Novel in progress ^-^

[wolfy-hound]

Not to be discouraging... but when a young writer starts out with how "naturally talented" they are and how they already know everything about writing (I'm at college level), it automatically alerts me to the idea that they don't want to hear any constructive criticisms, and refuse to think they might need to improve. Just going on what your original post states.

If you want to be a serious writer, rein the ego in, settle down to think through your writing and plans first and swallow the pride thing and find help. You need a beta reader who will pick your work apart, point out everything that is wrong with it, suggest alternates and even rip apart plots and story bases. Not a friend who will squeal "I LOVE IT UR SO GREAT" or try to get you to put them into the story as your best friend character. Not a proud dad who will praise you because you are, of course, his beloved child and he's happy to see you pursuing an interest.

When someone does offer criticisms, don't feel slighted or offended... think about what they're saying, how it would improve what you've written and then decide whether to use it or not use it. Sometimes things you write will not follow the basic rules of writing(English writing 101 has a LOT of rules that are not followed by popular writers). That might be okay for your writing. It's called "style". Sometimes someone might pick apart a section you love, saying it doesn't make any sense. Even if YOU think it makes perfect sense, you always have to credit a reader more than yourself in that instance. You know all the background and setting inside your head. The reader only can judge what's on the page. So if they say "It doesn't make sense, it's confusing" pay attention and find out why and what and where and fix it.

At times I've written a few thousand words per night, on top of work and caring for critters etc etc. If you have a deep desire to write, you'll find time to do it around your schedule. If it's a mild hobby then you can always fit it in whenever you feel like it. After all, words stored on a computer don't spoil or go bad or get stale. You can store a piece of writing and come back to it a year later and it's still going to be sitting there.

Good luck with your schooling and writing.