Please help? I need advice!!!?

Question:

Please help? I need advice!!!?

I'm 13 years old, and I want to be an author- I have ever since i was four- so this isn't just a temporary thing. Writing is my passion- I know that sounds lame, but its true. I really want to be published- but is this even possible at my age? If so, how would I go about the process and who should I send my writing to? People say I'm a good writer, but what if i'm not good enough? Please help- any advice?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm 20, and hoping to get my foot in the door.

The trouble with being under 18 I suppose is that you'd have to go through your parents for representation....you haven't reached the age of consent and therefore cannot enter into a legal contract. But don't feel disheartened by that...write as much as you can now while you can get by without having to worry about college and money...then then when you are old enough, this advice here will most certainly help you:

how I started my book, basically I took a basic idea that I enjoyed reading about and twisted it all around. But I'm writing a romance novel, so that's what you have to do for that genre (every basic idea has been done 20 times over). The best thing to do, is wait until NanoWrimo starts (November) http://www.nanowrimo.org/ and start your novel then. That is when I started my book and I got a lot of help from fellow participants in shaping my idea and plot idea. Though I didn't complete the novel in the 30 days, I didn't scrap it as I intended to finish it before the next one and start my next novel in the same way.

You need to get a basic plot outlined out and ask yourself all kinds of questions about the story. The easiest way for a story to flop is that you have a plothole you didn't know about and there is no way to fix it later without having to go back and change many details.

Getting it written is the biggest challenge. Write everyday. Give yourself a quota you have to keep. Maybe you choose to write 4000 words each day. If you fall behind, you gotta keep up the next day. Stay on track and don't get lazy and put it off and put it off, you'll never get it done that way.

Ok, so you have your book written and you've proofread it really well, now you are ready to get it published. You can goto http://www.lulu.com and self-publish, but you probably wouldn't be successful in it. lulu.com will put your book on amazon.com and barnesandnobles.com etc, but that doesn't mean anyone is buying it. No one is looking for it, for one, and generally a 250 page book is going to cost the consumer about 10 dollars that way in the least. You'll probably read up on about some famous authors being self-published, but you have to dig deeper than that generic phrase, they won't give details. Self-publishing usually is better with non-fiction. Fiction, you will be much better off finding an agent.

Now, be prepared to be rejected and to wait weeks for that rejection. Nicholas Sparks sent queries to 25 literary agents, 24 turned him away. The first one who responded was the only one who wanted to go with him and she had never sold a book before, but look at him now.

Now before you get all excited and start querying agents (I'll give you a link to how later on), you need to be started on another books. Agents are looking for clients, which means that they are more inclined to give you a go if you will be committed. One hit wonders usually aren't what they are looking for.

Now, here are some very helpful links which I suggest you read over.

http://www.nicholassparks.com/writerscor...
Nicholas Spark's own advice.

http://www.hollylisle.com/fm/articles/fa...
Holly Lisle's advice, it is VERY thorough. Read through it all.

http://www.aar-online.org/mc/directory/v...
A listing of GOOD literary agents from the Association of Authors' Representatives.

http://www.spacejock.com.au/selfpublishi...
Why selfpublishing isn't the best route to go.

http://www.hollylisle.com/fm/articles/ag...
How to query an agent.

http://www.adlerbooks.com/mostask.html.....
FAQ on Literary Agents and Publishing

Those are just a handful of good resources. You can google and get more information if you need it. I hope I helped you!