Am I to pursue my college degree or stop and write stories?

Less than 5% of authors can quit their day jobs. The VAST majority of them have to work day jobs to survive. You are thinking about the Nora Roberts and the Stephen Kings who are MINORITIES among the writing community itself in that they are popular enough to be able to write full time. That, in and on itself should tell you something. Complete a college degree. If you don't like what you are currently studying, switch to something else that is more appealing to you. Have you considered literature? You can continue writing in your free time. Bottomline is, one day, you are going to need to pay the bills, unless you are among the privileged whose parents can afford to keep them in a cushy lifestyle forever, and then go to inherit the parents money when they die.

I am sorry for being blunt, but you are young. Real life for lower and middle classes can be HARSH. You need to think in terms of being fully able to take care of yourself, and sometimes that means that what you want to do has to take second place to what you need to do.

Don't stop writing, but you do need an education if you want to have better chances in being able to be independent and then fully pursue your dream.

I can speak from both sides of the coin. I took a BA degree in science and technology many years ago, AND I've been a published writer since 1994.

I can tell you now, the degree ain't easy, my friend - nothing worthwhile ever is, BUT it stands you in good stead to face the world and get a good job.

The problem with writing is there is so little money to be made EXCEPT for the privileged few. Success in writing has little to do with talent. You may be exceptional, but if your work doesn't hit the right mark you're not going to make any money - you'll be like the rest and make a little beer-money.

Fact number 1) - out of 150,000 novels published each year, 100,000 will sell LESS than 100 copies.

Fact number 2) - 5% of authors cream off 95% of all takings. The rest take the scraps.

Realistically, you'll not make much money writing. Most people seem to have an image of writers rolling in wealth. Forget it. Unless you're extremely lucky your work will gather dust in the back of a bookstore.

Take your degree, you can follow your heart afterwards. You're only talking about a few years out of your life. Grab it whilst the opportunity is there.

Anthony James Barnett - author

One opinion:

You should be obedient and willing to do average work (C and B) in all your courses in Dietetics, and complete your degree in the normal four years. Then, hire on for a regular income.

You have a passion, so whenever you are allowed electives, study Shakespeare, and other literature and even creative writing, that you like.

Basically, you need to mature, grow up, etc.

"Going mad" is not an option, it's a cop-out (excuse). Instead, learn to pray the Rosary or a portion thereof, on a daily basis.

Consider meditation; http://www.easwaran.org/ is good; Dr. Easwaran was a Fulbright Scholar in English Literature and a professor of same at U. C. Berkeley.

You might consider counseling, as you are seemingly irresponsible and impractical when it comes to earning a living, helping others, etc. It's a false dilemma. Plenty of good writers (T. S. Eliot comes to mind, as does C. S. Lewis) held responsible positions in banking and teaching, while writing excellently.

What is being proposed in this opinion is that you learn to balance your feelings and thinking, then work decently at Dietetics, and devote an hour or more a day to creative writing.

Then when you're about 20, you'll have a decent profession, some good literature electives, and the option to pursue a Master's degree in creative writing, if you so choose, and the ability to support yourself by working in the Dietetics field. There are plenty of opportunities to write creatively and about mysteries in hospital settings, for example.

Some books for your "spare time:" "The Overachievers," Alexandra Robbins,

"Expecting Adam," Martha Beck,

"The Great Divorce," C. S. Lewis,

"Soul Mates and Twin Flames," Elizabeth Clare Prophet,

"Nineteen Ways of Looking at Wang Wei," Weinberger and Paz,

"Hidden Camera," Zoran Zivkovic,

"The Cat Who Went into the Closet," Lilian Braun,

"Shakespeare in the Light of Sacred Art," Martin Lings, Ph.D.,

"Going beyond the Pairs," Dennis McCort, Ph.D.,

"Creation: Artistic and Spiritual," O. M. Aivanhov,

"To Live Within," Lizelle Reymond,

"Autobiography of a Yogi," Yogananda,

"Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians," Brandon Sanderson.

You'd be an idiot if you quit school. The smart thing to do is to earn that degree, while writing on the side. Sure, there are writers who have earned a living from publishing, but the chances of you doing the same are slim. How can you guarantee the publication of your works? Do you realize how difficult it is to publish a single piece of writing? How can you maintain a steady income? You can't. A lot of authors have mundane day jobs and spend their free time on writing. That's just the way it is.

School isn't all about fun, either. It's boring and hard, but you have to get on with it. And who says you can't do both? I'm pursuing a law degree, but my passion is still with writing.

Mate look. You can follow your parents wishes and study dietics, or you can do what you love: litrature! If you're a good writer and you love it, not only do you make a good living, but You enjoy It! Stuff everyone else's opinion, do what YOU want to do!

Yours truly,

Lachie:-)

Do what you have to to make a living and learn how to manage your time so that you can do what you have to to be able to do what you want to.

Buy a book called "STORY" by robert mckee and read it. im a writer so trust me on this.

work on your craft and stay disciplined. it can be tough but nothing great is easy. enjoy the journey

do what you love and enjoy