What's the difference between 作家 and 作者?


Is there a difference between 作{さっ}家{か} and 作{さく}者{しゃ}, both meaning author?

I've also found 著{ちょ}者{しゃ}, but this one the dictionary says usually refers
specifically to an author of a specific book.

Do 作家 and 作者 refer to different types of authors/creators?  
Or are they used interchangeably?




A 作家 is somebody who creates 作品 for a living, while 作者 is more tied to
specific works.

[作者](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E4%BD%9C%E8%80%85/): 'Somebody who has
created a work, especially the creator of a work of art.'

[作家](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E4%BD%9C%E5%AE%B6/#jn-88247):
'Somebody who produces works of art, or does so as an occupation, especially a
novelist.'

Obviously there's a little overlap but generally, 'Jane Austen is the author
of Pride and Prejudice' is 作者, while 'Natsume Souseki is a famous Japanese
author' is 作家.

(Little note that might make things clearer: '[company] is the author of this
software for purposes of copyright' in a video game's credits is 作者.)




A 作家 is somebody who creates 作品 for a living, while 作者 is more tied to
specific works.

[作者](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E4%BD%9C%E8%80%85/): 'Somebody who has
created a work, especially the creator of a work of art.'

[作家](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E4%BD%9C%E5%AE%B6/#jn-88247):
'Somebody who produces works of art, or does so as an occupation, especially a
novelist.'

Obviously there's a little overlap but generally, 'Jane Austen is the author
of Pride and Prejudice' is 作者, while 'Natsume Souseki is a famous Japanese
author' is 作家.

(Little note that might make things clearer: '[company] is the author of this
software for purposes of copyright' in a video game's credits is 作者.)

