How Do You Start Becoming a Writer?

Question:

firstly I love your Alice series they are so life like when I read some of her embarrassing moments I think hey! that happened to me which is cool to be able to relate to the books… your books have really helped me figure who I really am because at home my mum doesn’t really talk to me about growing up stuff she gets embarrassed and says when your older you will find out but reading your books has helped me learn that it’s natural to feel what I’m going through. But also as many other people have said I want to become a writer I’ve written two books but I haven’t got them published or anything but I was wondering how you start becoming a writer and how you get books published…

Phyllis replied:

Please get a copy of my paperback, “How I Came to be a Writer.”  If your library doesn’t have it, ask them to get it on inter-library loan.  It will describe the whole process to you and how I went about it.