Robin Layne
If you have a fire for writing, you probably have good stories to tell. Definitely feed them. But before you get too far, I suggest you make sure you know the mechanics of writing, too, so that people will be able to clearly understand and enjoy what you put on those imaginative pages. Take some college courses in grammar, because today it's apparently not taught while you're growing up. Learn the difference between past tense, present tense, and so on. Learn how to structure your writing. Learn how to use punctuation properly, to your advantage. Believe it or not, there are rules to writing in the English language (and all other languages), and your manuscripts will stand out amid the submissions that traditional publishers get if you use those rules. The rules preserve communication; yes, it's okay to break them from time to time, but only for an intended effect. You need to know them before you can break them.
If you think I'm wrong, consider what a house would look like if it's made with crooked boards of the wrong lengths and nails pounded in haphazardly; it's not likely to even stand up, and supposing it does, it'll look horrible and leak. So it is with written stories. Trust me, knowing how to write will NOT hamper your creativity; it will help it to soar.
If you can't be bothered with those "pesky details," be prepared to find a decent editor to work with you on your books. It'll cost you money, but it will be well worth it.
Today a lot of books get published, and even become bestsellers, without being functionally literate, I admit. But careful readers and editors hold those in derision. It's much better to write a good story WELL; it's my feeling that it has a chance to be well-loved for many years to come if it has that kind of work put into it.
Other advice, which you're likely to hear from other authors: Write often. Practice makes better and better, although you will never feel for long that anything you've written is perfect. Remember that whatever happens to you in your life, "It's all copy"--meaning, it adds depth and breadth to your writing, whether you write personal experience, fiction, or opinion.
Enjoy.
If you think I'm wrong, consider what a house would look like if it's made with crooked boards of the wrong lengths and nails pounded in haphazardly; it's not likely to even stand up, and supposing it does, it'll look horrible and leak. So it is with written stories. Trust me, knowing how to write will NOT hamper your creativity; it will help it to soar.
If you can't be bothered with those "pesky details," be prepared to find a decent editor to work with you on your books. It'll cost you money, but it will be well worth it.
Today a lot of books get published, and even become bestsellers, without being functionally literate, I admit. But careful readers and editors hold those in derision. It's much better to write a good story WELL; it's my feeling that it has a chance to be well-loved for many years to come if it has that kind of work put into it.
Other advice, which you're likely to hear from other authors: Write often. Practice makes better and better, although you will never feel for long that anything you've written is perfect. Remember that whatever happens to you in your life, "It's all copy"--meaning, it adds depth and breadth to your writing, whether you write personal experience, fiction, or opinion.
Enjoy.
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