Finding success as a writer

Three keys to finding success as a writer:

One: Believe in your writing.

Two: Take chances.

Three: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

If you've written something and you think it's good enough to be published some place, find that place. It's out there, you just have to look.

Once you find that place, submit it.

If it comes back, don't give up. Rejection is inevitable. Maybe it wasn't the right place. Maybe it was the right place but it wasn't the right time. Don't get discouraged, start over and find another place.

If they ask you to change it, change it. If they want more, give 'em more. If they want it cut, cut it. Sometimes a few changes or additions or cuts can make the difference between getting published and not getting published. A little extra work can pay dividends.

A few months ago, I wrote a piece on this blog titled "Putting a Cork in the Whine." I let it sit for awhile, but at the back of my mind there was the thought that it could be published some place. One day I stumbled upon a place that I thought it might fit. I took a chance and submitted. A couple weeks later I got a response. They liked it but wanted a little more. So I beefed it up a bit and resubmitted it.

The pay-off for putting in a little extra work? See for yourself in the current issue of Absolute Write.

Comments

[Christina D]

Hi Randy--people have been reading your article from Absolute Writes and love it. They're not leaving comments, but sending me e-mails telling me.

Great job! And I loved your encouragement. It's absolutely true.

Hope you have a great day!

Chris (from Chicago Writes Assoc--the southsider)