Is becoming a succeful writer a stupid dream?

Number one, you do not need a college degree to be a writer. You DO need a good grasp of the language, and to learn HOW to write well--and that you can get without going for an entire degree. However, if you want to write better, take as many English classes and composition classes as you can. The critiques you receive will be helpful.

Second, no, your dream is not stupid. Writers all have one thing in common, no matter how much education or experience they have: THEY WRITE. That's what you do. You write. I know this sounds like a flippant answer, but it's very very true--if you want to be a writer, you write.

You don't have to publish what you write--writing itself is like exercise. It stimulates the imagination, it stretches the brain, it gives you the needed experience to keep writing. It teaches you as you do it.

Some writers find that workshops are helpful--other people will read and critique your work. However, let me caution you about workshops: people are VERY subjective. They know what THEY think is good writing, and not much will change their minds. What you have to do more than relying on other people's opinions, is write what you know, write how you LIKE to write, and keep at it.

There is a wonderful little on-line "competition"--there are no prizes, it's not a workshop, and it's not for money. It's called NANOWRIMO. Every November, the online site challenges you to write a 50,000 word novel during the month. Doing this exercise can teach you a lot. There are plenty of online forums on the site for ideas, help, encouragement and even tips and tricks--it's a lot of fun, and if you finish your novel--it gives you a cool little certificate of your accomplishment as well as some freebies in the self-publishing field: if you want, you can publish your book on Createspace.com (it's totally FREE) and you will get a free proof copy of your finished book for finishing Nanowrimo. If you don't finish, there is absolutely no shame in it--lots and lots of people don't finish. I enjoy the discipline of trying to write a book in 30 days--it's a really cool exercise of ability and skill. All sorts of people do the challenge. Even young kids. I encourage you to at least go to the site and explore--you don't have to enter the challenge. There's no cost or obligation.

Createspace.com is a good self-publishing site. They walk you through the entire process of making a book, from uploading to cover art. It costs nothing--you will pay for hard copies of your book, once it's done, but that's it. Once your book is published, they sell it for you on Amazon.com.

Don't let ANYONE tell you not to be a writer. If you want to write, then do it. It really IS that simple. Expertise is good to have when you want it, but don't let it constrain you either. STudy other writers--look at the things they do. You will be told in English classes, never to end a sentence with a preposition, or not to write sentence fragments--but if you read other writers, you will see that they do this sort of thing all the time. This is called style. It's your voice, you only need to use it.

Good luck! And have fun doing it.

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What kind of writer? Since you didn't answer that, go with journalism and go from there.

Returned answer:

Ah, well, there are already signs you need to learn how to write before you become a writer. Apparently, you need to know there is no college degree that will guarantee you success, nor can you go right from college into publication, unless you've inherited enough money to live on while you sweat out the novels.

Truthfully, a degree means nothing. Ability, knowledge and stick-to-it-ness is the name of the game. That you can get wherever you want - from reading books on the subject of How-to-write, taking workshops, researching online, or taking college level course, but to go with those last two choices, it's best to know what is required to write well, before doing those, since frankly - half the stuff on the Internet is crap, and too many college writing classes are taught by teachers who think writing for academia is even somewhat related to writing novels. (It's not.)

The only way you can be "successful" by 22 is to start learning as a freshman in high school. Even then, it's a long shot only worth taking if you have the desire to work very hard, for very long, with no one else noticing or encouraging. The vast majority of published authors still have a day job.

Are you kidding? Provide me one rationale why it is stupid to grow to be a creator. See? I in finding no shrewd cause. Now begin writing now! I feel it's exclusive that you want to end up a author. I'm a creator myself, though i haven't proven my work to folks but. I started writing at age 12, and haven't stopped since. I certainly have various unfinished drafts. Many writers have motivated humans to do the same. Classics have made an impact on the world, and for this reason classics are nonetheless known to these days. It can be difficult to search out people who want to willingly write due to the fact of the speedy broaden of science. Would you enable me to give you some recommendation on how to begin becoming a writer? You recognize, i'm not a connoisseur, both, however i know a thing or two at least. • Plan ahead. When commencing on a plot, don't simply write already. You have got to plan your plot well so as to not have any plot holes. • persona progress. It can be primary to present your characters flaws. It enables the reader to narrate with them with no trouble. If you're making your personality ultimate, the reader are not able to associate with him/her. No person is perfect. Plus, making your characters flawless will just turn them into Mary Sues and Gary Stus. • comply with the rules. Be certain that what you quite write for your guide is true. Even if it's fiction, there are still data on this world that ought to be comprehended with. • acquire info and data. If you are no longer sure about whatever that is part of your plot (i.E., a distinctive ailment that any one has within the story), then ask folks who're proficient about it. Get some sources. • learn books. That you may get various suggestion from books that people wrote. That you would be able to get strategies on your story, however please don't forget that don't copy the guide wholly. • Write often. The extra you write, the simpler you're going to get. Follow makes ideal. Cliche, i do know, nevertheless it's authentic. Realize the errors you made and avoid repeating them once more. • Be prepared. Hold somewhat journal and pen to jot down all your notes, recommendations, character names and knowledge. Have a folder to put all your drafts in and label them competently. Good success and hold writing! I look ahead to seeing your books in bookstores one day!

Not at all stupid. Many people have that dream.

The only bad thing about wanting to be a writer is that there are so many writers that are trying to get published but can't. Just practice all you can, and if you think you're great at it, go for it.

It's not a stupid dream if you have the work ethic and the talent to support that dream. A writer can benefit from a degree in the humanities, but even though it's beneficial it's not necessary.

That is not a stupid dream at all. I advise double-major in either journalism and creative writing, or in creative writing and oceanography (give you some ideas and terminology for science fiction and little kids will love stories about nice whales and dolphins).

A lot of people want to be authors. It is a LONG process, but if thats what you want to be, put your mind to it and do a little work to find a publisher and editor then write your rough draft! Nothing is stupid if you want it.

nop nop nop nop! it's my dream too. only i think i'm not good at it. i practice by writing fan fiction. (you read a book or movie, like it, and write stories about it. take harry potter for example. you can make yourself a wizard or something. :P awshum!)

it's not a stupid dream. it just requires patience. and i lololololooooooooove sci-fi !! i hope it works out for you.