Writer's Fallout Shelter

Personally, I'm torn, I'm in the process of trying to write a full novel (20K words so far) but I keep thinking it sounds egotistical to tell people I'm a writer until i can give an example of my work in print, ie poetry or prose. or perhaps that's just being an Author? is there a difference between being an Author and a Writer should be the question perhaps? Can you call yourself a writer just through the act of writing but an Author when you actually become published?