I have a dream to become a writer???

Question

I am a young mother who has always dreamed to be a writer. Like writing novels for the ages teen and up.

I am inspired when i read, i can get caught in a book and cannot put it down!!

English was always my favorite subject, i never found it a chore...it was something i enjoyed and my story writing was something that people complemented on.

I passed my english GCSE's and would like to know what kind of courses i could take to get practice for my career, or what qualifications are needed?

How would i actually go about becoming a professional writer?

I dont expect to become some big hit (hopefully), but just to write?

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Answer 1

If you have a thorough grasp of the English language, you really don't need any more school to become a writer, in my opinion.  You need to write.  Read some books about creating works of fiction.  Learn about generally accepted principles on creating plots and characters.  Then write a novel to completion.  Get feedback from other writers on your writing.  Then, write some more.

Generally, no literary agents or publishers will touch a writer of fiction until they have completed a book worthy of publishing.  And even out of the people who create a book that might be popular if  only it were published, many of those can't get the attention of agents or publishers.  So while you are working on writing that book, start sending fan mail to authors whose work you like and is similar to yours.  Write to agents with intelligent questions.  Go to writers conventions.  Take courses.  Begin networking.  The more people you know in the publishing industry, the greater your chances of having your work published once you've finished the novel that's currently trapped in your mind.

The hardest part of writing, in my experience, is just getting a project finished that I feel is marketable.  So far, I've finished one, just in the last month, and even though I'm starting to put it out there, I'm thinking of all the ways it could have been better.

Until you write a project to completion, though, you're not ready to talk to either agents or publishers.  Classes won't help you do that.  Only dogged determination will.

  

Answer 2

Firstly, if you live in the UK I would advise you to start watching the ITV3 show at 9pm that profiles crime writers like Ian Rankin etc. Even though I don't particularly like crime writing, it has given me a lot of insight into the business of publishing and promoting a book, and the general lifestyle of an author. My family don't seem to understand that to make writing a career, you need to actually set time out in your day (like 9-5) and WRITE like constantly! It's easier after your first book, but your first one really needs to pack the punches to get noticed!

My advice to you as a beginner is just to write lots and lots! Even if it sounds terrible, just remember 'a rainbow always comes after the rain', or 'the night is darkest just before the dawn', little things to remind yourself that, although it's sometimes a struggle, writing is something you love and this could become something huge!

Also, read a LOT and join a writer's society where you can get advice from other aspiring writers and then, when you've finished your book, get an editor to look it over and then start sending it into publishers!

One more thing: PREPARE TO BE REJECTED! No one gets hired on their first try, or if they do, it is a rarely an immediate success.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Answer 3

The best way to become a writer is to just write.

Answer 4

Continue to write what you love.  Chose a genre you're most familiar with. What you like to read. Most stories have some sort of formula, find it repeat it as you begin developing ideas, strengthening your writing skills and then create characters using the people around you and yourself as guides.

     Young adult literature is beginning to expand and a profound rate you will find romance boy meets girl, boy hates girl, then boy and girl are stuck on a desert island/cabin/hotel/ etc. Then they are forced together to 'solve a mystery', assassinate each other, assassinate the same target etc. There's also the new paranormal genre where they could be angels, fey, demons, goblins, witches, fairies you name it. She could be searching out a warlock who is believed to be bad (You know an otherworldly teen detective protecting her basketball team for the big game on Halloween when the two worlds are most closely related.) and it turns out he was set up and she has to help him. You've also got the whole sci-fi thing, think of Star-gate and Star Trek and Star Wars or anyone who's s**y on tv and have a passionate love affair with them and write it down. Teen girls are very into their crushes.  Vampires are very in, chicks who are clumsy, trouble magnets, and always buying shoes/starbucks/designer clothes are also very chic right now. Humor, is cool.

Spies: Good guy bad guy, damsel/document/president/nation/world in distress. See the themes, everything has a formula and there's nothing absolutely new under the sun, the newness is what little tweeks, twists and turns you put into it.

You can always take a community writing class at the local college or library, even organize a critique group yourself so that you can exchange ideas and invite published writers in to speak and give workshops.  Classes for me had always been a way to keep me focused.  I also tend to like the spotlight and don't mind criticism although my alter ego never expects anyone to say anything bad.  But to lessen the blow I'm always the first to volunteer that way I can be the guinea pig and of course expected to make mistakes.  To me the last person has it hardest because they have just heard all the mistakes and keep apologizing for having made the same ones and the impact of the individual critique isn't as focused because everyone keeps referring to something arleady read.

As far as qualifications I suggest doing the blog thing, Moms love hearing about the plight of other moms.  You'll get feed back and you won't feel alone in your situation.  You can be funny, serious, offer advice and ask questions all in the guise of practicing your writing and seeing how many people are interested in what  you have to say.  Take those pieces of writing and submit them to the letters columns of baby and parenting magazines or even their on-line sites.  Start stringing longer stories together to make chapters.  Make sure you write at least every other day if possible.  I set it up like a regular job, a page a day weekends and holidays off.  Even answering questions on here has become somewhat of an experience and I have collected my best answers and begun plugging them into my blog and group newsletter.

     Publishers want a query letter and a synopsis, so check out writing those as well and make it as clean as possible since this is their first look at you and your work. Most will ask for anywhere from three to ten chapters but when you're going in cold and just submitting don't be afraid to submit your best three chapters or the whole thing. Again you're testing the waters and getting advice.

Some publishers require agent representation, but plenty have a slush pile that is divvied up among the editors of each genre. Those have a longer response time. Remember on a daily basis for every three hundred submissions there are only two or three editors per company.

Agents are useful as well if you don't have connections. They have the in where newbies don't. Do not pay out of pocket to them, agents make money if you get picked up so the idea of them believing in your work and pushing it to the best of there ability for the most money is better for them.

Check out the websites listed below. Also keep in mind that associations and groups often have guest speakers in the industry who will give sound advice. Contests for those same associations will often have agent and editorial judges on the panel as well as one on one critiques from them. And lastly conferences also have pitch sessions that you can pre-register for where you can meet with editors and agents face to face and you have ten minutes to dazzle them while hundreds of other authors try to do the same. So again polish your work, make sure you submit and speak with agents and editors geared to your genre and last try to make an impression on them so that they remember both you and your work.

Answer 5

How about taking a class in creative writing?

Answer 6

If you REALLY want to practice and get better at writing, go to helium.com and sign up. They have hundreds of topics to write on. When you register, tell them Angel_Blue recommended you. Helium is free, and astounding in all the different topics they have. I love it there!

Answer 7

Honestly, the only thing classes can teach you is how to spot creativity in others and how to organize your thoughts. It comes from inside. Learning grammer is great since you will need that to be understandable.Start writing your own stuff. Go over your favorite books study how they built the story and study the styles of authors YOU like.

Also you can do some short stories and put them on the web so you can get some idea of what people like from you. There are plenty of archive type sites www.fictionpress.com is popular one. Putting your work out there will also help you develop a thick skin for when you are ready to publish do it with a major firm or yourself. Hope that helps!