A to Z Blogging Challenge: P

The 2013 A to Z Blogging Challenge is rolling along. Don't get stressed if you're not keeping up with visits and comments. Just do the best you can. You might not have time to visit everyone on the list. It's okay.  Below is my offering of writing advice and something I feel I already do in my part time career as an author but I will do it even more.

P: Persistence. We do some character education as part of our drug education unit at my school. One of our emphasis is on the characteristics of successful people. Number one is persistence. Successful people don't give up. They try and try, and then try again.

I queried dozens of agents and editors until I found a small press who wanted to publish my first romance novel. After having four romance novels published by small presses, I wrote my first fantasy novel. Again I searched and searched and this time earned a contract with a medium sized publisher. Then that publisher decided they were changing directions after they published my second book. I didn't want to change with them so I took that four book series back from them and self pubbed it. Now I've found another independent press to publish my second fantasy series and have also had three more romance novels published by the wonderful small press who believed in me first. I'm not on the USA today bestsellers list but I'm not giving up. I'll never give up.

Are you persistent? What frustrations have made you want to give up?

D: Doggedness Beats Insecurity

D:  It's double down day with the A to Z Challenge and The Insecure Writer's Support Group.  I picked a topic using a word that is more from my parent's time than a contemporary word but the meaning crosses generations.

Many people have story ideas in their heads. Most writers start out with a great love of story telling demonstrated by hours of reading and enjoying the written word.  But to move from that love to actually writing down story ideas takes a great level of persistence, or as my mom would say, doggedness.  It is work.

As a high school teacher, one of the things I preach to my students is the importance of perseverance as a character trait.  It certainly helps in any career but I think it has to be one of the major factors separating published authors and those who are not.  Sometimes reaching that goal takes years and the strength of purpose of even the most determined can be tested.  Don't ever, ever give up.  Work like a dog.

Are you a hardworking dog? Are you confident you can reach your goals if you keep at it?