A number of recent visitors have asked me for advice for aspiring writers. I wrote up a big long article over on the Young Adult (& Kids!) Books Central site sometime ago and you should definitely check that out, though I’ve also got a few things I’d like to add for younger writers here:
- The most important thing to do is to write. The more you write, the better you get at it. And remember that craft is just as important as ideas — pay attention in English class, ask your teacher for advice, maybe get involved with your school or local newspaper. Any writing, even stuff you do for school, helps make you a better writer (though I complained about long term papers, too!).
- Most places have local writer’s groups and some are happy to welcome teen members as well. Check your local library and newspapers for listings. These can be great resources for writers of any age.
- Start a writing group with other like-minded friends. And if you do — learn how to (give and) take constructive criticism.
- Think about writing some short stories and sending them out to magazines and/or websites that publish teens. It’s great practice. Writing a good short story is often harder than writing a full-length novel. You’ve got to include a lot of stuff in a short amount of words.
- There’s also nothing wrong with writing fan fiction, just keep in mind that it is practice — it isn’t something you’ll be able to sell. But it is a great way to hone your craft!
- When you do start sending things out, follow the rules and act professional. That means cover letters, good grammar, and if they ask for a snail mail letter vs. an email, send the snail mail. It’s okay to mention your age, but you can show with your actions that you are professional and mature enough that they would want to work with you (I’ve heard stories before from an editor that they’d seen some promising writing from a teen, but they didn’t go for it because they didn’t think the teen was capable of working with them).
I hope that helps! Good luck to all you writers out there!