HKayG

I would have to disagree. A qualified and degree holding writer doesn't make them any better at developing an excellent plot, setting, and characters. A piece of paper doesn’t help them bring authenticity to the actions the characters or items or animals. It doesn’t make an original story or mean that their story will have the urgency that it truly needs for it to be successful. Is taking a class bad? No. Any excuse to write is a good one, so take a class if it will inspire something great out of you. Do you have to be qualified to write or should you become disheartened by your writing based off a bad critique or a lot of red underlines for grammar or spelling. No. Take it with a grain of salt, learn from it, and keep writing.

Don't give up.

Dickens didnt have a writing degree. Nor did he have the internet or a critique group.

Good writing doesnt happen overnight. but it happens.

i haven't read any of your work...but surely don't let a couple criticisms discourage you. even published writers here get criticisms when they post their work. when i post my work here, i expect criticisms. that's why i post it. i wanna know what people see wrong. and when i 1st came here? i wanted to have a bit of an attitude against people who pointed out the flaws...but then i thought about it....and i came to the conclusion that hearing the negative was EXACTLY what i needed to become a better writer.