can you become a published author without a degree?

[Magna A]

I just finished writing a great children's story and would like to get it published but I do not know if I need to have a degree prior to that.

 

[D D]

You don't need a degree. You just need a lot of patience until someone accepts and publishes it.

 

[17 again luver]

yes why the heck would u need a degree?it doesnt take college for you o write a book just find a publisher and make sure ur book is so good luck

 

[Angelique]

You don't need a degree. The greatest American author of the Twentieth century, William Faulkner was a school dropout, though he did take a few college courses.

 

[Tres]

Fiction work does not require a degree to get published. But of course, having a degree in anything in your resume gives you more credit to both the agent and the publisher's eye. Also, though story matters, it is the marketability of the story that counts - a.k.a how much will it sell.

Non-fiction works obviously require a degree or a credential of sorts. A non-doctor will not be taken seriously if he or she is trying to publish a medical literature.

Anyway, getting published is one of the hardest thing right now. Edit your work a couple of times and avoid mistakes. Then, get an agent and let them find an interested publisher for you.

 

[Bre]

Of course!
You can publish a book without a degree, just be ready to be patient and endure rejection. Don't give up!

 

[Woody165]

I agree with Tres... you don't necessarily need a degree to get published, but having one is definately an advantage as agents/ publishers are more likely to take you seriously, especially if it's relevant to the literature.