We all know how difficult it is to get published. For some, it's not an issue, preferring to remain happy that the books are written for themselves, family and friends. For others, it is a cruel and heartbreaking process. Just about every published author will have a horror story or two to tell the neophytes.
The consistency of 'doom and gloom' comments on the world wide web makes you wonder if publishers are interested in any new author, or any new spin on an old tale. This, of course, simply scares the newbie and makes them wonder if it's all worth while.
If you're shy about your work, forget it - you'll never take the criticism. If your certain your work is fresh and new, you might not understand why it keeps getting rejected. And even published authors are receiving rejections. It's all so depressing.
There are support groups, but finding them is difficult, as are finding an appropriate writer's circle or critiquing group. So what do you do?
First, never, ever give up the dream of becoming published. Writing, as I've said before, is an ongoing learning process and no book is ever perfect.
Second, find some pithy aphorisms. Something that will lift your spirits and keep you at it. Here are some that I have spread out around my work station:
If you don't write it, who will?
There is no book fairy; what you want will not magically appear.
You can't edit what you haven't written.
And my personal favourite, although I don't know who said it first:
You have no right to keep your imagination to yourself.
It sums up what we all need to hear: that someone out there wants to hear all about the strange worlds that live in our writer's head; and hell, why not share them? Every other published author out there is sharing theirs.
(I also have a roundtuit, for, you know...)
What are some of your affirmations?
No comments:
Post a Comment