Q&A for How to Be an Author

You can learn and improve your creative writing skills by writing continuously. By challenging yourself with new writing projects using your imagination. If you hear something that's interesting to you, try to write a story about it different from how you heard it. Also, the same goes about something you've seen, write it differently from how you saw it, let your imagination flow.

By providing the necessary tools they will need to do the writing. Focus and determination is something that they should be willing to work on with regards to writing, along with reading and more writing. Listening and learning from those in the industry is also a way to improve their writing as those in the industry tends to discuss what they are looking for with regards to writing.

You can still write and publish a book if you want to, with the help of your parents or another adult if necessary. But it's not going to be a full-time job at this age. You still need to continue your education. Most people your age would focus on reading, writing for fun, and honing their skills, but if you feel you're ready to publish something, you can give it a try.

You don't need one. However, you should have an easy way to access a computer and the internet whenever you need to. You should be able to save personal files to your account or (if it isn't yours) to a flash or hard drive, or to save files online. This can be a desktop or laptop, a computer at a library, or even (though difficult and not recommended) a phone or tablet. Printer access would be nice.

It varies widely. Some authors never make any money, while others make millions.

Ask your parents to do the contacting on your behalf.

Yes. You can write it anywhere.

Yes, you can.

Write a book and send it to a publishing house.

Most devices come with a built-in writing app. On PC I would use Word or Onenote. On Kindle or tablet I would use Inkpad.

It's generally not acceptable or legal to use another author's lines without attributing the original author.

Any idea is a good starting point. If you have an idea for a grand twist at the end of a thrilling story, start there and work your way backwards. Find out what conditions are necessary for that story to work out. What concept is it based on? Draw a "map" of your story or concept. Maybe you will not find a good point to start from until the end, but that doesn't mean you cannot work on the rest of it. Usually solutions come along the way.

There are many authors who are famous, both past and present; however, the majority of authors remain in relative obscurity and write because it's something they're passionate about rather than to achieve fame or become rich.

It can be, though like other artistic careers like musician or artist, most authors begin writing as a part-time career while supporting themselves with a more lucrative/stable day job. It can take time to establish yourself to obtain enough steady work to sustain yourself as an author.