So many questions

[Mouse]

I've been reading a lot of information here, and elsewhere on the net about becomming an author and getting published, but the more i read the more lost I'm getting.

So my questions are:
Do I have to have my HSC to become an author?
Is it true I need to actually go to uni to have a chance?
How do I tell which websites I can actually believe? (I've noticed a few seem untrustworthy - but maybe I'm parranoid)
Can anyone sujest a few good websites and publishers that I could look into?

I'm interested in writing teen and tween fiction mainly. I'm not interested in writing for magazines or newspapers. (Which is where most people tell me to start - do I have to start here or is there a better option?)

Thanks in advance,
~Miriam

[Matsumoto]

Hey Miriam!

Well I have to say from experience I'd DEFINATLY go to Uni and take some fiction writing courses. I'm not saying this to sound snobbish but I know from experience that people aren't as good as they think they are. I made so much improvement after Uni I can't even begin to describe it and I'm still learning.

I published my book through this site: http://www.lulu.com its very user friendly but you have to do a lot of work on your own, unless you want to pay people to format your book layout, pick, fonts, do the cover and etc. Its very rewarding and it gives you a sence of what its like to see something go from idea to print. :)

[Mouse]

Thankyou for replying :)
I was asking about Uni because I wont put that much effort into something if I don't stand a chance. If I can't become an author without going to uni, I can't become one at all, so your oppion is helpful too me, tho disapointing.

Uni isnt an option for me. At this stage I don't see myself even finishing high school, and even if I do I wont take on the kind of debt it would require for me to make it to uni. It's simply too costly. (All this is assumeing I kick the sociophobia for good too)

I'll have a look at that site too, for curiosity's sake.
Thanks again
~Miriam

[Jolixte]

You don't have to go to college to get published, basically all you need is to be either talented and lucky or have money and publish it yourself.

[cesara]

*huggs*, Mouse. I haven't seen you in a long time! Hope you are well.

Hon, though uni may help in your quest, it is most certainly not necessary. I am in the midst of writing a book proposal and have had a little help from a couple of friends. It's been quite an exciting time! I have had no formal writing instruction, though I am in uni doing undergrad work towards a BA in Anthropology. (this topic has nothing to do with the topic of my book, BTW)

There are many ways you can go if you truly want to do this.

I highly suggest you pick up the book "The Shortest Distance between You and a Published Book" by Susan Page http://www.amazon.com/Shortest-Distance-Between-Published-Book/dp/0553061771

Though it's geared more towards non-fiction books, it contains information that is invaluable for all writers.

If I can answer any questions for you, please feel free to PM me anytime. I'm no pro, but I may be able to guide you in the right direction. :)

Just remember, you can do anything you put your mind and heart on! :)

[Matsumoto]

Just to clarify, I HIGHLY HIGHLY reccoment Uni but I don't think you're a dead fish if you don't go :) Its very important to find the right university, the right fit otherwise it is, indeed, a waste of time. I've always been a small scale girl, personal. So I went to a smaller uni and it was the3 best, most fun experience of my life. That being said I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on that. You don't have to be a drunkard to have fun at uni :)

And for me, my writing was at a terribly low level, I still can't spell to save my life. Going to uni to learn to write, for me, was nessisary. And trust me, even the most prolific writers feel like they can't write worth a crap. xD

[PaganPaul]

Mouse, I went to college (uni?) in 1980 and got a degree in computer science. It had nothing to do with writing.

In early 2002 my friend and I were hand making a set of divination tiles that we marketed under the name "Witching Chips" because the little tiles looked sort of like potato chips. We marketed them through Pagan and New Age catalogs. That's how Llewellyn Publishing first saw them.

They liked them so much that they asked us to expand the tiny little paper booklet we distributed with the tiles into a full blown book.

Neither of us had any real previous writing experience, but the editor we were assigned was actually very helpful with suggestions and critiques. We went through several different revisions at her request, until Llewellyn was satisfied with the book, now re-branded as "Witching Stones".

So... If you have even the beginnings of a good book, submit it to various publishers and if one of them likes it enough they will assist you in finishing it, polishing it, and getting it ready for marketing. Just make sure you get in with a reputable company and READ THE CONTRACT FIRST.

[CelticMoon11]

You can pick up a Australian author book at the bookshop it is expensive though I got one on sale because it was a year old but it is now a fair few years old. It really depends on who you want to publish you.

A lot don't require a uni degree but that the work has been seen by a professional editor, and others you need to have a manager to do your dealings through or both. Most publishers will have their requirements listed out for you or you can contact them to ask.

Best of luck hope that was of some help. I think you can do writing workshops or maybe theres a TAFE course you can do? I haven't really looked into it too much.

Hi by the way :-). The boys thieved my desktop to play WOW so I'm stranded with my dodge laptop so thought I'd drop by lol

[LordFoxglove]

Thankyou for replying :)
I was asking about Uni because I wont put that much effort into something if I don't stand a chance.

There's no way for me to say this without it sounding crappy, but I don't mean it in that way. If this is your attitude, not willing to put forth effort, then no, you don't stand any chance of success. Not at writing, not at anything. You don't need a degree to learn to write, although it certainly wouldn't hurt.

It takes work, work, work, and more work. Practice, determination, and most of all, belief in yourself and your abilities. Like most authors, your work will be rejected by publishers time and time again. Probably to the point of wanting to tear your hair out and give up. Its happened to me, its happened to almost any now-famous author you can think of.

Stephen King was rejected by publishers 320 times before he got published. The Beatles were rejected by every major recoring company. Twice.

If you want to become a writer you will have to put forth tremendous effort and keep writing, growing, and learning, while being kicked in the gut and having your heart torn out the whole time. I dont mean to make it sound grim, but these are some of the things you must accept if you hope to become a successful author.

And, if you break into the magic one percent of writiers that get published, your work will be editied.

Keep your chin up and keep writing. Write every chance you get and dont let the bastards tear you down!

Marcus

[~Elise~]

He is exactly right... it takes lots and lots of determination-in both yourself and your work.
Join a local writing group. Go to critique sessions and LISTEN. Don't take it personally...learn to stand back and be objective.
write, re-write, critique-re-write--rinse and repeat. It will take lots of determination.
Get a copy of Writer's Market for guidelines in what you're looking for.
Enter writing contests where the prize is being read by an editor. (that the way 95% of the published authors I know were published)
Go to writing conferences-shut up and listen. Meet with editors-again-shut up and listen.
Grow a 'set of balls' and don't let anything, or anyone, stand in your way.

JMO as a published author and an editor.

YMMV

Elise