Monte Burch is one of the nation's leading writers. He works in many different genres and is both a book publisher as well as a magazine writer. Monte is one of the most widely-read and prolific freelance writers in the nation.

QUESTION: What advice would you give to a young writer?

ANSWER: First of all, a college education is becoming more important that it ever has been. Today, the gap is widening between people who "have and have not" earned college degrees. This is a key, whether you're a writer or not.

QUESTION: How critical is earning a degree in a particular field to become a writer?

ANSWER: I don't think you have to have a certain kind of degree to be successful. I've known writers who write in fields that they've known nothing about but have been able to learn the information they need. One of the things you've told me, John, is that you can't be an expert in everything, but you can find someone else who is. That's a major key to success, and is basically what you call "reporter writing." There's a bigger market for that type of writing than anything else.

QUESTION: What do you say to the writer who only wants to write what he wants to write?

ANSWER: Well, he or she won't be able to write what he wants and sell it. He has to learn to write. Then as he learns, he'll discover he can learn to write anything and sell it.

QUESTION: So, you recommend that a writer write about any subject to get started?

ANSWER: Yes, anything because what you write about doesn't make a difference. If you're not writing, at least start a local newspaper column.

Check back each day this week for more from Monte Burch...

• Day 1 - In The Beginning
• Day 2 - Becoming Successful
• Day 3 - Writing For Magazines and Books
• Day 4 - Advice And Earning A Degree
• Day 5 - Life's Treatment
• Writer's Page