Hi.i want to be an author when i grow up so i was wondering if i can get some tips. thx

Tip #1 ~ The First and Final ~

Don't go online asking for help. Write, and write, and write until your fingers bleed and rot to the bone. Then ask for people's opinions. People who you know for a sure fact will give you their honest opinion.

>>2 agreed. write something first and don't look back.

But this post reminds me of some writing qualities Roald Dahl published once: (copied)

1. You should have a lively imagination.
2. You should be able to write well. By that I mean you should be able to make a scene come alive in the reader's mind. Not everybody has this ability. It is a gift, and you either have it or you don't.
3. You must have stamina. In other words, you must be able to stick to what you are doing and never give up, for hour after hour, day after day, week after week and month after month.
4. You must be a perfectionist. That means you must never be satisfied with what you have written until you have rewritten it again and again, making it as good as you possibly can.
5. You must have strong self-discipline. You are working alone. No one is employing you. No one is around to give you the sack if you don't turn up for work, or to tick you off if you start slacking.
6. It helps a lot if you have a keen sense of humour. This is not essential when writing for grown-ups, but for children, its vital.
7. You must have a degree of humility. The writer who thinks his work is marvellous is heading for trouble.

I don't agree with >>2 and >>3. Although writing itself is the first key point, a lot more goes into it. The internet is a great resource that should never be overlooked. Since you're just starting out, don't be afraid to post what you write on sites like WeBook. Don't even think about how that affects publication for now; just focus on getting a steady writing schedule to post things and taking as much advice as you can on what you post.

Always listen to criticism! It may sound like someone is being mean, like if they say, "It's stupid how unrealistic that character is! Nobody with that personality would do this or that!" It might sound rude, but listen to what they're saying and think honestly about it for a few minutes. Also, if someone says, "This sux!" or something like that, don't yell at them; just reply and ask them to specify, like, "What specifically is wrong with it?"

Criticism is a major part of writing and is just as important as writing itself. Although the more you write, the more used to it you will get and the more comfortable and fast you will be, you will never improve the content and style itself unless you listen to reviews, etc., especially if you're not great at being your own critic.

Also, be wary of telling people that you're writing books, etc. It's best to keep it mainly to yourself until you've really gotten somewhere with it. Your parents and friends most likely won't be as supportive as they claim, so keeping it to yourself will help you get into the habit from the start of finding the right times to right when people won't disrupt you. Not to mention that telling your plot to someone before you write it may either make you or break you - it helps some people and disheartens others.

Good luck. It might be hard, but it's fun. Writing a book is a lot easier than it seems, though you shouldn't be afraid to start with a short story c:

Thx BARABISAMA. i needed that. so im coming up with a story about a 7th grade graffiti artist named Elijah Jones. he is deep, funny,and wears glasses. his world changes when a blonde girl around his age comes to his school, asking for him.Elijah happens to be walking by. the girl sees him, takes his arm, and throws him toward the door. she pulls out a cross and throws it at him. while a vortex engulfs him, he sees the girl running towards him, with 2 guards after her. the guards seem to not notice the vortex. she jumps in the vortex, sending them to a forest with angels, kids throwing crosses at targets and praying. the girl explains to him that he is a prophet and has been recruited to stop demons and witches from corrupting the world. [open for criticsm. thx to whoever read all of this]

I finished ny first book a little while ago and submitted it to an agency not long ago.

I have to agree with >>4. listen to criticism, but also bear in mind that everyone has a different taste, so make sure you get opinions from different kinds of people.
Also, as BarabiSama said, make sure you've written a few chapters before telling people about it, so that you can prove that you are dedicated. A lot of people i know didn't think i was serious about this until i had actually sent of my submission.

by the way, it sounds like a cool and very original idea. good luck :)

Read dictionaries. Learn everything related to your subject that is at your fingertips. Make your brain a sponge. Take it slow. Think about what you're trying to say, pick the words that describe exactly (or the closest to without being repetitive) what you're saying. Be calm. Don't panic. Take breaks. Sometimes those breaks can last months. If you're in it for money, go elsewhere. If you plan to live off of it, write until your fingers bleed and you run out of ink... then write some more, with your own blood if you need to. Think. Think like you mean it. Think when you aren't writing and think while you are. Read. Fiction, nonfiction, essays, Barney's autobiography, it doesn't matter, as long as they spell things write and do the grammar thing right. Read this even though my grammar currently sucks kuz I'm lazy and on a break (long break, not by choice). Read all the advice before (I didn't, but you should). Go out and sit in the food courts at your nearest mall and eavesdrop on conversations, collecting data about how humans interact with humans to help your dialogue more. Do drugs RARELY if at all (only if you're old enough and healthy enough and if it's not too terribly harmful. If you hit cocaine or opium, you've gone too far). Go live. Experience things. Write about things you see when you visit Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon or something. Get your hands dirty. Avoid cliches, but some are good. Be unique. Stand out. Be confident, not arrogant. Let people know about it, but don't spam them. Apply common sense with everything. Sentences that start with "So," and describing terms ending in "-ly" should be used sparingly. You get ONE exclamation point per page, conditionally. Instead of capitalizing, bold or italicize things, or both if you need to (not advised).

Make paragraphs, unlike above.

Don't
make
paragraphs
like
this

"Start a new line every time somebody says something new or in reply to someone," Ao said, "Like the following."

"Like this?" He replies to himself, pretending to be another, fingers tapping key after key to make yet another sentence.

Reply >>5 doesn't seem too bad, I'd go out of my way to read more.

Also, to save you a headache, name things after you finish them. Helped me a bunch. Good luck and make sure to have fun!

>>7 "Think when you aren't writing and think while you are. Read. Fiction, nonfiction, essays, Barney's autobiography, it doesn't matter, as long as they spell things write and do the grammar thing right."

I dun goof'd. My brain was elsewhere. ...as long as they spell things right and do the grammar thing right.*, I correct myself.