My family have little faith in me as an author. So should I take the risk or should I give up?

Question

I've been writing books for years now. For the past two years I've been working on one book. I sent it off to an editor and he did a sample edit (the first two chapters) and he said it was interesting and I am good at imagining scenes but I have some problems with controlling my use of language. He said he can help me improve on this but it'll cost me £250 for him to edit the whole book (50,000 words). But my family are saying it is a waste of my money and that i'm never going to be a published author. So do I give it a go or not?

General facts:

Female, 17, just started the Writer's Bureau writing course.

Answer 1

     I think it's disgraceful for your family to put you down like that.  NEVER GIVE UP!!!  And don't pay that editor $250.00.  You're taking a writer's course with a reputable firm.  Stick with them and let them guide you.  Your family can't live your life for you.  If you want to write, go for it.  Don't let ANYONE put you off.  Otherwise, when you're an old woman, you'll wish to goodness you'd stuck to your guns and written.  By then, it'll be too late.  I wish you all the luck in the world, and I'm sure we'll see your books and stories in print someday.

Mike B

Answer 2

Write it anyway without telling them. Get it pulished. Rub it in their faces. Simple!

Answer 3

Ignore their advice.  I have no idea if you have either the talent nor the ultimate ambitious staying power to survive as an author, but families disparaging their child from their dreams simply because they have different hopes for them is not just wrong, but is a glaring example of bad parenting.  They clearly do not believe that you know either what you want for yourself nor what is best.  Ignore them and at least try.

Answer 4

If you can pay the fee, then do it.  If you have to ask your parents to pay it, they have the right to say no.

Your brain thinks your stories.  Your hands type them or write them down.  Your family's faith or lack of it can only get between your imagination and your paper if you let it.

So I say go for it.  You will either love it and get better and better and better, or you will discover that you love it and the getting better is really tedious and takes a lot of work, or you will discover that just maybe this isn't the profession you're meant for.  But you won't know if you don't try.  And try, and try again, and try some more.  And take a couple of writing classes at the university.  And look for a writer's group who will share their own work and help you critique yours.  And find another editor after this one has taught you all he can.

Go for it and good luck to you!

Answer 5

I'm agree with "mike b"

It's YOUR life ! Do the right thing my friend... ;)

Answer 6

Ummm, I'm from America and all so I don't really know how much money that is. I do know that not editing it is a guarantee that it won't get published. Maybe you should put some of it on Y!A(or a young author site) so people can tell you if they like it. Then you can ask the editor to edit it.  

Answer 7

If you believe that you'll get published and you know that what you've written is to the best of your ability then go for it. You're doing this for yourself, not for them. It's not a waste of money to seek improvement, because even if this novel isn't the one that's going to be published, learning to correct your mistakes aids in future writing. You've already  been told that your writing is good, so don't give up now. Prove your family wrong. In the end, it might make a good story to tell in the future, about how you could have given up, but you didn't. Your family should learn to embrace your desire to get published and should support you. Tell them that. Tell them that they can either support you as you try to get published, or just watch -because you're going to get published anyway, right? ^-^

(You did check to make sure the editor is legit, right? Just to make sure you don't get scammed, because then it WOULD be a waste of money...)

I wish you the best of luck and hope to see your book on the shelves!