I'm the guest blogger today!
(Disclaimer- I am not judging anyone who doesn't wish to be published this is just my perception)
I've been skimming the chat on the Pro Ask an Author loop about Perseverance. This seems to be the biggest thing you need to have going for you to become published (aside from some writing/storytelling) talent.
You have to be able to persevere past the rejections, the contest judges criticism, even the criticism or critiques of your critique partners. You have to have an open mind and take it all in, shuffle it around, and then put it to use in your writing.
You have to be willing to keep on writing and honing your skills to get any where in this business. It is the perseverance to keep on putting yourself out there in a story. To work your butt off through revisions.
You, the writer, have to want to write so bad you ache inside if you can't get that story on paper, or you become so crabby when you don't have time to write, your family is ready to swap you for the old lady down the street who makes brownies.
If writing isn't as fundamental to you as air, water, and chocolate - then you may not have the perseverance to become a published author. It's not to say you won't write and keep on writing, but unless you take the time and find the means to continue to better your writing, you will never obtain a goal of becoming published or finding an agent.
So do you have the perseverance to become published or land an agent? Are those your goals?
3 comments:
Paty--Good blog. Good questions. Because not all writers will end up published. Not all dreams are the same. Not every dream is satisfied in the same manner. I obviously have the perseverance it takes to be published, but I don't have what it takes to be famous. There are all sorts of levels and goals and I might argue that if a person does not have the perseverance to be published, perhaps it is not really their goal. Perhaps their goal is different, perhaps their voice does not fit this society's take on what people want to read. Perhaps they will find satisfaction with their writing in a hundred different ways.
Will miss you tonight...
Alice
I do have what it takes, though I get discouraged at times and my gumption wanes. But not for long.
I've been publishing in one form or another since I was 14. I'm addicted to seeing my byline. My name on the cover of a book to personify all the hard work and determination between the covers would be icing.
We missed you last night.
Great blog, Paty.
I think perseverance is key in this business. Those that don't have it are the ones that will throw in the towel.
Everyone gets discouraged. It's hard not to in this business. It's being able to move past that and stay focused on your goal that's key.
And yes, I have the perseverance to be published. ;)
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