scribbler
One who scrawls
A scribbler is someone who writes, usually with the implication that what they produce is hasty, careless, or of little merit.
The term often carries a dismissive or self-deprecating tone: He fancied himself a novelist but was really just a scribbler.
Writers sometimes use it with false modesty to describe themselves.
In Canadian usage, a scribbler is also a notebook for schoolwork.
Careless, illegible writing
- rushedDone with excessive speed
- hurriedDone too quickly
- illegibleCannot be read
- messyLacking order or neatness
sloppy · quick · careless · dash off · scratch out · chicken scratch · unreadable · untidy
Shortcut or breach
- pulp writerAuthor of sensational fiction
- penny-a-linerPoorly paid writer
- potboilerWork made for money
- churnerApparatus for making butter
mediocre · unpolished · second-rate · amateur · dabbler · dilettante · novice · aspiring
Mindless rough sketch
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- drawingMarks forming a picture
- doodlingCasual aimless sketching
- pencilGraphite writing instrument
crayon · sketchpad · freehand · caricature · cartoon · graffiti · ballpoint · absent-minded
Creator of written works
- novelistWriter of prose narratives
- poetWriter of verse
- journalistNews profession practitioner
- essayistAuthor of short prose
columnist · blogger · correspondent · wordsmith · storyteller · copywriter · screenwriter · lyricist
Brief written records
- jottingWriting briefly
- memoBrief internal message
- notepadBound sheets for writing
- journalRecord of daily events
diary · annotation · shorthand · marginalia · reminder · bullet points · brainstorm · ideas
scrawl
Careless, illegible writing
messy · sloppy · quick · careless · dash off · scratch out · chicken scratch · unreadable · untidy · haphazard
hack
Shortcut or breach
- pulp writerAuthor of sensational fiction
- penny-a-linerPoorly paid writer
- potboilerWork made for money
churner · mediocre · unpolished · second-rate · amateur · dabbler · dilettante · novice · aspiring · unpublished
doodle
Mindless rough sketch
pencil · crayon · sketchpad · freehand · caricature · cartoon · graffiti · ballpoint · absent-minded · squiggle
author
Creator of written works
- novelistWriter of prose narratives
- poetWriter of verse
- journalistNews profession practitioner
essayist · columnist · blogger · correspondent · wordsmith · storyteller · copywriter · screenwriter · lyricist · pamphleteer
notes
Brief written records
journal · diary · annotation · shorthand · marginalia · reminder · bullet points · brainstorm · ideas · thoughts
scribblerwordsmith
Skilled prose artisan
literary genius · craftsman · man of letters · laureate · bestselling author