Is it stupid to dream of becoming a writer?
God no. I wanted to be a writer when I was sixteen as well, but I was stupid and listened to all the people who told me it would be a waste. I gave up on those dreams for over ten years and spent a long time doing stuff that didn’t make me happy. When I was twenty-seven I married somebody who actively encouraged me to write. I did it as a hobby, but four years later I realised that I was okay at it and started pursuing a writing career- not because I want to be rich and famous, but because writing is the only thing that I’m good at that brings me happiness. Three years after that, I sold my fifth novel (out Spring next year) and I’m working almost full-time on the follow up. I’m still broke, I’m still in a job that I don’t like, but at least now I feel like I’ve achieved something. Write. Do it. Don’t do it for the money. Do it for the pleasure of getting it right, of making the words fall in a pattern that pleases you. Don’t let yourself waste so much time doing something that you don
