As I’ve commented in other posts, there is a fine line between being determined and being stubborn when it comes to carrying on with writing.

Generally, people describe you as determined if you’re doing something they approve of, and stubborn if you’re persisting with a task they consider foolish. And, what of being tenacious?

One thing that’s sure with the business side of traditional publishing, starting with getting an agent, is that no one else is going to do it for you. Even more self-reliance is needed should an author go the self-publishing route to getting their book into readers’ hands.

When my spirits start to flag, I remind myself of William Saroyan‘s observation:

‘Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators.’

It’s tempting to think that published authors have it easy, so it was revealing to read of the struggles that Caroline Leavitt went through. Her attitude to being rejected, and the importance of having a supportive community, are inspirational:

Caroline Leavitt: Portrait of a modern novelist – The Writer