Is the writing business like the music/acting business when it comes to age?

Question

If I wanna become a fiction writer, is there a certain cut-off age limit, like 30 to debut my first book like they do in the acting/music industry? I'm 24 right now, & I've written fiction & want to continue. Now, I don't have any books completed, but I have 2 or 3 incomplete novels. I also wanna make anthologies of short stories. I don't have the money to get anything published right now. & how would I go about getting a publishing agent & editor? How can I become an effective writer? Actually, I'm interested in adult fiction. I've heard how people have published their own books without a publishing company. How can I do that?

& 1 problem I have is people telling me my writing is incoherent & doesn't make sense & that my sentences don't flow. & also they tell me that my imagination is wacky & certain things are impossible. If that's the case, then that's why it's fiction, right? Fiction isn't supposed to be realistic.

Answer 1

There is no age limit whatsoever. The limit is simply in writing ability. If you are old enough to be able to write a school report without gross errors then you are old enough. As to the idea of being too old, I can give you a real-life example.

My mother did not write until after my father passed away. She had never finished high school, so she set about to get her diploma, then enrolled in college. Before too long she graduated with an English degree and they had a special graduation ceremony with music from our homeland, as she was the oldest person to ever graduate from that college.

After getting her degree she began to write. She was in her 70's at that time... --No, there is no upper limit, as long as you can put words on paper in a good flowing story that others will want to read, then you should write.

As to your unfinished stories, don't feel bad. When I started writing I had tons of unfinished stories for each one I finished. When I began writing (back in high school) I didn't plan out my stories ahead of time --no outline --no plans for character development. I often had the problem that even when I wrote a story outline ahead of time, as the story developed I made changes, and before I knew it the story was totally different from the original plan.

Nowadays, even when I know what I am going to write, I set up an outline with a cast of characters, information on locations, main plot and several potential subplots. Not long ago (for the last novel I wrote) I went and talked to a couple policemen to get an idea of "proper police procedure", so I didn't get it wrong and have my character do something a policeman would never do.

Once I have a bundle of notes about every part of the story I can think of ahead of time, then I start to write the actual story...

Now as I write, even though I think of things that will make a story better, I can still keep to the main plot, since I already have that in my head, and on paper.

I believe you will find that will help you with what you described as incoherent writing and sentences that don't flow. I am basing this on reading your letter. Your writing is quite coherent and your sentences follow your point well.

If you can write the letter you wrote above, then you can write a story...!

In your actual story you will need to go over it with a spelling and grammar checker before sending it off to anyone, to make sure you don't use words like "wanna" except in a quotation. When someone is speaking, their words will be the words that person would say, whether that is slang or not. In the narrative, you will need to change 'wanna' to 'want to'. This is just one example. If you have MS Word there is spell & grammar checking built in. I have noticed the grammar suggestions are not always accurate, but at least it will call your attention to places that may be misunderstood or misread and you can make your own decisions. Using the example of "wanna" above, it will flag it as "not in the dictionary" but if you are using it as part of a conversation, and that is exactly what you want the character to say, just tell it to ignore the ‘error’.

Now let me speak about publishing your own books. I am against that idea. The idea is to make money on your stories -not spend your own money to put out a book, which may not sell. If you have a story that is not good enough to convince a publisher or an agent to pursue it, then chances are good that the story has major flaws -or many minor ones -that will mean the public will not buy the book either. You will be out a lot of money for nothing.

I will suggest a trip to your public library and ask them for a book such as “Writer's Market”. That will give you a listing of agents, publishing companies and so on, as well as give you sound tips on writing for profit and how to submit a manuscript. I am certain you can find similar things on the internet as well.

Individual agencies and publishing companies have different rules on how to submit stories for their approval.

Some will not accept stories or sample chapters unless you contact them first and get approval to send them, while there are others who simply say to send a cover letter and include 2 or 3 chapters with or without an outline... You just have to look at each one individually to see what their submission rules may be. Some are now accepting computer files of stories, while others still insist on the typed-double-spaced pages… "Writer's Market" is a good choice to look at, as they tell you what each different company or agency wants and will give you a lot of background information you may find valuable.

You said fiction isn't supposed to be realistic. Let me give you an opinion on that. The story needs to be believable. The most outlandish plot in the world can make a good story IF you set it up right. You must make the reader believe that it is possible. Give them logical plausible ways in which it can happen. Take the Harry Potter stories as an example. The major premise of those books is that magic works. As long as the reader can accept that, you have them hooked. You tell them the way in which it works and set up the "rules" [...like you must have a wand and you must say certain magical phrases.] Make the story believable. I have always had a "wacky" imagination, too, and it serves me well. Nothing is impossible - it is only improbable. Explain your ideas in a way that makes the reader see the possibilities. When you have a friend proof-read a story for you and they say something is "wacky" or impossible, ask them exactly what seems to be. That tells you the part that may need rewritten so it is better understood by the less imaginative readers...

This has gotten rather long-winded, but then, what do you expect from a writer’s group? I only hope that the time I put into the answer was well spent and gives you some of the information you were wanting.

Good Luck with your stories.

Answer 2

No. You can write fiction as early as the age of six. There is no cut off limit that I am aware.

I'm 33 and I have 15 unpublished novels.

You can write anthologies and short stories if you want. No one's stopping you.

You don't *need* money to publish--unless you go the self-publishing route. That will take some creative thinking and some money.

If you want to go about getting an agent and a publisher, you first have to research the net, hit the bookstore for every writer's market guide there is and *read* them.

How you become an effective writer is not to keep doing the same thing over and over--until you get it right--but to writing over and over until you get a handle on what you're after.

If you want to write adult fiction (and I take it the erotic kind), then I suggest you read Kushiel's Dart. That will give you some good ideas on what erotic fiction is *like*--though it isn't the only example.

You do not want to go and publish through vanity-press; i.e.: IUniverse/Authorhouse, Publish America, Trafford, Infinity Press, Lulu.com, etc., etc., etc...

If your writing isn't coherent, then you have a problem. You're not reading enough to formulate strong writing. Reading a lot of books in your favorite genre will help you construct better stories and novels.

You can learn by sharing your work with others. You may want to take some writing classes, but I would advise against such a move. The reason is that classes aren't a substitute for real-life experience. Classes are only designed to give you the basics.

In the old days, that would be true. But now, you have a ton of self-help books, guides, the internet, and bookstores, to help give you a much needed boost in the writing department.

Use them instead, and save yourself thousands of dollars in the process.

Fiction is the ability to suspend belief for the duration of the novel.

If you can't write effective fiction, then you have to keep reading and studying your favorite books.

I learned all I had about writing--through the books I read growing up. I didn't have access to classes and such that could give me a structured learning environment.

Even today, I'm still learning the ropes here and there, but for the most part, I have a solid grasp on writing well and writing effectively.

Only because I worked hard at it. I didn't take the easy way. I did it the hard way.

And it's paid off.

Answer 3

Absolutely not. James Patterson was the President of a very successful ad agency before he started writing. He coined the phrase "I dont want to grow up, I'm a Toys R Us kid." He got tons of rejection letters before he sold a book and he was on the dark side of 30 by a lot.

As for your comment "fiction isn't supposed to be realistic", I disagree totally. My fiction is very realistic. I use consultants and tons of research. I don't make stuff up. I research every little detail carefully. It takes me about 5 times as long on the research as it does on the writing. I write realistic murder mystery fiction, and every single detail is accurate. As the famous architect Mies van der Rohe once said - "God is in the Details".

As for youir problems with the technical aspects of writing - making sentences flow etc. That comes with time and training and practice. The more you write the better you will get at it. And Stephen King says in On Writing that you cannot be a great writer unless you are a great reader. Read - a LOT.

You will find if you go to my profile, I star all the good Q and A on writing and publishing here. Skim through them. Print some out that interest you and think will help. You will find there are many professional authors and teachers who post here with great advice for novice authors. Good luck. Pax -C

Answer 4

It depends. Some of the best writers were generally people that looked like they wer near death from old age. If you want to be rich, you have to happen to get lucky with the critics and have your material reviewed or you have to display your pretty mug everywhere.

Probably the best way to get noticed, is to supply your sample writing on a blog. There have been several popular writers in the past that did short story work and when they got more popular, switched over to longer stories.

Answer 5

One more vote for no age limit. The work stands for itself, and the author behind it can be old, young, disabled, insane, standing on her head, in jail, whatever. It totally doesn't matter. If the book is good, it's good.

My first writing teacher (as an adult) was a woman who took writing classes herself as an empty nester, after her last son moved out. She was in her 50s. By 55, she had a novel published by St. Martin's. I think she's up to six or seven now.

Answer 6

No, actors loose out at 30,unlike writers