When someone tells you they are a writer with no other context what are you thinking they mean in your head?

[Still-alive]

They like the hobby of writing but not necessarily published anything

They are a published author that may or may not be making decent money at it

They are a published author and making a living at it

They're a published author and are famous (the fame is necessary in your head for someone to call themselves a 'writer')

Other

[ElenaLena]

They have imagination and your tells inspire them immediately 😄

[Still-alive]

i gotten better at people watching for sure ;)

[thegreenyogi]

That they express themselves better through words and that possibly they write for fun and not fame or money.

[msmissydc]

Mostly, I think of authors.
Here on this side, because it has such a weird selection of available jobs, it can mean everything. Geologist is an option, but journalist isn't. I would argue there are many more journalists than geologists.