Lucas, I realize that you're young and are still finding your way, but dude....what you ought to do is stop viewing everything as a 'career' and just do it for fun.  If it turns into a job, then that's wonderful.

I think that you'll find that it's not as easy as 'working your way up'.  There's unions that you HAVE to join and be a member of, and in order to get a membership you have to have so many stage hours or appearances under your belt - but the people who'll hire you without that union card are few and far between, so it's a bit of a catch 22.  (That's the way it used to be anyway, I'm not sure if things have changed...but either way it's not as simple as you think it is).

In the world of acting , there is no being 'set'.  You have to audition, you have to schelp here there and everywhere, and all around you are people who want the exact same thing as you do - that one big break.  We're not talking about major motion pictures either, we're talking about TV commercial parts that are just as hotly contested as any Hollywood movie.

The best thing for you to do is to start out with your local amateur dramatics society.  See what they've got going on, get your feet wet on their stage.  That's where I'd start, anyway.

I have a question for you, and don't take this the wrong way....why is it that every 'career' you want to try involves some sort of noteriety?  First it was football, then it was writing novels, now it's acting.  What's wrong with accounting or nursing or teaching?  I mean, by all means shoot as high as you want to....but just be aware that everyone fails sometimes....and the higher you shoot, the further you have to fall if you fail.

You know, I think I have the perfect career for you: journalism.  It would hone the writing skills you want to develop, and you could use it to report both football AND actors.  Whaddya think?

If you're really, really interested,

I have fun dancing.  Doesn't mean I'm good enough to be a choreographer.