Too young to write?

by Mark Rudd
4th January 2012

Here's one that has bothered me for a long time... I am writing (as I always am) a children's fantasy novel that I hope to submit to an agent this year. It's a fairly dark, spooky story in a magical setting, starring an ordinary girl. I only have one problem with it...

I'm only 21.

Is that enough life experience to be writing anything? Can a person's style be sufficiently mature by that age? Will an agent look at the DOB and dismiss the submission? I'd appreciate some thoughts on this!

Replies

I don't think your age should be a factor in someone's view of your writing. For example, I'm 21 and am planning the final stages of my book. Even though I am young, I think I have valid and interesting things to say. So now, being young doesn't mean you can't write, it just means you are passionate about something at an early age

Profile picture for user tom.kava_29865
Thomas
Kavanagh
270 points
Practical publishing
Fiction
Middle Grade (Children's)
Picture Books (Children's)
Comic
Speculative Fiction
Adventure
Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
Thomas Kavanagh
05/01/2014

It's not just about life experience, imagination and good writing skills make a good book and age doesn't come into it if you can master these things, particularly in the genre your interested in. I only wish I'd started earlier.

Profile picture for user karenboo_25306
Karen
Booth
270 points
Practical publishing
Poetry
Short stories
Fiction
Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
Middle Grade (Children's)
Picture Books (Children's)
Comic
Media and Journalism
Business, Management and Education
Speculative Fiction
Adventure
Popular science, Social science, Medical Science
Practical and Self-Help
Gothic and Horror
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Romance
Karen Booth
28/11/2013

Don't worry about your age ;)

Just watch out that you don't sound anything like harry potter and you'll be fine

Profile picture for user robbiest_27945
Robbie
Stratford
330 points
Developing your craft
Poetry
Short stories
Fiction
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Adventure
Autobiography, Biography and Memoir
Speculative Fiction
Gothic and Horror
Philosophy and Religion
Robbie Stratford
25/06/2013