What makes a good author is for the author's ability to see if something is good or bad, not the readers. The author first and foremost has to be able to like his own thing. If your friends like your stuff its good. If they put you down use that as motivation to keep going.

Sometimes I feel inadequate too but then I remember I'm not 30 I'm 18.

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Sometimes I feel inadequate too but then I remember I'm not 30 I'm 18.

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Not that you have to be perfect when you're 30 either. Writing isn't about age. Different people improve at different rates. Sometimes people have so many other things in life that any improvement at all is a big deal.

The point is, being a writer is an evolutionary process. The bad news is, you aren't as good now as you are going to be later. The good news is, you aren't as good now as you are going to be later.

I'd venture to guess that most writers need to have a "real" job outside of their writing. VERY few are able to do it and make enough to survive.

They say it takes a million words of writing to get any good at it. Which implies the first million aren't any good. Might as well get to writing!

The question of being a "career" writer isn't a matter of being good at it. It's a question of whether you're willing to bear the economic burdan of doing a job that has many more applicants than openings. 99.9% of manuscripts never escape from the slushpile (okay I think that somebody said it was .7 or something...that's not the point). It's true that a lot of those manuscripts are submitted by "dabblers", people who have never really put any effort into becoming better writers. If you're willing to put in the effort to, say, type everything you submit to the public as though you were going to send it to an editor, then you're well ahead of those who are basically wasting the slush-readers' time. But not so far ahead that you can count on writing as a lucrative pursuit.

You can also sell out...or at least that was an option in the past. Card has said a thing or two about the dangers of "careerism" as it applies to writers. I wonder whether the information age is changing that or making it worse. But assuming that you want to write because you have something you want to say, it's probably a bad idea to count on everyone being willing to pay you for it. Yes, people do get paid for good writing, but it's not worth the effort. You should demand payment, as minimal proof that your writing is valued, but if you put the same amount of talent, skill and raw work into a conventional job, I should expect you to be making six figures easily (okay, so it isn't "easy", it's more "soul killing", the point is that you could get more money elsewhere). I don't think many other professions provide so little reward for the work.

Of course, it's better than a cup of hemlock...maybe.

If you're thinking of getting in it for the money...get out. I don't even care how talented you are, just get out now. You can make more money elsewhere. If you're in it because you have something to say...stick around, and don't worry too much about the money. It will just cause you trouble. Accept the payment you're due, the laborer is worth of his hire, after all. But the hire for writing sucks, and you'll be happier as a writer if you can accept that.

Those of us who have managed to get something in print just have heads harder then the brick wall we keep hitting them against.

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What's a wifebeater? And don't tell me something I already know.

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Well... that's sorta tough if I don't know what you already know I assume you want to know what it is in reference to clothing, though.

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No matter where you are in your career you're never good enough

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And Ken, just write what you love and submit what you write. Even if you don't make a dime at this you can still be happy doing it.

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Sometimes I feel inadequate too but then I remember I'm not 30 I'm 18.

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Hey! I'm 30! Chronologically at least.

If any older writer ever needs some inspiration, then read up about David Eddings. He started writing at 15 and didn't publish his first novel until he was 45. Now his 75 or 76 and about to release a new novel this year.

http://www.sffworld.com/interview/170p0.html

As for what keeps me going? I just enjoy it. I have dozens of stories floating around inside my head and I want to let them out. Every time I do, more pop up to fill the void. SO back I go to writing. I recently started getting serious enough to learn how to write well enough to attempt publication. Maybe I will succeed, maybe I won't. Either way, I'll keep on learning and writing, because that's what I like to do.

My first official gig as a "real" writer was a bimonthly book review column in a local free press. Since the tiny paper contained mostly Classified ads I was convinced no one read it, so I let loose and had a bit of fun. It was less of a book review column and more of a blog, really. But it taught me to write concisely, and to a deadline (which I only missed twice in two years).

All the things it taught me writing-wise were invaluable. I can't say it helped hugely with networking...but it was nice to have folks at work come up to me occasionally and say, "I read your review!" and see that they were as proud of it as I was. The daughter of one associate read a review of mine outloud in front of her English class.

In high school, my friends and family loved what I wrote too...only I made horrible marks in English, and was discouraged by my parents to pursue writing as a career (I majored in Chemistry and now buy books for a major wholesaler). But the madness picked me...and look where I am now.

(actually...look next week, after my revamped website goes live).

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majored in Chemistry

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However, the relationship has come in handy. The editor knows EVERYone in town and has suggested several good business connections for me.