Don’t be discouraged by rejection

1 Comment »24th August, 2013; Category: Authors, Books, Novels, Poetry, The Writer's Life

Like all writers, I’ve had my fair share of rejections.

Not every editor will love every piece of writing you submit, whether that is a novel, non-fiction article, poem or short story. It goes with the territory. Rejection is a fact of the writer’s life. It’s a lesson the new writer needs to learn quickly. Accept it, get over it, submit the piece of writing elsewhere and get on with the latest work in progress.

Persistence will pay off in the long run.

My attention was recently drawn recently to the following article: 9 Famous Authors Rejected by Publishers. Click on the link and have a read; some of these famous writers who were initially rejected might surprise you. In fact, one of them, C.S. Lewis, was rejected 800 times before seeing anything in print. He persisted and now has over 100 million books in print, not to mention the film and television adaptations of his works.

Good writing – and don’t give up.

Becoming a professional writer

No Comments »13th February, 2009; Category: Goal setting, The Writer's Life, Writers

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”

~ Richard Bach

If you are a writer struggling with the dream of becoming a professional writer, don’t quit.

Persistence is the key, and hard work. Set some firm goals for today, this week, this month, this year and for the next five years. Write down these goals – then go for them. Don’t even think about quitting.

Word by word, chapter by chapter, story by story, poem by poem you will become a professional writer.

You may not reap fame or fortune – very few do. Most professional writers who diligently pursue their dreams make a reasonable living from their labours.

And while you are becoming a professional writer you will have the satisfaction that you are doing what you love – writing.

Good writing.

The secret of becoming a published writer

1 Comment »4th February, 2009; Category: The Writer's Life

If you want to be a published author here’s the secret. Walk over to your desk. Sit on your seat. Now write. And write some more. And keep writing.

I’m not sure where I found this quote but there is quite a large dollop of truth in that quote. You see, it takes persistence to become a published writer. Hour after hour, day after day, month after month, year after year. There are no short cuts.

Many people are in enchanted with the idea of being a writer, but faced with the sheer effort of writing day after day until they have 50, 100 or 200 thousand words, their dreams fade.

As in many pursuits, there is no secret to success. Hard work, persistence and never giving up are all ingredients to becoming a published writer.

Now – if the dream to be a published writer is still burning brightly, go over to your desk, sit down and start writing.

Good writing – and I guarantee that your hard work and persistence will see you become a published writer.