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

Well thanks for all the votes of confidence ladies and gents, I now have no excuses left - it's time to call some agents!

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Mark
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Mark Rudd
16/02/2012

I wrote a blog post on this last year when I saw the same question arise on Twitter. I think it's vital that young people write, and that their work is read. All people are entitled to have a voice and the more voices we have in the pot, the more varied and exciting our culture, and our literature, will be.

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Martha Williams
14/02/2012

I'm 25 and have been working on my first fantasy novel for a little while now.

I agree with what others have said. If you have confidence in your writing ability then it will come through in the final piece as well as subsequent novels you may write.

At least that's the way I have approached it and am enjoying every minute writing the book.

Good luck!

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Anthony Scott
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