Hello readers!
I am a college student so that means the inevitable question gets asked all the time when people find out I am in college, either they ask “what is your plan for after college” or “what job do you want to have?”
Both are totally valid questions to ask someone in college because that is the next step…but usually that question is a hard one to answer. I am fortunate that I know what I want to do but when I say I want to be an author I get a whole slew of other writing questions.
So I compiled a small list for you.
Let’s jump in!
- What kind of things do you write?
- Let me guess, you want to write YA fiction or poetry?
- Have you ever been published?
- What made you want to be an author of all things?
- Isn’t it hard to become an author?
- Who is your favorite author? (Then they try to guess and for me, they are always way off.)
- Wouldn’t you rather teach and be a writer than trying to make money off of writing alone?
- Can I read something you have written?
I get bombarded with these questions and many others. Don’t get me wrong I love it when people are interested in my writing life and genuinely want to know those things. But some of those questions are hard to answer.
So right now I am going to answer a couple of them, and maybe I will give better answers than I would in person because I can actually think about these things.
The first writing questions are sort of easy.
Usually someone who isn’t super curious will be content when I answer with, I write mostly fiction. That is a true answer and many people are satisfied with that. Most ask follow-up questions. That is when I start to get tongue-tied because I haven’t found my niche yet.
Stephen King had started writing science fiction as a kid and toyed with horror throughout high school and he knew that that was what he was best at.
I have been writing for years and still don’t have a set niche. Don’t fret when you are asked this question.
There is nothing wrong with being unsure. You also are not confined to a niche, ever! Take the time to explore all of your options and ultimately just write what you love.
I have nothing against YA or Poetry.
They have never been my forte.
If you fell in love with reading because of YA book and you like to write them. There is no shame in that! You could be writing YA when your 80 and there would be no judgment on you.
Poetry and YA are so influential for young readers and those books are usually what makes them lifelong readers.
I fell in love with the classics when I started to love reading and that’s the type of stuff I like to write.
The dreaded publishing question.
I can answer no to the question about being published. I haven’t been officially published because I am just started to submit my writing to places.
It can take years for good writers to be published. Because the world is full of great writers.
Don’t get discouraged. Harry Potter was rejected 12 times before someone took a chance on it.
Just keep working!
My least favorite question is the “What made you want to be an author”
I never have an interesting answer because it is always “I like to write”.
Some people write because they have something to say or because they believe that something needs to be awknowledge.
For me, I just like to tell stories.
There are ZERO wrong answers to this, and pretty much all of these questions.
Being an english major really makes the teaching question come up often.
I am always baffled by the teaching question because even though I want to be an author and am an English major, I don’t love grammar. I love editing but learning grammar rules is my nemesis. So unless I become a literature teacher I would have to teach grammar and I have no interest in that.
I will say that big shout out to all those writers who do want to be teachers too!
Be prepared if you are majoring in English to hear these types of writing questions…a lot. I will be honest when you say no, people will be surprised.
Keep your head held high and stand firm with your choice of career.
It is hard for people to understand when I tell them that it is not hard to become an author.
Anyone who has a computer and a little bit of money can become an author. There are so many self-publishing programs out there that it makes publishing a book rather easy. But I know what people mean when they ask that question.
In their heads, they are thinking about finding world fame as an author like John Green or J.K. Rowling. To be so widely recognized as an author like those two are is more of a challenge than just being an author.
If you want to go the self-publishing route: good for you! If you want to go the traditional publishing route: good for you! If you only want to publish short stories: good for you!
Don’t let anyone belittle your way to success.
My favorite question is the guess the favorite author game.
Someone who loves books will never be afraid of talking about their favorites.
For all of you non-authors reading this. Ask this question to all your author friends, they will get so excited and be happy for the rest of the day!
The final question…
Everyone reacts to these writing questions differently.
My method is “sure, I just don’t have any of my writing with me.” And hope they forget and never ask again.
I love when people willingly share their writing with me because it is a little piece of them that they are trusting me with.
On the flip side I 100% not letting anyone read anything of yours. If you prefer to keep it hidden in a drawer until it is perfect, no judgment here.
In Conclusion.
My advice is to start with the writing questions, “how long have you wanted to be an author?” and “Tell me something you enjoy about writing.”
That will open up a wide gate and gives us as writers the choice of what to say and be able to say it well. But keep asking questions because a passionate writer will always be excited to talk about writing.
Quote of the day: “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” ― Mark Twain