's the second question of whether I can really refer to those friends as "friends," but a recent Scriptnotes podcast already addressed that.)

Thanks, Scott! I feel as though my thoughts will be...less than well-received by some, but I think they're thoughts aspiring writers should at least consider ;)

We are all screenwriters. Some of us are working. Some of us are not. So what would seem most appropriate is screenwriter versus working screenwriter.