I’ve been fortunate enough to have a handful of things published. Some journalism, essays, poetry, and fiction. Even got some paychecks. But, I admit, sending stuff out is hard.
As an unknown author, you are a pebble on the beach—so very many people want to be writers. Editors are getting mountains of submissions. The odds of them publishing your piece, finding it to be one of the very few they choose as “good enough” to see print and write you a check for? Not good odds. Not at all.
You have to believe in what you’re doing. You have to love it most of the time. You have to be ready for rejection.
I say this to myself, as my submissions lately have been few and far between.
Voices of encouragement are hard to come by. Sometimes one must encourage oneself.
Self: “Submit, I tell you! Just do it!”
(I will not admit to having slapped myself just then. I won’t do it.)
Write on, then, fellow writers. Write your best. Then send it out into the ether and get to work on your next brilliant piece while you’re waiting to hear about the fate of the other.
Do it.
