Showing posts with label young writers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label young writers. Show all posts
Someone asks:
how do i go about getting a book published without getting ripped off? i really would like to not need an agent (if that's possible?). i'm still in high school though, so will that make it any harder?
thanks!!
My Answer:
I come across this question multiple times in Y!A. First, you can search those questions and see their answers.
One website that was particularly helpful to me (I'm 15) was www.nathanbransford.com
Really, you should do your research first.
All I can say is that it's best if you can get an agent. Many publishing companies/editors will not accept unsolicited manuscripts. An agent knows the business way better than you do, and will make better choices for your book to become successful because if the book isn't successful, then they don't get paid very well. To find an agent, you can go to www.agentquery.com. Be sure to query an agent that represents the genre you are writing.
It doesn't really matter what age you are. What matters is that you write a kick *ss book and you try to publish it the right way. Unfortuantely, teens will write horrible stories (just browse through Y!A and you'll find some) and that's what gives us a bad name, that's why people will tell us to continue writing, but not think that we're the BEST FRICKIN WRITER SINCE JK ROWLING.
The best thing I can tell you is do your research and please check out Nathan Bransford blog because that will give you much better info that I can ever fit in here.
One website that was particularly helpful to me (I'm 15) was www.nathanbransford.com
Really, you should do your research first.
All I can say is that it's best if you can get an agent. Many publishing companies/editors will not accept unsolicited manuscripts. An agent knows the business way better than you do, and will make better choices for your book to become successful because if the book isn't successful, then they don't get paid very well. To find an agent, you can go to www.agentquery.com. Be sure to query an agent that represents the genre you are writing.
It doesn't really matter what age you are. What matters is that you write a kick *ss book and you try to publish it the right way. Unfortuantely, teens will write horrible stories (just browse through Y!A and you'll find some) and that's what gives us a bad name, that's why people will tell us to continue writing, but not think that we're the BEST FRICKIN WRITER SINCE JK ROWLING.
The best thing I can tell you is do your research and please check out Nathan Bransford blog because that will give you much better info that I can ever fit in here.
Source(s):
www.nathanbransford.com, RESEARCH!!
Someone asks:
I'm in my mid teens, and I love to write in my spare time. I'm not too interested in fame or popularity, I just want to see my stories in print. But now I've got people telling me that I'm too young to go anywhere with writing. Are they true? SE Hinton was 16 when she wrote The Outsiders. And my parents say childhood is the best time to develop a hobby. I've been writing for almost eight years, and it's difficult to acknowledge that just because I'm young means I can't be any good.
Opinions, experience, advice etc. would be most welcome
My Answer:
You're never too young to be a writer. I agree with you, some people look down on young writers because we don't have enough experience (I'm 15) and our work is usually pretty bad (I've read a lot of stories by young authors...most aren't pretty). So I can understand where that opinion comes from. But you are correct: just because you are young doesn't mean your writing totally sucks. Just keep writing, and in that way you'll gain experience. But don't chicken out from querying agents and trying to get your writing out there! There's an Australian author who got signed by an agent and she was 15! (her name is Steph Bowe, you can look her up).
Good luck and don't give up!
Additional: Here is an article you might be interested in, if you want to see it from a different perspective: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2006/04/27/10…
Good luck and don't give up!
Additional: Here is an article you might be interested in, if you want to see it from a different perspective: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2006/04/27/10…
Someone asks:
I'm 14, and I hope to finish a book soon. But, I have a few questions... If i don't want my parents to read it, and I use a pen name, would I be able to get it published without them finding out, or would I have to wait until I'm 18? Also, and tips for the actual content? Such as character development? I know things like give them flaws, but I need to make sure they don't all end up the same or stereotypical descriptions. (Like, there's part of a love story involved and I don't want the girl to only care about him... but she's with him all the time, so he distracts her.) And if a story is graphic, can it still be published? (Sorry, I have a lot of questions.)
My Answer:
You can use a pen name, but your parents will have to find about your book eventually because you, a minor, can't sign with an agent or publisher without having a parent/guardian also sign. Besides, you will be receiving money for your book (if it does get published) and won't your parents wonder where you got that from?
Go to this website for your questions about character/plot stuff: http://www.writing-world.com/index.shtml
If you're afraid if your characters are being Mary Sues or Gary Stus, you can take this quiz about them to see if they are: http://www.springhole.net/quizzes/marysu…
I don't know what you mean by graphic. If you mean graphic as in pictures, you can. If you mean graphic as in sexual/violent/etc, then you may have a bit of trouble with that, just don't go overboard.
Remember to focus on writing that great story FIRST before thinking about becoming published.
Good luck! Remember to research!
Additional: Go to this site for information on publishing: http://www.nathanbransford.com/
Go to this website for your questions about character/plot stuff: http://www.writing-world.com/index.shtml
If you're afraid if your characters are being Mary Sues or Gary Stus, you can take this quiz about them to see if they are: http://www.springhole.net/quizzes/marysu…
I don't know what you mean by graphic. If you mean graphic as in pictures, you can. If you mean graphic as in sexual/violent/etc, then you may have a bit of trouble with that, just don't go overboard.
Remember to focus on writing that great story FIRST before thinking about becoming published.
Good luck! Remember to research!
Additional: Go to this site for information on publishing: http://www.nathanbransford.com/
Source(s):
Experience
Someone asks:
I'm fourteen years old, and I'll be writing a book this summer, which I intend to publish at some point. Due to this, I've been on a lot of writing websites/blogs/forums lately doing research, and getting familiar with the profession. One of the things that surprised me is how hard it seems for people to ever get published, so now I'm concerned:
Since it's so hard for seasoned authors to get their books published, would it be harder (or even impossible) for me to get published?
I know Christopher Paolini got published, but that was on his parents own press, and it wasn't until later that someone found the finished book that they took an interest in it - plus, he's kind of a prodigy.
My Answer:
Yes, it's probably hard for us (I'm 15) to get published. I think we're pretty even with the older people, though. We just have to work HARDER and go above expectations. I think we have the same chance as anybody else out there trying to get published, if we wrote a VERY good book and queried correctly to the correct agents. A lot of it is luck. Plenty of agents missed out on good books, I believe Harry Potter was rejected a couple of times before someone was interested in it. Some people will tell us to wait until we have experience, but from my perspective, trying to get our writing published early IS experience. :)
There are stories of kids around our age getting published. Like an Australian author Steph Bowe, she was 15 when her book was going to get published. Also, S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders, was only 16 when she wrote it. So, I think we have a pretty good chance, eh? :D
Good luck! Us young writers must encourage each other.
P.S. Thank you for doing your research! Many people on Y!A come here and just ask without really researching! You're on the right path.
There are stories of kids around our age getting published. Like an Australian author Steph Bowe, she was 15 when her book was going to get published. Also, S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders, was only 16 when she wrote it. So, I think we have a pretty good chance, eh? :D
Good luck! Us young writers must encourage each other.
P.S. Thank you for doing your research! Many people on Y!A come here and just ask without really researching! You're on the right path.
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