Agree vehemently with Shifra that "success" (no matter what we say, the implication is publication, and book publication at that) comes to those who persist. It is simply not true, not a guarantee. There are many, many wonderful AND persistent published and unpublished writers I know who are finding traditional publishing increasingly inaccessible. For me, the first best change in my writing life came when I decided to stop submitting for awhile. I truly didn't care about publication, told myself there was a possibility it could never happen (I was focusing on children's publishing)...and asked myself, "Where does this leave me?" I connected with the joy, freedom, creativity, learning, and ability to self-edit that I'd never truly had. Repeated "failures" in attempts to publish polished and even award-winning manuscripts has helped me stay focused on the ultimate success—being the writer I want to be. Sure, I enjoy my lit mag publications. But that "success" feels quite transient. Would I love to see my children's work published? Sure. But when I reach the end of the line, my persistence, resilience, and spirit will be the ultimate success. Do I have to remind myself of this? Sure. But that's where I truly want to keep the focus.
"I connected with the joy, freedom, creativity, learning, and ability to self-edit that I'd never truly had." That sounds like success to me, Carol!! I know a whole lot of people who've achieved tangible successes--books, pubs, awards--and have nothing at all like what you describe here. I think it's marvelous you've found this.
Over four decades of publishing, I've found that success is often unexpected and so is failure/disappointment. A book I thought was a perfect ripped-from-the headlines novel didn't get much traction. A book I had no expectations for has gone past 300,000 copies sold. The examples multiply.....Happy holidays!
This came at a perfect time, as I am in the process of sending out a finished novel and getting mentally prepared for countless rejection slips. Depression was starting as they arrived, knowing that at one time I had won several writing awards and even a scholarship; once told by the Chairwoman of the English Department at The University of Rhode Island that I was "the next Hemingway, " as they had me lecturing adult classes, etc. But bills and thus work awaited while any rejection stopped me cold, like a spoiled child. Now at 67 I've finally completed a novel that I feel great about, but I'm back to square one, jumping hoops to snag an agent. This video really drove it home and I'm back at it with renewed vigor, until every single agent and avenue has been reached. Thank you for a great Christmas gift and have a great New Year. Never give up, this video drives it home with no BS.
After sending over 100 queries in 2007, at last I hooked an agent. She submitted my homecare memoir in 2008 to a dozen editors at traditional publishers. Every single one said no thanks. The memoir relates seven months of homecare and my mom's death with dignity in her own bedroom. No one was willing to touch it. So, the agent dropped me. Since then, I have written three novels and published a short story collection with an indie press. I've learned a lot about the business. In 2007, agents at least responded. Now receiving a response is rare. It says nothing about the quality of the work. Perseverance is indeed important but provides no guarantee. You need luck too. Should writers give up? I don't think so. This weekend I dusted off my memoir and decided to try sending it to indie publishers. You really have to believe in what you are doing and be aware that the writing is only the beginning. Once a book does get edited and published, you need to promote it. You'll need blurbs for the jacket and follow-up reviews so readers know it exists. Since indie presses rarely do promotion, the promotion will be up to you too, unless you are willing to hire a professional promoter. I wish I had known all this back in 2006. There is also the fact that two million books are published in the USA each year now. Two million!
Persistence is vital. I've had great success publishing dozens of personal essays lately, with an average of five rejections to one acceptance, but that's the average. One piece that was experimental in form and blew people away when I did a reading at a local synagogue was rejected over and over. Without a comment. I didn't give up and in the spring it'll even be reprinted by another journal.
Well, I think he needed a good editor, but I guess the point is to drum that message into our heads that we are good and enough and we will succeed in realizing our dreams if we don't give up. I've been working on my memoir for six years now and think of chucking it every week but always come back to it. It won an award as an unpublished manuscript, four chapters have been published in various journals thus far, and I was interviewed by the National Runaway Safeline about the experiences I cover in my memoir, so I must be onto something. Here's to process, not perfection. Woo woo or not, I always appreciate encouragement.
Lol, Polly, I've listened to a lot of his videos. (Not sure they're really him, some I think are computer-generated.) And yes, they are all super repetitive. Haha. But hopefully you do indeed the get the message. Get the message. Get the message...
Every writer has their own path and every book has its own kismet, factors that are totally out of our control. We do have control, though, over how we dedicate ourselves to our work, and when it comes to comparisons, comparing our work to what we've previously achieved or hoped to achieve seems a healthier alternative to invidious comparisons with the work of others.
To be honest, that video was not helpful because he claims that “success” awaits those who persist, that these challenges will in some way lead to this “success.” That is simply not true. But your message was wonderful, Becky. Process not perfection. Writing is hard but a privilege. The validation is in the work itself ~ publication is important but not everything.Thanks, as always, for messages that so exactly kindly and wisely speak to a writer’s predicament, Becky.
I agree. The tried-and-true statement that all you need to do to get published is write a good book simply doesn't apply in a publishing environment where there are 3,000,000 published every year now in the U.S. The work itself can be incredibly validating. I stopped writing my 28th book during the pandemic even though I was sure it was best ever. I didn't have the energy and I was wary about the content inciting a Twitter mob.
Thank you for sharing that video. I liked it. I find things like those important reminders. Sometimes they are things you've heard before, sometimes they are new. But those words can get lost when you are in the trenches and sometimes you think, why am I doing this? Does it even matter? Is it important? Does anyone care? It's important to remember why you started writing in the first place. It's also a reminder to write not to please others or conform to please others. Stay on your path. Learn from your mistakes. Stay true to yourself. Do change if it helps your voice to grow stronger, Keep your integrity. Support others. And enjoy the ride. If certain set paths are not the way for you to be heard, create your own.
Agree vehemently with Shifra that "success" (no matter what we say, the implication is publication, and book publication at that) comes to those who persist. It is simply not true, not a guarantee. There are many, many wonderful AND persistent published and unpublished writers I know who are finding traditional publishing increasingly inaccessible. For me, the first best change in my writing life came when I decided to stop submitting for awhile. I truly didn't care about publication, told myself there was a possibility it could never happen (I was focusing on children's publishing)...and asked myself, "Where does this leave me?" I connected with the joy, freedom, creativity, learning, and ability to self-edit that I'd never truly had. Repeated "failures" in attempts to publish polished and even award-winning manuscripts has helped me stay focused on the ultimate success—being the writer I want to be. Sure, I enjoy my lit mag publications. But that "success" feels quite transient. Would I love to see my children's work published? Sure. But when I reach the end of the line, my persistence, resilience, and spirit will be the ultimate success. Do I have to remind myself of this? Sure. But that's where I truly want to keep the focus.
"I connected with the joy, freedom, creativity, learning, and ability to self-edit that I'd never truly had." That sounds like success to me, Carol!! I know a whole lot of people who've achieved tangible successes--books, pubs, awards--and have nothing at all like what you describe here. I think it's marvelous you've found this.
Very well put, Carol! Reminds me of one of my favorite Rumi poems:
"Try to lose.
Don't do anything for power or influence.
Run into the mind's fire
Play this game because you love,
And the playing is love."
-- Rumi
Over four decades of publishing, I've found that success is often unexpected and so is failure/disappointment. A book I thought was a perfect ripped-from-the headlines novel didn't get much traction. A book I had no expectations for has gone past 300,000 copies sold. The examples multiply.....Happy holidays!
This came at a perfect time, as I am in the process of sending out a finished novel and getting mentally prepared for countless rejection slips. Depression was starting as they arrived, knowing that at one time I had won several writing awards and even a scholarship; once told by the Chairwoman of the English Department at The University of Rhode Island that I was "the next Hemingway, " as they had me lecturing adult classes, etc. But bills and thus work awaited while any rejection stopped me cold, like a spoiled child. Now at 67 I've finally completed a novel that I feel great about, but I'm back to square one, jumping hoops to snag an agent. This video really drove it home and I'm back at it with renewed vigor, until every single agent and avenue has been reached. Thank you for a great Christmas gift and have a great New Year. Never give up, this video drives it home with no BS.
I'm a full send on the woo. Just what I needed! Thanks!
Guess I’ll write those 250 words today.
After sending over 100 queries in 2007, at last I hooked an agent. She submitted my homecare memoir in 2008 to a dozen editors at traditional publishers. Every single one said no thanks. The memoir relates seven months of homecare and my mom's death with dignity in her own bedroom. No one was willing to touch it. So, the agent dropped me. Since then, I have written three novels and published a short story collection with an indie press. I've learned a lot about the business. In 2007, agents at least responded. Now receiving a response is rare. It says nothing about the quality of the work. Perseverance is indeed important but provides no guarantee. You need luck too. Should writers give up? I don't think so. This weekend I dusted off my memoir and decided to try sending it to indie publishers. You really have to believe in what you are doing and be aware that the writing is only the beginning. Once a book does get edited and published, you need to promote it. You'll need blurbs for the jacket and follow-up reviews so readers know it exists. Since indie presses rarely do promotion, the promotion will be up to you too, unless you are willing to hire a professional promoter. I wish I had known all this back in 2006. There is also the fact that two million books are published in the USA each year now. Two million!
Persistence is vital. I've had great success publishing dozens of personal essays lately, with an average of five rejections to one acceptance, but that's the average. One piece that was experimental in form and blew people away when I did a reading at a local synagogue was rejected over and over. Without a comment. I didn't give up and in the spring it'll even be reprinted by another journal.
Well, I think he needed a good editor, but I guess the point is to drum that message into our heads that we are good and enough and we will succeed in realizing our dreams if we don't give up. I've been working on my memoir for six years now and think of chucking it every week but always come back to it. It won an award as an unpublished manuscript, four chapters have been published in various journals thus far, and I was interviewed by the National Runaway Safeline about the experiences I cover in my memoir, so I must be onto something. Here's to process, not perfection. Woo woo or not, I always appreciate encouragement.
Lol, Polly, I've listened to a lot of his videos. (Not sure they're really him, some I think are computer-generated.) And yes, they are all super repetitive. Haha. But hopefully you do indeed the get the message. Get the message. Get the message...
Har har. I love your spirit. You’re on the right track Becky. Thanks for being a good steward of weekly encouragement.
Every writer has their own path and every book has its own kismet, factors that are totally out of our control. We do have control, though, over how we dedicate ourselves to our work, and when it comes to comparisons, comparing our work to what we've previously achieved or hoped to achieve seems a healthier alternative to invidious comparisons with the work of others.
To be honest, that video was not helpful because he claims that “success” awaits those who persist, that these challenges will in some way lead to this “success.” That is simply not true. But your message was wonderful, Becky. Process not perfection. Writing is hard but a privilege. The validation is in the work itself ~ publication is important but not everything.Thanks, as always, for messages that so exactly kindly and wisely speak to a writer’s predicament, Becky.
I agree. The tried-and-true statement that all you need to do to get published is write a good book simply doesn't apply in a publishing environment where there are 3,000,000 published every year now in the U.S. The work itself can be incredibly validating. I stopped writing my 28th book during the pandemic even though I was sure it was best ever. I didn't have the energy and I was wary about the content inciting a Twitter mob.
Thank you for sharing that video. I liked it. I find things like those important reminders. Sometimes they are things you've heard before, sometimes they are new. But those words can get lost when you are in the trenches and sometimes you think, why am I doing this? Does it even matter? Is it important? Does anyone care? It's important to remember why you started writing in the first place. It's also a reminder to write not to please others or conform to please others. Stay on your path. Learn from your mistakes. Stay true to yourself. Do change if it helps your voice to grow stronger, Keep your integrity. Support others. And enjoy the ride. If certain set paths are not the way for you to be heard, create your own.
I would add that challenging your own assumptions contributes to your ultimate success as well.
Yes--and being open to inspiration from everywhere. Henry James advised a young writer: "Try to be someone on whom nothings is lost."
Excellent advice! I’m always surprised by the sources of inspiration that pop up unbidden.