Firstly, when I say “write” I am referring to novel writing only, but with all the bits and pieces, i.e. the editing, re-writing, polishing, over and over again.

Secondly, I already have a literary agent and a market for my books, so I no longer have to spend time on that kind of research. However, I still read a lot in my genre (mostly because I want to) which helps me keep up with trends and the kind of thing that is selling. I invest in the publishing indutry by buying books! I read my reviews, which tell me what works and what doesn’t work with my own readers.

I do at least 5 or 6 thorough rewrites before anyone at all sees the MS. Then I send it out to at least 4 beta readers, and I rework the book on the basis of their comments. Next I have 2 different publisher’s editors (Australian and UK/US) and I rework the book on the basis of their comments too. Then I get comprehensive copy-edits from the two different publishers, and rework the book yet again. I enjoy almost all of it – although there comes a time towards the end of the process when I start to get heartily sick of the particular book I’ve been working on…

Is it work? Of course it is! Difficult? Yes, sometimes. And it’s hard to turn down invitations because I have to work abnormally long hours to achieve what I set out to achieve. But I don’t equate work with unpleasantness. I enjoy work. I have another job as well, which I fortunately enjoy as well, and which gets me out into the field a lot (the rainforest) – and the change between one and the other is like a holiday. So to me, fun and working are pretty much the same thing.

To relax though – that’s different, and necessary. I walk, I spend time with friends, or read a book. Those things are both fun and relaxing.

Of course it’s not wrong to want to be published. And from the sound of it, you have the determination to get there. But do try to enjoy the process as well as the result!

Think of people who play the piano for their own enjoyment. Or knit. Or garden. Or scrapbook. Or any other of a hundred and one hobbies which offer no chance of monetary reward or even recognition. They don’t stop because it is not going anywhere much. Why not? Because they enjoy it. Because they like the finished product.

If they felt it was a waste of time they didn’t have, they’d be mad to continue past the point where they realize it is not going to end up with them being a concert pianist, or producing prize winning roses or income selling knitted items.

The problem is identifying that ” ‘waste of time’ versus the ‘there’s still hope’ ” threshold. And that’s a very personal decision.

There is something I tried in the days before I was published: I sat down and wrote something totally new.
It revived my flagging enthusiasm, and quite frankly, each time I did that, the next book was better and more likely to be published.

There is something to be said for persistence, but I find that many of the people who are writing today are just testing the waters. They are more in-love with the idea of being a “writer” than they are with actually putting words on paper or sharing their ideas. When they try for several months or years and still find no success, they are ready to quit.

I write because that is how I think best. It is much more difficult for me to speak the things I want to say and writing gives me a bit of time to think about my message.

There is, however, another side to this issue if you are a full-time writer. I’m fortunate to have a husband who makes enough money that I don’t have to work, so I do my writing full time. Writing is the only job I could ever see myself doing–I just don’t have a passion for anything else. When publication becomes your only career option, the pressure to get there is stronger than it would be for someone who feels satisfied and affirmed in their career and is doing writing as a “second career.”

Just my two cents.

Rachel Heston Davis
Up and Writing
http://www.rachelhestondavis.wordpress.com