I have never wrote a complete story since probably 8th grade. I want to write for the reason my imagination won't leave me alone. I was woundering what writer's think about someone that is 30yrsold that wants to write but never has? Thanks
I say it's never too late to start writing. I started out on short stories, then moved onto my screenplay. Short stories are probably the best way to be "bitten" by the writing bug.
I can only repeat what Shinn has already said. It's never too late, and I think it's great that you're making the effort to write.
Based on your post above, I'd say you need to brush up on the basics before you try to write a full story. Sometimes the best way to get better at writing is just to write, but the flip side of that is that if you continue to practice bad habits, then those habits will be harder to break later. I'd suggest that you read a lot and really learn the basics of proper grammar before you try your hand at seriously writing.
I wrote as a hobby for years, but only now at the age of 39 am I writing seriously with the intention of publishing. I'm a slow learner I guess, it really took me this long to get to a point where I had the discipline to write daily, complete things that I started, polish my writing, and learn enough about publishing to start sending stuff out.
Thanks I have been reading some books on world creation,"How to write Science Fiction and Fantasy" by Orscon Scott Card. I'm starting somewhere. I know my punctuation and grammar are horrible, not to mention story creation brainstorming techniques. Thanks though.. everyone.
At the end, there's really not much difference between learning to write and then needing to live twenty more years to actually have something interesting to tell, and doing first the living part and then learning to write. Just uderstand you'll need some years to write reasonably well (it will mostly depend on how much you've read) and there's no limit to what you could create.
if you don't write, you aren't a writer. Want to be a writer? Then start writing. That's the first and best way to practice writing, everything that comes afterward is just extra
Until 30 I have read very little and wrote nothing, even though I always had the desire to write. Writing bug actually bit me at around 31, wrote whatever that comes to my imagination instinctively, found out I have the ability to tell a story, and even had few pieces published. Now I am reading a lot, learning to improve my writing ability, and planning to write a novel soon. So, like the others I also say, it's never too late.
I was 33 when I picked up my pen last february and began to write my story, what began as a adult thriller adventure type story morphed into a young adult fantasy complete with its own world. I now have only a few thousand words to go, some editing and my first novel is ready to go off to literary agents and publishers. I already have a literary agent who likes it enough to take it on in about six-nine months time if I don't get anyone else (I have an author friend who showed his agent and friend my stories). However have just discovered they are pregnant lol so may mess up that My second novel is about 20,000 words into its first draft, as it is a YA novel that is just under halfway. I have a story outline with my third. For me it began accidently writing the stories I have had in my head for years instead of doodling whilst watching TV one night. My main aim had been to galvanise my husband who was not working on his writing.
well,there is no age limit to become a writer....some people's imaginative power fades when they start growing old and some people grow better with time....may be you are at your creative best stage.....go on and start writing.
Hello C. A., Welcome to the Writing Forums. As was mentioned, you do have some work ahead of you on grammar, but if you're willing to put in the work, you can surmount that hurdle. Please read How to Use the Review Room before you post there. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out the RPG forum for improvisational fiction. Also try our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
i didn't start writing seriously, as a career, till in my early 40s... so it's definitely a matter of 'never too late'! but you do have to take more care with spelling and such, if you want to get anywhere with it, cac... welcome to the world of the writer and to wf.org! love and hugs, maia
Welcome! I agree with the others, I started taking my novel seriously at the beginning of last year, just before my 29th birthday. What helped me get started was lots of reading and reviewing. I've also been known to stalk some of the members on this site. Meaning, I'd follow their posts around the boards and take special attention to their advice. You'll get to know who they are. We all have a lot of work still to do, so welcome to the ride.
put pen to paper or fingers to keys and see what comes out. You can only work from there. If youve just started you dont know what will need to be improved on, what youre strengths are, how dedicated you will be, until you have written at least 6 months of everything! Just whatever comes into your brain, whatever makes you think, a review of something youve read, etc. Just write, then after 6 months, you should know what you like to write, how you like to write and where you want your writing to take you. Explore what you can do when you put your mind to it. Thats how I started and I dont seem to be doing too badly!
