Have you ever...?

Yes.

I could have written your post. Yes, I'm scared my stuff is "dreck." Yes, I feel like, after more than a year, I should have got "a break" by now. Yes, I think I might be destined to write drivel. Yes, I believe getting published is a long and arduous journey.

I'm sure I was absolutely no help to you whatsoever. Let's keep on keeping on anyway, okay? Here on this road to nowhere.

Don't give up. My first novel started off as a serial web story on the Sci Fi channel's web site. After that I tried turning it into a real book and it was rejected by every major publisher. We got a lot of "funny but not for us." I figured I had my shot and that was that I was all set to go back to graduate school get a Ph.D. in something and have a nice normal life. Then one day on a whim I sent the novel to a new e-publisher. On a whim they emailed me back saying they had read the story on the sci fi channel's site and would love to publish it. It became their best selling ebook until some guy named Stephen King wrote "Riding the Bullet." It knocked me off the e-charts, but the guys at the e-publisher gave the book to the managing editor (and owner) of Daw books she liked it and bought it and now I'm on books 5-7.

Don't let the doubts occupy your mind. Keep writing and keep focused on what you want. Sometimes you just need a little luck.

Sending some good luck your way............

You're feeling dejected after spending less than a year trying to get your writing published? Haven't we heard stories of famous writers waiting for seven, ten years before getting their first break?

One of my favourite contemporary writers spent two years writing his first novel, then trashed it completely and rewrote it from scratch. It was an international success.

You are not allowed to give up so soon, FF. Keep at it. Best wishes and loads of good vibes for you.

Sury

If your prof gives you compliments on your writing, surely there is talent. Are there maybe other things you've overlooked such as doing research, I don't know...
or is this simply about feelings?

Odile

You have a choice to make, either you buckle down for the long haul or give up now because the way into the industry isn't a quick one. JK Rowlings spent years developing, writing, and then marketing Harry Potter, well over five.

I myself have written five full novels and have found that as my writing improves, I need to either trash them or rewrite them because I really have grown that much. It has taken me nearly six years to learn how to write well enough to possibly sell, I will know in March whether or not that is true.

It takes time, patience, and a heck of a lot of work to make it. You'll hear of those who became almost an overnight sensation, but that does not show how much effort they put into their writing before sitting down to write their book, the time in research, the learning curb (which is unique to everyone by the way), inherent talent, and the list goes on.

I would step back for a while if I were you and find out if this is what you want and if you will do anything to get it (By anything I mean the work and time involved). This isn't a jump in and make instant waves kind of business, the wheels turn slow on both sides. If you want to up your chances of getting published, write, every day, get critiques, and improve your writing, there is always room for improvement.

Most authors you see on shelves took years and stacks of rejections and several books written before they got there. Stephen King took four novels and several rejections before he made it on top of several years of trying. If you start out with writing above his (And you can't be the judge of that we are terrible judges of our own work) then you may need less than that.

Individual mileage varies in this industry but more likely than not it will take time, and lots of practice.

The choice of yours.

It's a long process. After 6 years of full time writing, I'm only now just beginning to call myself a novice writer and even then I still feel kind of weird. I'm hoping I've only scratched the surface of my ability. (I think my agent and publishers are hoping the same thing. ;-) )

oarsman said:

Don't let the doubts occupy your mind. Keep writing and keep focused on what you want. Sometimes you just need a little luck.

Sending some good luck your way............

Click to expand...

I agree. (How profound is that?!)
And keep reading as much as you can on writing.

I'm freelancing (well, trying, at least) for magazines. It's a long and sometimes painful process. But I just had a piece published in the Chicago Tribune, so I know you'll get there too!

It's a process of endurance, if you have some degree of talent and lots of persistence you can succeed.