Keep your chin up

Without wanting to sound too much like my April Fool's Day blog entry, I have begun to feel a little down about my own writing recently. I am acutely aware that I'm not actually writing, and this isn't writer's block, because that is a case of sitting there, and not having a single idea about how to proceed. With this, I'm not even getting to the sitting down part.

I found a new blog today, A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, and this entry has lifted my spirits a little. It is amazing how some simple phrases can be enough to do it for you. These are my favourites.

There's a word for a writer who never gives up... published

You have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than landing a publishing deal. But understanding the market and working to improve your craft can have the same effect as climbing a tree in a thunderstorm, carrying a long iron rod.

No one is entitled to anything.

Don't compare yourself to other writers. Nothing good can come of it.

Maybe you can't win. But you sure can try.

But far and away the most important bit of advice given is this:

Write when you can. Finish what you start. Edit what you finish. Submit what you've edited. Repeat.