When should I start writing a serious book?

[Allittakesisaspark]

It has always been a dream of mine to become a writer when I grow up, and I have always enjoyed writing from a young age. I have this condition, pretty sure it's called maladaptive daydreaming, where I just get lost in my thoughts a lot of the time, and this is where my story ideas generally come from. I use these thoughts to create short stories and sometimes just small paragraphs. I've never let anyone read my writing, as I often include dark themes.

Although, I am afraid of what my family would think if they read my writing. It usually includes explicit language, violence, romance, etc and it can get pretty intense My brother already calls me "messed up" and stuff, and the thought of my parents knowing how dark I can be, especially in writing, always holds me back. I'm always ashamed when people I know read what I write.

Am I old enough to start writing a real book? Should I wait before I start writing more seriously? What should I do? Any advice is welcome- thank you for the help.
I'm currently 17

 

[SanjeE]

Go ahead and write. No one gives a damn how old you are, they only care if you have an interesting story.

 

[Hazel]

Well I've been writing seriously since thirteen. At least I thought I was being serious then. Of course now, I think I was rather silly. The point, there is no age to start writing seriously. When you feel serious about it, then that's your cue.

In my point of view, why wait? If you have an idea and you feel serious about your writing, I don't see why you should hold it off. Every single thing I write is serious. Sometimes when I look back on it, I realize it's not "the one." But I was still serious about writing it.

It's never too soon to start writing a novel. If nothing else it becomes practice.
My advice is, don't wait. Go for it now. Seriously, what do you have to lose by trying? For me, being serious about writing isn't necessarily a choice, you feel it, or you don't.