Monday, May 17, 2010

Through the Opera Glasses - 58 - Never Give Up













You may know I've had a wonderful run of great luck in winning blog contests. I have had untold packages arrive at my house in the four years I've been blogging, all from fellow bloggers who have offered prizes on their blogs.

A little while ago, I received How I Got Published from Claudia at On a Limb With Claudia.


It's a really inspirational collection of stories from published writers on what it took for them personally to finally hold their books in their hands.

I'd like to share this passage with you, written by one of the editors of the book, Ray White:

"Never surrender, never give up, never quit. Those aren't just words to get published by; they're words to live by.

Less than one percent of writers get published in book-length fiction or nonfiction. Now I am absolutely, positively making these statistics up (though I did extrapolate them from all those agent Web sites where they claim to reject 99 percent of all submissions.)

As Yoda said, 'Do, or do not. There is no try.'

Let rejection roll off your back and even go so far as to see each rejection as another step toward success."


Janet says Thanks for sharing that today, Julia! Great inspiration.

Anne MacFarlane says Great post this morning, Julia. I know I'll only stop trying when I'm dead. Not even then really, because I've left instructions for my kids to shop those MSs around.

Ms Snarky Pants says I'll never stop writing, but one day I may just stop trying to get published. It's too degrading. LOL

6 comments:

Janet said...

Thanks for sharing that today, Julia! Great inspiration.

Unknown said...

Great post this morning, Julia. I know I'll only stop trying when I'm dead. Not even then really, because I've left instructions for my kids to shop those MSs around.

Lesley Speller said...

I'll never stop writing, but one day I may just stop trying to get published. It's too degrading. LOL

Naquillity said...

congrats on your latest blog win. your book gives great advice. though i don't know that i want to publish as i already see myself self published through my blog, grin... have a great day.

scotialassie said...

Thanks for blogging and blogging and blogging and not stopping. Your blogs are always either informative, entertaining and/or inspirational.

Travis Cody said...

I sometimes look at becoming a published writer or poet like it's that thing you catch a glimpse of out of the corner of your eye, but when you try to look right at it, it's not there.

Then I blow a big wet raspberry at it and move on to the next idea.