/Dd/ is for Determination

Aspiring to be a writer of children’s books as I am, takes a healthy dose of determination amongst other things. Seeking honest and ‘meaty’ feedback is essential if you want to improve. When you write a story you are totally in your own head. You need others’ opinions to see what is working and what isn’t. What you think is a story that works may not actually be viewed in the same way by other readers.

I have always viewed this feedback in a positive light. I see it as a way of improving my writing. You can’t afford to be precious about your work. Instead you have to trust the process and open your mind to a different way of looking at ideas and your writing. Then you need to re-write and re-work your manuscript, sometimes time and time again. And if you believe in your story and like it enough to keep going, you have to be determined to make it the best that you can.

You also need to be prepared for rejection from publishers. This rejection may come in the form of silence. You submit a manuscript but hear nothing. And often publishers will state upfront something like, ‘if you don’t hear from us in six months, assume that you have been unsuccessful this time.’ It has to be this way because publishers are incredibly busy people. Sometimes you might get a rejection email, which is actually pretty good! I’m chuffed if I get one of those!

The main thing about rejection is that you can’t take it personally. There can be dozens of reasons why your manuscript was rejected. Even established authors get rejections from time to time.

Did you know that JK Rowling’s book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was rejected by twelve different publishing houses? Thank goodness that she was determined to fulfill her dream!

If you want to be an author you have to be determined. You have to keep writing, keep seeking feedback and keep learning. If you don’t write, you can’t be a writer!