Q&A for How to Become a Writer

Write if it feels right. The vocab and grammar can be mended by people who just love to edit, those souls who can't wait to devour the mistakes and turn them around. Your imagination should be your guide, not a rule book. Best of all, the more you write, the more the grammar corrects itself through feedback and learning. So get stuck into it!

You should end a chapter when a specific moment or collection of moments is finished. Think of it like the scenes in a movie -- when the scene changes, move on to the next chapter.

You love writing, so keep writing and try not to think too much about its end purpose while you're still thinking this through. If you find that you love writing so much that you want it to be a permanent part of your life, then it will work out. If it seems like a constant chore and you're not getting paid for it, then it's probably not for you.

When it comes to writing, good writing takes time. However, until your writing is at a level of acceptability, you need to keep writing to keep improving. Thus, it's best to learn by practice and self-critique. Being tough on your work is excellent, as it helps you to improve. It also helps to use third person, to give you the chance to step back and be more objective than placing yourself into the story.

Try reading other books, looking at pictures, listening to music, reading quotes, etc. You can even try doing some simple writing exercises; sometimes, a simple exercise can inspire a longer story. A popular exercise is choosing five random words, and then writing something containing those five random words.

Make a list of the things that motivate you; for example, your favorite movies and quotes. Those words will help motivate you and give you ideas as well. Sometimes it is also good to write simple stories from your own experience.

You can start writing blogs. If you are really good, you can earn money blogging. Also, there are hundreds of literary websites that you can submit your story to for free. Go to newpages.com for a list of websites that are accepting submissions.

They already have lives. Don't waste yours doing something you don't want to do. If they have a problem with what you want to do with your life, they have to deal with it.

It's not necessary, though it can be helpful. It would be ideal to take at least a few writing-based English classes so you can get some formal instruction and feedback on your writing from a professor and/or fellow students. Having an English degree (or journalism, or communications - depending on the type of writing you want to do) can also help you find jobs related to writing after college. Either way, you should read a wide variety of literature and learn from the best.

If you cannot get your book published, use desktop publishing and publish your book. You can do self-publishing successfully with online resources now.

If your book is selected for traditional publishing, you do not need to pay anything. The publisher will pay all the expenses to publish the book, and will collect the profit from the book sales. You will get a percentage of the profit. If you decide to self-publish, you will have to pay to have the books made. However, if you self-publish as an e-book only, the cost will be minimal or nothing.

Some people find it easier to begin with an outline instead of jumping straight into writing the story. Other people do not start with the first scene, but just start wherever they think is the most exciting. Try just writing what comes to you. Don't worry about how good it is, just write and see where it takes you.

There is no age limit for diaries, but yes it is good for a 13-year-old girl to keep a diary and record her thoughts and feelings.

Especially when you are first starting out writing, it might be best to find a quiet time to yourself when other people won't be bothering you. For example, you might like to write in the evening after dinner, if you aren't too tired; or you might wake up early to write in the morning before school.

If you like something as a hobby, feel free to do it no matter what your job is.

Yes, it is worth trying if you really want to do it! Writing is a good way to expand your vocabulary as well, since it will force you to go look for new words to describe exactly what you mean.

If you have an amazing idea for a story, consider writing them down in a notebook. It's better to keep a 'story ideas' book, it will help a lot! Keep your notebook with you at all times so you can jot down ideas whenever they come to you.

Yes, you can write a novel without any kind of degree at all.

This is up to you. There are effective writers who write in both the ways you describe. Some professional writers plan everything ahead of time. Others just begin writing and find a story emerges. It may be difficult to tell which way is best for you when you are just starting out writing, so you may need to just pick one way and see if it works for you, and if you aren't getting anywhere, try the other way.

Try story prompts. They're a fun and fantastic way to get the creative juices flowing. They could also become the turning point in your stories. You could try coming up with a name and giving them a backstory and a purpose. Or just read a book or listen to music, which will always get you thinking.

Try using a sticky notes app, such as Lino, to keep your ideas and inspirations in one place. These apps will let you create digital bulk item boards. Dedicate one to your novel, and write down any plot ideas, inspirations, tips and tricks, writing quotes––anything involving your story and anything that’ll get you excited to write. When you loose interest, go back to that bulletin board and get excited all over again. Also, work on more than one novel at a time, instead of throwing ideas away to make room for another. Make the maximum 7, and out any other ideas on hold until you make room for them.