You Need The Struggle

Stephanie here.

Something I've noticed in my years of interacting with aspiring writers is that universally the process of getting published feels daunting. I've been in that place. It's normal to doubt that being published will ever happen for you. We all do that. And even once you're published, you might wonder if you'll ever be published again.

I've noticed, however, that aspiring writers tend to fall into two categories when they're asking me questions:

Category one:

Why can't I just send in my manuscript to publishers? That would be a lot easier.

Unless you're a personal friend of James Patterson, it's impossible to get published.

My friend self-published on Amazon, and it only took her a week. That's a lot better than putting up with all the waiting agents and editors make you do.

Category two:

What writers conferences are worth attending?

Here's the pitch I've prepare for my story. What do you think of it?

Do you think there's a market for a story about vampire clowns in the old west?

Edits are taking me forever. How long does it take you to edit a book?

Category one writers are all about finding an easier way because getting published just feels too hard. I certainly don't believe everyone needs to be pursuing publication, or that writing is only worthwhile if you sell your manuscript, or that you aren't a real writer unless a publishing house says you are. But I do think there's value in going all out when you're pursuing something hard. 

Which is why this quote stuck out to me:

"All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today." -Pope Paul VI

As a writer, you know that it would be a very boring story indeed if you simply handed your character everything they needed and wanted as soon as they asked for it. With the hard work you put into your stories, you're not only becoming a better writer, but a better person too.

Write on!