What exactly does it mean to be a "professional writer?" In reality, the title means different things to different people. The general definition (for most people) includes an exchange of money for work created by writers. Just what form this "work" takes, however, can really vary. If you're determined to become a writer who actually gets paid, then here are some of the paths you might choose to take.

1) Many people associate the term "professional writer" with their image of a novel writer. If your obsession is creating whole worlds (or universes!) by writing fiction, then writing novels may be your ticket to becoming a paid professional writer.

2) If you long to make the kids smile with your creative writing and crazy images, then maybe you should consider becoming a children's book writer. Many children's books include wonderful artwork, so if you love to draw or paint, then perhaps you will become both a paid writer and a professional illustrator.

3) So many people focus on writing fiction that the very real possibility of becoming a nonfiction book writer often gets completely overlooked. This is a potentially lucrative way to become a professional writer, as long as you have the skills and know-how to back up your ideas.

4) There are literally thousands of writers who make good money through jobs writing for commercial and trade magazines. If you have a great idea for an article that should be in your favorite magazine, consider checking out their writer guidelines and then querying the publisher. Bigger magazines are more competitive, but they also pay more for professional writers.

5) In today's age, nearly every business has its own website. A professional writer who focuses solely on providing web content to these businesses can not only make money at the onset, but can also get repeat business when it is time to add new products and services or to update old material.

6) If your goal is simply to see your book in print, then perhaps you might want to self publish it. While the upfront costs can sometimes be a little high, you can set your own price and be in charge of marketing and selling your work. For many people, once that first copy has sold, they consider themselves "professional writers."

7) Another way to self publish is to create booklets or pamphlets on a subject that interests you. These can be marketed online or through catalogs that advertise publications in a number of areas.

8) A different spin on using websites to become a professional writer is to start your own blog. With the addition of advertising or affiliate marketing, the content you write can actually earn you money.

As you can see, there are no strict rules about what a professional writer "needs" to be. If you get a thrill from writing fiction, then perhaps being a novel writer or a children's book writer is the best outlet for your interests. If you prefer to organize and share facts, then it's possible that you should consider being a nonfiction book writer or should seek jobs writing for magazines. If your biggest dream is just to earn a little money for something you wrote, well, there's even the option to self publish. Each of these methods is a lot of hard work, but each also has the potential to be the path that makes you into the professional writer you aspire to be.