I think this has to be a question most beginning writers sit down and ask themselves at some point: Why am I not published yet?
Have you tried? Have you been madly submitting with no results? Have you just decided it's not worth pursuing with so many self-publishing avenues available?
I'll add what I've been reading a lot recently that may seem like a "duh" answer: I don't finish anything.
With the exception of one novella and a handful of short stories, I've never actually really finished anything I write. I'll venture to say this is probably most everyone's problem here. We all know the publishing industry is selective and sometimes it takes years to get picked up. Some people probably never make it to a publisher of any kind. I can't see how that's possible if you have at least some talent, a unique vision, and a lot (I mean a lot) of time at the keyboard/pen and pad.
Is getting published really a Sisyphean climb? Or is the world too clouded with distractions to get something done? That's my problem. That's why I don't necessarily claim to be a novel writer since I haven't ever finished a novel.
I don't get writer's block. I just quit.
Do any of you have this problem? Do you want to do something about it?
Here's your chance.
Let's make a blood pact (digitally). Who wants to take up this challenge? Which of us will get published first by 2014?
I don't want to be a failed writer anymore. I don't want anymore aborted novels. I don't want to keep going on to a "shinier idea." I want to finish something. So at least then I'll have a chance.
So here in this thread. Make this oath:
1. I will finish something.
2. I will get it published by 2014.
3. Even if this isn't realistic, I will still try.
4. I'm tired of failing.
5. I will submit it to (insert publishing house here) and if they don't want it then I'll try (insert publishing house here) and then if that doesn't work (insert publishing house here). Then if those three don't want my novel, then, and only then, I'll start writing something else.
I hope this at least motivates someone else.
Let's tell our stories come hell or high water.
Have you tried? Have you been madly submitting with no results? Have you just decided it's not worth pursuing with so many self-publishing avenues available?
I'll add what I've been reading a lot recently that may seem like a "duh" answer: I don't finish anything.
With the exception of one novella and a handful of short stories, I've never actually really finished anything I write. I'll venture to say this is probably most everyone's problem here. We all know the publishing industry is selective and sometimes it takes years to get picked up. Some people probably never make it to a publisher of any kind. I can't see how that's possible if you have at least some talent, a unique vision, and a lot (I mean a lot) of time at the keyboard/pen and pad.
Is getting published really a Sisyphean climb? Or is the world too clouded with distractions to get something done? That's my problem. That's why I don't necessarily claim to be a novel writer since I haven't ever finished a novel.
I don't get writer's block. I just quit.
Do any of you have this problem? Do you want to do something about it?
Here's your chance.
Let's make a blood pact (digitally). Who wants to take up this challenge? Which of us will get published first by 2014?
I don't want to be a failed writer anymore. I don't want anymore aborted novels. I don't want to keep going on to a "shinier idea." I want to finish something. So at least then I'll have a chance.
So here in this thread. Make this oath:
1. I will finish something.
2. I will get it published by 2014.
3. Even if this isn't realistic, I will still try.
4. I'm tired of failing.
5. I will submit it to (insert publishing house here) and if they don't want it then I'll try (insert publishing house here) and then if that doesn't work (insert publishing house here). Then if those three don't want my novel, then, and only then, I'll start writing something else.
I hope this at least motivates someone else.
Let's tell our stories come hell or high water.