I've pondered these questions a bit lately. How do you know when to hold 'em? Know when to fold 'em? Know when to walk away? Anyway, you catch my drift. I've written a lot over the last few years. One thing I don't have a problem with is finishing a story from beginning to end. Now, that certainly doesn't mean they're good, or that they work, or that they're long enough. At the end, there are often a lot of problems with each one. With three of them, I actually went so far as to edit, polish and submit with no luck. Each time, I tabled the manuscript after a few rejections and then I moved on to the next.
Did I do the right thing? I don't know. I read recently about Kathryn Stockett's tenacity in submitting The Help. Trust me, you have to read it here. After 60 rejections and 5 years (5 freaking years!), she finally got an agent and sold the book and the rest is history. She wrote she simply could not give up on this book. I haven't felt that yet. Haven't had that kind of passion and confidence in a story. I have plenty of passion for writing. It's my sanity. As I've said before, I do it because I have to. I'm a writer. I now wear that label proudly, but...How do I know which one is my The Help?
I would never think myself as talented as Ms. Stockett. That's not what I'm getting at. I just want to feel the commitment to one story she felt. I want to work and work and make better until I get to my ultimate goal-to be published.
Maybe some day. For now, I guess I'll hold 'em and see what happens.
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