Lynn asked Liesl Shurtliff:

I really want to become an author, but I'm only 12. Do you have any tips on how to become a published author at this age? I am going to write a fantasy or mystery novel, but I can't think of any ideas. How do you get inspiration? Do you have a method that you use to actually plan out and write your books? (I just want to say that I LOVE your Rump series! My favorite book was Red.)

Liesl Shurtliff There's certainly no age limit to becoming an author. There are many authors out there who published at a very young age, and did it to great success, but keep in mind that they are the exception. More often than not it takes time to develop your writing skills to the level necessary to be published. Be patient. Read a lot and write a lot. And the more you read and write the more ideas you will get for more stories. I remember feeling like I didn't have any ideas when I was younger, at least not any great ones, and now I have so many ideas I feel frustrated that I can't write them as fast as I would like. You will get there! And maybe soon! Who knows? You could be the next Christopher Paolini or S.E. Hinton. I hope you'll let me know when it happens. Thank you fo reading my books! I so glad you enjoyed them.

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