I want to be a writer and write books but....?

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I'm 16 and i really love to write, mostly like teen fiction like vampires, basically out of this world stuff. All the time, everyday i daydream about new ideas, characters, stories, plots and all that. I love to write but i know writers have a tough time supporting themselves u know cause not everyone ends up like J.K Rowling so i know i should get another job and do the writing on the side but wat kind of job should that be? I'm thinking maybe something that has to do with writing too? like a newspaper or something? Please ideas!!!
 
This is actually a lovely question, well-done for not compromising and trying to find the best solution for you! If this answers your question, I'm a writer but I also freelance in the film and TV industry, which is one of the best industries to support self-employed people. This way you choose which days to work and you make up your own schedule. You don't necessarily need to go to film or media schools to achieve this (although it would help) but you can do internships and then rise up. That way you also enter the world of screenplays, plus you'll be networking with all the right people. And it will be the perfect plan 'B' if you know what I mean, as it will be a bit difficult to support yourself financially just from writing in the beginning.
I started writing at sixteen and a half, it was great fun but I wasted a few years writing the wrong way. Make sure you get books on creative writing. Also, make sure you study characterization, characters are massively important! And don't forget about research. Research will help make your story believable (even if it has mythical or science fiction elements).
Hope this helped a bit.
 
This is actually a lovely question, well-done for not compromising and trying to find the best solution for you! If this answers your question, I'm a writer but I also freelance in the film and TV industry, which is one of the best industries to support self-employed people. This way you choose which days to work and you make up your own schedule. You don't necessarily need to go to film or media schools to achieve this (although it would help) but you can do internships and then rise up. That way you also enter the world of screenplays, plus you'll be networking with all the right people. And it will be the perfect plan 'B' if you know what I mean, as it will be a bit difficult to support yourself financially just from writing in the beginning.
I started writing at sixteen and a half, it was great fun but I wasted a few years writing the wrong way. Make sure you get books on creative writing. Also, make sure you study characterization, characters are massively important! And don't forget about research. Research will help make your story believable (even if it has mythical or science fiction elements).
Hope this helped a bit.
 
write what you Know about and start from there, Write about what you love to do or how the world makes you feel.
 
Journalism is a great choice. Many authors are also journalists - like Hemingway, Michael Connelly, Carl Hiassen, Dave Berry and others. Other possibilities include advertising. That is very exciting - developing commercial slogans, copy and jingles. James Patterson started that way. Studying advertising in college is a fun major. Many of my friends are in advertising. There are also teaching, editing, technical writing and several other options. Stephen King taught and lived in a trailer park while he wrote his first two books. One of the greatest authors I can think of - Glen Cook - very prolific and writes a darn good Sci Fi/Fantasy story--worked in the GM Light Truck Assembly Line and wrote at night. I also know a psychiatrist who is a very prolific short story writer. Pax-C
 
my best ideas come when i'm not writing, but doing something unrelated. that is because the subconsious mind reveals the best ideas when you do not ask for them. focusing everything on writing, hanging your life on writing, is not a good idea because it creates stress. at least at first write for several years on the side, keep the passion private and only write because you love it and you know you have a story to tell. after much experience that comes with reading and writing, and after you produce some good stuff yourself, then think about publishing. keep it a secret love that has room to blossom before you turn it professional.
 
Since you are still in high school you should take a journalism class. It's a good stepping stone for jobs and college classes. I did it in high school and it was my favorite class.
 
After you graduate from high school if you decide to go on to college I would recommend pursing a communications degree. That would help you improve your writing skills and help you pursue a career in writing. Newspaper writing is a lot different from fiction writing but it's still a good avenue. That's how I discovered that I had the ability to write. If your high school has a paper try to get involved. If nothing else it can help teach you who to edit which is a huge part of writing. But like I said writing for a newspaper is much different than writing fiction.
But honestly I think the best advice I can give you as far as finding a job is the same advice my grandfather always gave me. Figure out what you love doing, what you're really passionate about and then find a job doing it. If you're lucky enough to do that you'll never work a day in your life. He was a teacher for over 30 years and he always said that the day he started teaching was the same day he retired. And honestly, it's amazing how much different you look at a job when it's something you want to as opposed something you have to do.
Besides a lot of writing comes from your experiences. The more you have the easier it will be to come up with ideas to write about. You'd be surprised where inspiration can come from.
Not really sure that answers your question but I hope it helps anyway.
 
The all time favorite job for working writers is teaching.

The main reason for that is because you spend so much time explaining stuff about lit to the students that you eventaully start to understand it. LOL
 
Hi I'm sixteen too. I'm an aspiring writer... lol. (or obsessed writer like my mom always call me)

LOL. It depends.. I am also planning to work in college but I want something that will not get in the way of writing. lol. If you like writing fiction, don't work in newspaper companies... lol. Like Editor or copywriter? not yet. you have to study for that first. (but I will eventually because I'm gonna take journalism. I actually took journalism class when I was a freshman.)

I suggest you work for a local library/ bookstore. It is quiet there and you are surrounded by books. Also, those kind of establishments accept OJT's (on the job trainees) We're 16 so we're minors, we're OJT's. Bookstores/ libraries do not really require you to work too much. Actually, when you're the cashier, you just sit all day. So, you can actually write while working (getting paid at the same time) lol. I wanted to work too.

When you finish something in the library, you can submit your stories to the approriate magazine companies.

You can join writing.com. It's a website for writers and readers alike. It offers free writing classes and you can post your work there (and get reviews/comments)

I'm tepishane_13 there... under "registered author" lol. I know other teens. (from all over the world) who are also writers there. I can introduce them to you and maybe make our own group.. lol

Anyway, good luck.

-tepishane-
 
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