Kadence asked Penelope Douglas:

What steps can a high school student take to become a professional writer?

Penelope Douglas Hey, Kadence!

Well, thanks to self-publishing, we all have a chance to be heard now. It's pretty great. And easy. I didn't study writing. I was a reader, but my education was in political science and teaching, so I learned how to write on the job ;)

I would advise finding a mentor or editor. Submit a few chapters and let them help you find your voice and style. I wouldn't be here without mine. Everyone needs feedback, and a content/developmental editor advises you on what's wrong with your story, pacing, plot holes, voice, and really putting the reader into the pages. This will be a long process and the most frustrating part, because their job is to push back on what you wrote, but you have to remember it's not personal. They're giving you an honest account of how most readers will react, and it's better to hear it while you still have a chance to fix it. If you want. I usually listen to my editor but not always. Sometimes, there's a difference of opinion.

Afterward, you get to do your copyediting, formatting, cover, and then you can go to https://kdp.amazon.com/ to upload your book and see what happens. Or you can try to find an agent and a publisher and go that route, which also has some nice things about it. I love being a hybrid writer.

Joining some online groups will be useful when you're starting out. That's how you'll find your designers, etc.

I'll just leave you with this: most of your energy should be put in the writing. The rest can be online activity, promoting, marketing... But your best work is your best asset.

Have fun with it!

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