Perseverance

WIthout it, forget it. That is if you're without connections in the publishing world. If you aren't a celebrity, the usual line is that publishers are very hesitant to take a chance on you. Even if you wrote a great book. Even if your writing is way better than that of others who have been published. It's just a big risk that publishers don't want to take. They want to make money. Period.

And who can blame them? They aren't in the business to produce great literature, after all. Nope. None of them. You could write the greatest book in a long time, and the chances of never getting it published are against you, if only because no one ever heard of you. If it's your debut novel, finding a publisher is like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. The only chance you have of finding that needle is if you keep looking. Eventually, you may find it. You may not, but you'll never know if you don't at least try.

The time spent in trying might stretch beyond your tolerance. You may throw your hands up in frustration. Especially when you see less talented people find that publisher, and reap the rewards of recognition. You might say to yourself that your book is way better, your writing superior, your ideas, more clever, and you're probably right.

So persevere. It's the only chance you have. And when it does happen, don't pat yourself on the back too much. In my opinion, it was more about luck and timing. You already knew your writing was excellent, your book, great. That was required from the start. Without that, you shouldn't be writing a book. No, it was timing and luck. Here's to wishing all of you that luck, and may your timing, also, be right.