hack writer
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A mediocre and disdained writer; a writer who produces a large volume of unoriginal, low-quality work, often for commercial purposes and with little artistic merit. The term implies a lack of creativity and a willingness to produce formulaic or sensationalist material for money.
Usage
The term "hack writer" is a pejorative label used to criticize a writer's work as being of poor quality, derivative, or produced solely for financial gain without regard for artistic integrity. It is often used in literary or journalistic criticism.
Examples
- The literary critic dismissed the popular novelist as a mere hack writer, churning out predictable romance novels twice a year.
- He started his career with ambition but ended up as a hack writer for a tabloid, fabricating sensational stories.
- She refused to compromise her standards, vowing never to become a hack writer just to pay the bills.
Advanced Usage
- "To hack" (verb): The related verb "to hack" means to write in such a mediocre, commercial style.
- He spent years hacking out scripts for low-budget television shows.
- The concept often carries connotations of speed, drudgery, and a cynical approach to the craft of writing.
Variants and Related Words
- Hack (noun): A shortened, more general form. Can refer not only to a writer but to any professional who does routine, uninspired work.
- He was just a political hack, writing speeches filled with empty slogans.
- Hackwork (noun): The low-quality, unoriginal output produced by a hack writer.
- The magazine was filled with the typical hackwork of its underpaid staff.
Synonyms
- Scribbler: A dismissive term for a writer, especially one considered trivial or untalented.
- Grubstreet writer: A historical term referring to a poor, hack journalist or writer (originating from a London street once inhabited by such writers).
- Penny-a-liner: An archaic term for a writer paid by the line, implying hurried, low-quality work.
Antonyms
- Wordsmith: A skilled user of words, especially a writer.
- Literary artist: A writer who treats writing as a serious art form.
- Stylist: A writer noted for their distinctive and accomplished literary style.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "To churn out": This phrase is frequently associated with the output of a hack writer, meaning to produce something mechanically and in large quantities.
- The factory-like studio churned out dozens of films starring the same hack writers.
Noun
- a mediocre and disdained writer