Alex asked April Henry:

How old were you when you started writing? I love to write and I believe in myself and I think I'm a good writer, but every year when my ELA teacher's notes come in about my writing or competitions go out for stories, I never win or feel good about it. You were the one who really inspired me to write mysteries or thrillers. Most of my suspense is inspired based on what you have written. So Thank You...🙃

April Henry I wrote from when I was 11 to about 13. Then I decided that being a writer was an impossible dream and that a poor girl from a logging town in Southern would never be a writer, so I stopped writing and didn't start again until I was about 30. I read a terrible book and decided if that author could get published, so could I.

I always got good grades in English, but I was not seen as a writer at school and no teacher or student praised me for that skill. (I was actually seen as more talented in math.) I was certainly not the person everyone thought would grow up to be a writer.

So don't let this lack of winning shake you in what YOU want. Because I would love to have those years back where I didn't write at all.

Sometimes, too, I think some adults are uncomfortable with scary or creepy, so that might be a factor.

What I have learned over the years is that people who get published are the ones who read a lot (and think about their reading), write and re-write a lot (and think about how to make things better), and never give up. It's the last one that's the hardest, but please continue to have faith in yourself.

Also, many people start out their writing inspired by other writers. I'm glad I'm that inspiration for you!

I think this is so important that I'm going to post it on my TikTok dedicated to writing advice - AprilHenryWritingAdvice.

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