The main character is a writer of serious literature - I mean novels, short stories, poetry, plays or even non-fiction. The manga should have quite a bit about the literary world and should focus at least partly on the craft of writing. Other themes could be the issue of creative inspiration, financial hardship or success, the publication process, how the writer's work/lifestyle influences their personal lives (positively or negatively), parental/familial disapproval, the difficulty of achieving recognition, the travails of fame once it is achieved, the romantic relationships of the writer (or lack thereof), the writer's relationship with his/her own craft, what their writing means to them, etc.
Basically any manga about a writer or writing.
Hentai, ecchi or smut are not acceptable. I'm not saying the manga can't contain any sex, but even if it's there, it shouldn't be the main point... There are too many "smutty novelist" stories out there and I don't consider them serious stories about writers or writing. -_- Sorry.
Examples:
SEINEN/SHOUNEN:
The Times of Botchan - novelist (SO MUCH LOVE for this!)
Inugami - aspiring poet, not published yet
SHOUJO/JOSEI:
The Name of the Flower - novelist
Ashita no Ousama - playwright (+director)
Angel of Bronze - poet
Mr. Fredward's Duck - novelist
Wagahai wa Yome de Aru - novelist
Papa Told Me - novelist (someone please scanlate this!)
The Poet Who Buys Words - poet
BL/GL:
Poet Was Not Built in a Day - poet
Junjou Romantica - novelist
Dancing in the Swirling Snow - novelist
La Vie en Rose - novelist
Indigo Blue - novelist
Please help me find more like these!
EDIT: I will add more titles to the above list as people suggest them, so that this post can become a Master List for writing manga.
