Ignoring hate

Hello! I’m 13 years old and I’ve been writing stories since I first learned how to write. I’ve always wanted to be a writer and I’ve even had college professors say I wrote better than their students. I feel free when I write even when it’s sometimes stressful. The other day we were supposed to do a project on what we want to be when we grew up. I said I wanted to be a best-selling author and I even said you were my Idol because I’ve read almost all of your books and think you’re terrific! But my teacher and classmates tell me that being a writer isn’t a real job, is this true? should I give up? How do I ignore it?

Do  you actually think your friends and teachers hate you?  Here are some thoughts: they are wrong to think that being a writer isn’t a real job.  I have been a full time writer for sixty years.  I could support our family on my writing if I needed to.  I work more than eight hours a day–perhaps 4 hours in the actual typing of words, but at least five or six hours just thinking, thinking, thinking of what scene should come next, how to present it, who the narrator should be, etc.

While it’s true that not many writers are able to support themselves or their families by their writing alone, there are thousands and thousands who write short stories or articles or news accounts and earn part of their money this way.  They may be plumbers or roofers or teachers or fishermen on the side, but they may still write and get published.  I guess people consider that a person is whatever work most supports him, even though he may enjoy doing something else much more.

Don’t let that disturb you.  Just go on doing what you love most, and if it’s writing, then write, write, write.  Put it aside for awhile and come back to read it again and see if you can make it better.  I rewrite everything many, many times.  Here’s something else to think about: here’s what I consider a real writer:  he is far more interested in the act of writing–of making it the best it can be–of reading it aloud to see how it sounds, than he is in being a “best-selling” writer.  In fact, he is more interested in writing just for the act of writing–because he enjoys it–than the fame or money he thinks he will get.

Take every opportunity to join writing groups; write for your school newspaper.  Enter every writing contest open to you.  If you like to write more than almost anything else, you’re a writer.