Is age really a downfall when it comes to getting published?

Actually there are limits that can be legally placed on minors but not adults. For example, it is perfectly legal to restrict purchasing of, say, Playboy, by minors, whereas it couldn't be prohibited for adults due to the 1st Amendment and free speech.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if there was restrictions to publish it.

 

I think it would be tough to prevent a minor from writing erotica with any kind of law. A publishing company, even one that publishes erotica, might think twice before publishing it, however. Just because of public perception.

 

Well, no, of course the manuscript wasn't age-inappropriate and was far from being anything such. It was for school. And I wouldn't write something that was out of my age anyways. It was a YA book, but yes I agree. I can see how a child publishing something that was in a much more adult like format would be seen as a publicity issue.

 

That's false. They can publish whatever. It's whoever takes the risk.


Not exactly publishing a novel, but Earl Sweatshirt was like 15 or 16 when he released a rap album. One that was very vulgar.

 

I'm just telling you the different situations; I wasn't implying that it was something you'd actually write.

To the other posts: Oh, and there's a big difference between sexual content and just plain violence and vulgar language. The latter can be considered free expression, yes, but I seriously doubt any publisher is gonna send out -and this is hypothetical- practically pornographic material written by a child. I can't see them taking that risk for the moral uproar it'd cause.

 

I've just realised how poorly I executed my point there. It's completely plausible for writers to write about people they have nothing in common with; that's the essence of the profession and imagination itself. However, research is really important. You can write about anything as long as you've read about it, or experienced it, or have some source of knowledge.

Having said that, my advice to someone who was a beginning writer (usually young teens I guess) would be to start writing whatever you're familiar with, and then branch off from there. I can see age working to your advantage if you were able to write about what you know, but it's all the more impressive if you can take that a few steps further.

Hope I cleared up my point. I have a habit of saying the opposite of what I mean lately.

 

I thought this was an issue too, when I tried to get published.

But, of course, at the time, I was so oblivious to everything in the publishing world. I didn't even know you had to have an agent. I was about 10 at the time, and, like all 10 y/o, I was convinced my novel was the best ever. I still have it, it was hand-written, and I cringe reading it now!

I have to be honest; I'm 15 now, and I have learned a lot since then. I'm not saying, OP, that you lack skill or anything, but I think the main thing is the experience. You may have terrific writing skills, but it will always come back to first impressions. If they see you're young, they might just consider your experience. Then again, that is no excuse for anything.

Now, I'm no professional at all at all, so ignore me if you must!

 

The restriction is child pornography that is illegal mostly everywhere in the world. It is a horrible punishment even if you took the picture of yourself.

 

I think that goes without saying...

 

I would like to think that the manuscript trumps everything. Agents are interested in something they think they can sell. From experience I can say that my agent never once asked me my age before offering representation. She still doesn't know my age.

Usually if an agent feels a manuscript has a good chance of generating money then the personal details of the author mean very little. This is a business after all. The book is the product, not you.

 

I simply meant to say that all else is well... legal.

 

The only thing that can really be outright banned, as a class, under the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment is "obscenity."

Of course, the definition of obscenity is notoriously vague.

 

ditto that!... age has nothing to do with selling a book... only the quality of your writing does...