Can anyone become a writer?

Question

Accepted Answer

Yes, anyone can become a writer. Anyone willing to put in the effort can become a published writer. For example, Juliette Davies wrote her first book in her JJ Halo series, which was first published when she was nine years old.

If you want to become a writer, you should first learn some of the foundational skills like grammar, language, writing style, as well as editing and proofreading. If your goal is to become a fiction writer, you should learn how to develop characters, plot, and setting. If you want to be a nonfiction or technical writer, you should learn the terminology of the field you want to write about, style guidelines, and research methods.

The training you'll need depends on the type of writing you want to do. If your goal is to write online content, you may not need a college education; having a work portfolio may be enough to get your foot in the door. If you want to write more formally, such as a journalist or academic writer, you'll want to pursue a bachelor's degree or higher.

Robert Stacy McCain once said, "Writing is a skill, not a talent." While some folks do make it as a writer after 3 to 4 years, others spend their lifetime working on the next great American novel.