I'm writing a book and I was wondering if I should just throw it away. Do people read anymore?

Question

I'm seventeen a junior in high school and I've written a book. The origional copy is on notebook paper. It is over three hundred pages long and a mystery. Since I was eleven I have wanted to be a writer, but not a mystery writer historical fiction is more my thing. I know that isn't typically a girl genre, but I can't get the idea out of my head. I write everyday, but I am starting to wonder if I am wasting my time. Do people read anymore. My English teacher told me once that people only want to read books by well known successful authors. I wanted to know if I should finish typing it and send it to a few publishers or if I should just throw it away. Am I just dreaming here? I know it is unrealistic but it is all I have ever wanted. I don't care if I'm rich or if I have to work and do my writing on the side to support myself. All I want to do is be a writer. Should I just listen to what everyone's been telling me and give up on my dream or should I pursue it?

Answer 1

Personally, I can't believe you'd even ask that. Keep writing. Keep trying. Every single author who has ever been famous is famous because they put their words to paper and allowed others to read it. If you give up now, you will never get anywhere. If writing is what you love to do, then go with it. Take writing classes in college. As for writing a book on the side, that is perfectly reasonable. Very few authors actually get by on their books alone. Well, maybe J.K. Rowling and possibly Christopher Paolini, because Harry Potter and Eragon were thought of highly enough to be put into movie form. Nonetheless, keep at it. The world needs more writers.

Answer 2

I am a young writer as well, and there have been times that I have been very tempted to just throw it all away (frustration will do that too you). Don't. There will always be those little things that get you down...and as for what your teacher said; we all have to start somewhere. No author is born famous, there is only one way to become a successful author and that is to write.
It's all about the dream, never let that die. I know from experience that one of the most fulfilling things in writing is the pride you feel when you read your own words, when even you aren't sure what will happen next.
It is an art form that could die if talented people give up on it.
Good Luck in all of you endeavors. Never give up on such a wonderful dream.

Answer 3

Writing--capable writing--is a genderless endeavor; people will value your work for it's merits. Genre is another worry you have: desist at once! If a subject grants you pleasure while writing, why question such good fortune? History is the best palette of creativity: so many stories and even more interpretations.
Write till' your mind cramps or your hands can no longer keep pace with your thoughts. Read to the irritation of your parents and friends. Think how happy you feel, when out of an ordinary situation, the frame-work for an idea or character strikes you and you can't wait to see it made manifest by your hands- it's almost like........well, you don't need me to describe the feeling for you.

Look, if being ex-communicated by the Catholic Church didn't stop Galileo from plotting the heavens, then some silly teacher shouldn't stop you from doing what you were born to do.
Go forth and let your thoughts multiply. All right, that was lame, but I sincerely wish you well.

Answer 4

Finish your novel and edit it until you start to scream at nights. Then find a Writer's Market book and research for the appropriate literary agent that might represent your manuscript.

Learn to prepare a knock-out query letter and know how to format and submit your manuscript. Forget publishing houses; they don't entertain un-published authors. Your manuscript is automatically copyrighted once it is in printed form. Forget about the notion of sending it through the mails back to you. It's unnecessary and a waste of postage.

Find disinterested grammarians to edit your manuscript. Seldom trust a close friend or relative because they will be biased in your favor. You need editors that will be nonsensical but fair. Develop a thick skin as a writer. You can ill afford to be sensitive and temperamental over work that is incorrectly formatted or edited.

Keep at it until you are satisfied it's ready for submission.

Answer 5

Would be writer---Don't give up. Even though writing is a difficult endeavor, if you possess the spark of creativity keep going. As a young writer myself, I can only tell you a small percentage still reads and that your english teacher is right and wrong. People will read anything that is interesting. The ones who only read books by famous authors-I stress famous authors- are air heads. They don't realize the wealth of adventure hidden in the nooks and crannies of the literary world. Traditional publishing is strictly business....that's all. It doesn't say a thing about your writing ability. And beware of people who tell you what the right way to write is. Those people are a dim a donzen and advise you with what the current trend is. Self publishing is another road. Don't listen to the stigma. Self publishing is great. It just depends on whether or not you want to put out the best product possible for your audience.

I'm never giving up. I sure hope you don't either.

Answer 6

Follow your heart/dream. Just go for it. Look at Stephen King for example he began writing as a young child and didn't get his first book until he was a grown man. Actually his first novel (Carrie) was rescued from the trash can by his wife. She refused to let him give up. As they say: the rest is history. And yes, people do still read. I average at least one book a week and they don't have to be by well known authors. Every once in awhile you find a new and talented writer. Good luck.

Answer 7

Never give up on your dreams. A decade ago, there was a girl who was your age featured in Seventeen magazine that wrote her first book. I'm still working on mine. For first-time writers, make sure the word count is between 60,000-90,000 typed. People still read. Transfer everything to a computer and save it. No one accepts it on paper and pen. Keep going. Make sure you have a job to back-up you for support, since you're a struggling and aspiring writer. Go for it! After you're done, proofread it and spellcheck it. Have someone read it back to you. When you're done and think it's ready, work on your queries, synopsises for agents and publishers. If you want, you can sign up for an online writing workshop that's free to get feedback and crits for it. I can recommend you one. Just make sure it's typed. Plus find a local writing club in your area like your library.

Answer 8

I think that's wonderful. Go for it! You might get shot down a few times, but don't let that discourage you. Just consider it as part of a learning process. If this is your passion and you don't try, you'll just end up being miserable wondering what might have been. As far as well known writers go, I'm pretty sure they weren't born that way. Forget what your English teacher says. English teachers are mostly just wannabe writer types who lack creativity and so end up being English teachers, instead.

Answer 9

I delight in writing approximately action form issues. i exchange into as quickly as writing a e book approximately this dragon ingredient a ma bob...yet some years later I study Eragon for the 1st time and found out the way it sounded in simple terms like it yet to no longer boot written. Blah. I additionally wrote a narrative on a mouse that regulate right into a knight...it in touch extremely some issues. Vikings, love, betrayal, and then somewhat unusual stuff(it exchange into this strange variety of rape, no longer attempting to be offensive to sufferers), ya. i'm at the instant writing a wolf tale, too... i'm getting theory whilst i'm compelled too, off of different books, or each and every so often even in simple terms an theory that crosses my techniques. working example, for the wolf tale, i had to place in writing a narrative in this one wolf web site have been they make you have it life like. It took some tries, yet I actual have a stable tale line now. For the mouse one...at the beginning, I had to for sophistication, and that i've got been given theory from this one comedian e book that regulate into extra like paintings... BQ: Ugh, properly, i'm interpreting Brisignr(if that is how that is written). i in my view like it! i've got study a ton of stable books these days... :S

Answer 10

Listen to your teacher-Some people read. I love to read! I wouldn't say they only read books, by successful known authors. I had never heard of Joanna Fluke, when I first started reading her books. Work on your book. Send it to an editorial service, work on it again, if necessary, and submit it to some publishers. Want to collaborate? I have part of a story, but need help with it. If you were to use it, you'd have to inlclude my name on the title page, and we'd have to share the copy right. Oh yea, copy right is very important!