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Originally Posted by Lhundulinwen
Just because you aren't published or have published very little, you ARE a writer, not an aspiring writer as long as you have written something just because you wanted to lately. (not counting high school english assignments- or college!)
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Well said! If you write, you're a writer. And make sure you submit because, as someone once said, even rejection slips prove you're a writer. Only writers get them. And don't worry you may be "ripping off" Tolkien. For one thing, every new writer is inspired by *someone*. You develop your own style as you go. For another, let's face it, Tolkien created many things have become standard, even cliched in fantasy fiction, so how can you help it?
Mind you, I still recommend Diana Wynne Jones' TOUGH GUIDE TO FANTASYLAND, which has fun with those cliches and can help you avoid being (negatively) compared with JRR.