Hi Helen, thank you. I’m very grateful that you have taken the time to comment. Yes, persistence and resilience have always had a place in my life. Even more so now as I near the last year of my counselling qualifications and have since had my second book published. Most writers I know struggle with something and for each individual writer that “something” will be different. Of course, even the idea of “making it” will be different for each writer too. Perhaps a writer might not experience either of these qualities to have success. However, I’m yet to meet a writer that hasn’t had to develop a healthy attitude to rejection or self-doubt and that in itself fosters the need to be resilient. Resilience may happen naturally for some and for others it may need to be developed. Even when a writer is self-published there are still issues to be faced. The commitment to write a good story, self-promotion, having a healthy amount of self-efficacy and self-esteem, building on their abilities to step out of their comfort zone and coping with nerves at public speaking events. For some writers this will require persistence… if at first you don’t succeed try and try again. http://www.vacentaylor.com/what-makes-you-a-confident-writer-part-1/
To answer your question about self-publishing: Yes, and I may self-publish in the future. I have the third book in a series of seven to finish for Odyssey Books. I also have an Australian story completed and a sci-fi novel in the last draft stage. I may self-publish one these. I’m also collaborating with another Australian author to produce our first screenplay, an adaption of my Australian story. There is no better time to be a creative in the world. 🙂

Great post! Completely agree with you when you say “success without a struggle may rob a writer of two important abilities: to be persistent and to have resilience”.

I’d argue that you’re not going to ‘make it’ as a writer without those two qualities, and it’s important to hang on to them, even after success.

May I ask: did you ever consider self-publishing when the other publishers fell through?

I also just want to say: Congratulations on your first publishing contract! It’s inspiring to see it happening for other authors! All the best with your book!

– Helen

Thanks Avery. 🙂 I really do appreciate it.

Thank you for the congratulations,Ciara. Thanks also for taking the time to comment.

I’m happy to read that you agree with my thoughts about success. ‘success without a struggle may rob a writer of two important abilities: to be persistent and to have resilience’ This was true for me. The journey towards being publishing needed both persistence and resilience. 🙂

Thanks Lorna. You’ve done some exceptional writing yourself. 🙂

I very much agree with your statement ‘success without a struggle may rob a writer of two important abilities: to be persistent and to have resilience’.

On avg, I think traditionally published authors are more likely to have these qualities than indie authors – which is not to say indie authors can’t have those qualities, only that a greater proportion of them don’t.

Self-publishing is success (if you define success solely as being published) without the struggle (even though it has its own challenges), and I think persistence and resilience are two important qualities any author of any stripe should have.

Congratulations on being persistent enough and resilient enough to get this far.

Hi Trish,

Thanks for the kind words.

I’m so pleased to read your manuscript is ready for submission. Never give up! Good luck!

I’ll keep you updated on the process. My book is due to be released in March. 🙂

Vacen T