How to get into.....?

[LongVodka]

Okay so I left school with crappy grades (could've worked harder but didn't) but still passed them all. Now im in my first full time job after a few years of part time jobs, etc
anyways to the point, basically i work within health care but as a hobby like to write short stories (if and when i get the time or notion) but i wouldn't mind try to chase this as a career but no idea where to start of college or uni wise or if i need to do anything in particular so any advice or someone give me a heads up on it.....
ta much

[Lil O'lady]

Breaking into writing as a career requires persistence as well as a talent for writing. Most publishers do not read your work if you send it 'cold'. You can always pay someone to publish your work -plenty of businesses specialise in this - but this does not guarantee that readers will want to read or buy your books. As a starter you could try looking for literary competitions - do a google search for short story competitions. Look carefully at the timings, deadlines, subjects required and above all, whether you are expected to pay to enter the competition - the latter again being a good clue as to whether it's legitimate or just ripping off new writers.
You could also try writing articles for magazines etc - start off by looking at opportunities to get in print by submitting 'my worst holiday' etc type articles. It will be a lifetime's effort to make a name for yourself - good luck!

[saxy_jag]

The Open University does a Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing that you could study part-time at home and which could also constitute part of a degree in, say, Literature or English Language studies. They also do an introductory short course in creative writing that you could try out as a taster.

Diploma here: http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01 E25

Short course here: http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01 A174

I've done the short course and I can tell you it's a lot of fun and very useful.

If your aspirations veer towards a full time course, then a number of universities now offer degree courses in creative writing and related subjects.

You could enter a few competitions, but they're not likely to make you famous. For that matter, neither will a course of study, but the latter will point you in the right direction and bring you into contact with published authors (Andrew Motion teaches the Diploma course at Leicester Uni). I'm still not convinced of the usefulness of such courses at university level. Different people say different things about them, as you'd imagine, but really you need to make up your own mind on this.

The other way is to join a writers' group - actual or virtual - and let others see your work. Again, not guaranteed, but you will get feedback on what you've done. http://www.writersdock.org is one of the best sites around - lots of pros and guest contributors around for advice, as well ordinary mortals also trying for the top.

From there, it's a matter of submitting your work to agents and publishers and getting rejected dozens of times before someone s