You’re a teen writer with dreams of becoming a published author. But maybe you think that it takes years to reach that point: to become a great author like the ones you adore.

But I’m gunna let you in on a little secret: some of the most famous authors you love started their writing careers when they were just teenagers.

Yep, they too started their writing careers young; filled with inspiration, glittery story ideas and a passion not so different from your own.

So if you think you can’t make it as an author, just have a look-sy at these ten famous examples and know that you too can write the next fandom-worthy novel!

S.E Hinton was inspired at the tender age of 15 to write her famous work The Outsiders.

Upset at the rival gangs that fought one another in her own town, she felt an urge to create a story that revealed what it took for teens to survive and overcome in her small town. Through it, came unforgettable characters like Ponyboy, Johnny, Sodapop, Dally and more “greasers”.

S.E Hinton published The Outsiders by the time she turned eighteen in 1967. And in 1983, the book became a major motion picture.

Gotta love that picture of young Christopher, right?! Well, the brilliant young mind behind the Inheritance Cycle series started writing his first book Eragon at the age of 15. 

With his parents’ full support, he self-published Eragon in 2001 (18 yrs old at the time!) and the family toured the country promoting his book.

And that amazing pic above was actually how Christopher promoted his first work of fiction! In fact, Paolini said of his self-organized promo tour, “I did over 135 events across the country, at bookstores, schools, and festivals dressed in medieval costume. Promoting Eragon became the family business: books sold meant food on the table, so we were incredibly determined. We started by doing signings in bookstores but quickly learned that no one shows up for an author they have never heard of. I was very determined, and would stay for eight hours straight and talk to every person who came in the store and try to sell them a copy.”

Paolini’s book was “discovered” by American writer Carl Hiaasen who brought it to his publisher. They were so thrilled with it, they re-published Eragon in 2003. By age 20, Paolini became the youngest-ever bestselling author of a book series at the time. And in 2006 The movie adaptation of Eragon was released.

18-year-old Mary Shelley’s electric mind sparked an idea for a fantastical story that is now known as the first true science fiction novel. Which story might that be? Well, none other than the classic monster mash-up Frankenstein.

Claiming the inspiration came from a “waking dream”, Mary wrote a legendary novel that captivated the public imagination. The story of the scientist and his creature intrigued all social classes and quickly became the muse of theatrical productions, newspapers, political cartoons, parliamentary debate, translations, and countless pirated reprints.

“Literature cannot be the business of a woman’s life, and it ought not to be.” That is what English Poet Laureate Robert Southey said to Charlotte Brontë when she had sent him some of her best poems at the age of 20. 

But such a narrow view could not (and would not!) hold Charlotte back. In fact, as a child and on through her teen years, Brontë was a voracious reader and writer. She wrote stories and staged plays at home with her siblings Anne, Emily, and brother Branwell. She also wrote manuscripts and plays, drawing on literature, magazines, and the Bible for inspiration. Charlotte knew her life was meant for bigger things.

Her vivid imagination led Charlotte to write the timeless classic Jane Eyre, published in 1847 (Charlotte being 30 years old at the time).

By the age of twelve, Kat had started her first novel and begun plans for her life as a true author (she was rather more confident at twelve than she is even now). Said plans didn’t come to fruition until seven years later (age 19!), when her agent sold her Young Adult trilogy, The Hybrid Chronicles, to HarperCollins.

She has also published two Middle-Grade novels with Simon & Schuster. The first, The Emperor’s Riddle, is about hidden treasure, lost aunts, and China. The second, The Memory of Forgotten Things, is about grief, solar eclipses, and misfit children. She also has a picture book, Amy Wu & the Amazing Bao, releasing in 2019.

Brady Stefani, author of The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman published in 2016 found personal inspiration from his novel at a young age. A young girl feels terrified as she faces mental breakdown and desertion from her friends and family. Only a stranger in a waiting room knows what she’s facing and how to help her.

Brady shares his first steps toward publication as the meager age of 15!

“In fifth grade, I learned to transcend the trappings of my existentially riddled mind by opening a book and escaping into the world of fiction. By ninth grade, I was tearing through books, writing short stories of my own, and dreaming of my future life as an accomplished author.“

The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman won a Finalist Award in the first novel category at the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Brady continues to follow his writing aspirations.

We all had to read it either in middle school (or maybe you’re assigned to read it right now in high school!) but did you know that the author of The Red Badge of Courage starting writing, not when he was a teen… not even when he was a pre-teen… but when he was just 4 years old?!

Oh yeah by age 4 our boy Stevie had taught himself to read and write. At age 14, Crane wrote “Uncle Jake and the Bell Handle,” his first known story.

When he was JUST 16, he joined the staff of his brother’s news bureau. At 18, his first signed article was published! At 19, his story “Great Bugs of Onondaga” was published in two newspapers; he then decided to leave school to devote himself to working as a reporter and writer.

And when did his classic novel The Red Badge of Courage receive publication? In 1895 when Crane was just 24 years old. And it was first turned into a movie in the year 1951- one of a few adaptations.

(Hey Marissa if you’re reading this, I love you just for that SPOT-ON Zelda cosplay) When Marissa Meyer was just 14 when she wrote over forty Sailor Moon fanfics under the penname Alicia Blade. As Alicia Blade, she also had a novelette, “The Phantom of Linkshire Manor,” published in the gothic romance anthology Bound in Skin.

When Miss Meyer attended Pacific Lutheran University where she sorted mail, carted tables and chairs around campus, and took writing classes, eventually earning a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Children’s Literature. But that wasn’t all! Marissa went on to receive a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University.

Cinder was her debut novel, published in 2012.

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series, as well as a USA Today and international bestselling author.

Get this: Sarah wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just 16! It has now been sold in over thirty languages!

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing.

Pretty amazing list huh?!

Now, here’s the thing: this list is NOT- I repeat NOT– meant to guilt you into becoming a world-famous author by any certain age. It is only meant to help you see that being a teen author can lead to great things if you wish to achieve similar goals.

But do not put pressure on yourself to perform or become a renown author by the time you turn 15, 16, 18 or 81! There is no due date on success. Simply nourish your love for writing and take your time growing. You can achieve your goals at any age but that does not mean you have to achieve them tomorrow, you beautiful sunfish.

For now, while you’re a snazzalicious little pickle, learn to love the explorative stage that comes from creative writing.

I’m sure you will become exactly the writer you wish to be, but be proud of how far you’ve already come and never lose your love for writing! Your favorite authors never did and their passion paid off.

Who are some of your favorite teen authors or authors who started writing young? Are there any I missed that you’d like to give a special shout-out to? Share with me in the comments section below, it means a lot to hear your input! 🙂