Join Alex J. Cavanaugh and a multitude of writer's in this monthly hop to help support one another!
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Alex's awesome co-hosts are Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Patricia Lynne, Juneta Key, and Doreen McGettigan!
July 5 Question: What is one valuable lesson you've learned
since you started writing?
**PERSEVERANCE**
is a valuable lesson.
Once you begin your story, you are a writer. It doesn't matter what genre or if you write flash fiction, short stories, articles, or novels. If you wish to pursue traditional publishing, small independent presses, or self-publishing, it can be quite daunting.
The lonely and long hours you put into your work and self-sacrificing your time can be a joy and/or a drudgery. You need to persevere.
It's your first draft, and you type those phenomenal two words: *THE END* But really it's the beginning. A second draft, a third draft, editing, revising, beta readers and so on...persistence.
Then if you seek an agent or submit to publishing houses it's another path filled with road blocks of disappointments and rejections.
But my mantra is: "It only takes one YES" and for that one yes you need: **PERSEVERANCE**
Great post :-)
ReplyDeletePersevering is the only chance for success, because guaranteed quitting won't achieve it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely
DeleteAgreed! Without that willingness to dig deep and keep on when it's tough, writers never get too far!
ReplyDeleteRight
DeleteYes! I think it's been said that nothing is possible without perseverance. We'll maybe, but only in cases of extreme luck.
ReplyDeleteTrue
DeleteThe end is definitely just the beginning - and we have to stick it out to the end.
ReplyDeleteYesh.
DeleteYep, have to keep on keeping on and then some. Perseverance is the way.
ReplyDeleteI'll just say, ditto for me!
ReplyDeleteLOL.
DeleteOh yes indeed. Perseverance is one of the major keys that a writer needs. The interesting thing about a writer's career is that we never know how long it will take for our breakthrough. So we persevere until and after it happens.
ReplyDeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat G at Everything Must Change
Yes, we must.
DeleteSo true. It's a longer journey than most could imagine with very few, if any, shortcuts.
ReplyDeleteVery long...
DeleteLove that digging doggie! That's how I feel some days, digging away at my keyboard.
ReplyDeleteWonderful truth! Perseverance is tough, but it's worthwhile to us as writers and as human beings.
ReplyDeleteyes.
DeleteI saw a quote today that read, "I want to see what happens if I don't give up." I loved that!
ReplyDeleteMe too!!! :)
DeleteLike your mantra.
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thank you.
DeleteHi, Cathrina...
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. It is ESSENTIAL for any writer today.
AMEN to that! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat word choice. Hanging in there despite everything isn't easy, but that's how books get published. :)
ReplyDeleteAmen to digging deep:)
ReplyDeleteyou said it! can't give up!
ReplyDeleteand wanted to ask your advice on the facebook parties, you said you've done a few?? would love to hear your thoughts, dos & donts if you have time!
thanks!
Tara Tyler Talks
Oh yes, perseverance is key. Never give up! :)
ReplyDeletePerseverance is a big thing for a writer. It doesn't matter how much talent you have if you don't have perseverance.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteI completely agree, Cathrina. We can't succeed in anything in life without the power of perseverance. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's so, so true. If we don't persevere, then we won't get far.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely true, and in this climate of marketing, we have to persevere in other regards even after "yes."
ReplyDeleteHi Cathrina, I was thrilled to see your comment on my Wed. July IWSG post. I wanted to visit your site immediately. For some reason the link in the reply box (to your site) was missing.
ReplyDeleteNext, I went to the IWSG Sign-up page and found "Constantine." Fantastic, now I had a link to your site. I wrote a comment & clicked "Publish." Guess what? my comment went poof and vanished!
It took a bit of perseverance, but here I am again. I've learned a thing or two on this journey, so this time I've copied my message to TextEdit just in case this note falls into a black hole.
I thoroughly enjoy our monthly Wed. blog hops. I believe visiting a person's site after they have been kind enough to visit our site allows us to share a special gift: an introduction to writer we might not otherwise meet.
Thank you for visiting and reminding me to persevere.