A Goodreads user asked Robin Stevens:

Hi Robin. My name is Laaiba( Pronounced lie-ba) And no I am not a lying sheep. Hahaha I want to ask you a question. Do you ever feel sometimes or once upon a time that you felt that you weren't good enough to write a book and become an author? I don't have any GCSEs or A-levels or MD. I feel a lot sometimes that I will not be able to write a book and publish it. So what do you do when you feel down?

Robin Stevens Hi Laaiba (such a wonderful name and not at all like a sheep!),

I do absolutely feel like that with every single one of my books. Usually I'm halfway through the first draft and I look at what I've written and want to cry, because I know I'm rubbish at writing and I'll never manage to tell the story well. What I've learnt over the years, though, is that it's important not to listen to that voice inside your head, because it's a liar and it's wrong! I just keep writing and ignore it and at the end I realise that the book is better than I'd thought and I do actually know what I'm doing.

I know there are lots of courses out there that make you think you need to study particular things to become an author, but it's just not true. Or at least, not in the way you're thinking! You don't need a single qualification to write a great book - I do have GCSEs and A-levels, but I never studied creative writing, and I know that my A-levels aren't the reason I'm a good writer.

The reason I can write well now is because on weekends and holidays when I was younger I spent all my time reading and writing. That is literally the only thing you need to do to make your writing great - practice all the time by taking in other people's stories and writing down your own.

So ignore everyone telling you that you don't know enough, and focus on making your writing better with practice. Believe in yourself and give yourself the time you need to improve. No formal qualifications necessary!

Good luck!

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