The 1 Thing You Need if You Want to Become An Author
If there's ever writing advice you follow - let it be this
While there are hundreds if not thousands of people who decided that they want to be authors - only a tiny amount actually accomplish it.
It's almost impossible to imagine all of the started novels that just sit out in the world either in some folder buried in a desk, hidden away behind a dizzying path of computer files, or in a forgotten-about notebook that sits under the legs of a restaurant table when the rocking finally drove its occupant up a wall enough that they felt their story was worth sacrificing so that they could eat their meal in better conditions.
Why, you may ask. Is writing a book really all that hard?
Well - yes and no.
When becoming an author it truly does not matter how well you write - which is sad to say, but there are some books on the shelves nowadays that never should have been let loose upon the world without at least a dozen more rounds of edits.
Bad writing is something that can be improved or edited to hide however there is one thing that sets apart those who make it as a writer and those who fail.
And to tell you the truth - it's something you don't have to go out and buy at your local electronics store and you won't find it in any of those How To Write books you may have decided to hoard since deciding you wanted to be a writer.
I won't keep you in suspense any longer - that one thing is…
Persistence.
Or better known as - continuing in your task despite how difficult it may be or how many people tell you you can't complete it.
Persistence gets you to your desk even on the days when you don't think you can write a single word - but you try.
Persistence gets you through page after page of editing even when you think maybe you should just throw the whole book in the fireplace instead of trying to fix each mistake.
Persistence helps you regroup after beta readers tell you there's more you need to edit after you've already spent weeks or months editing your manuscript.
Persistence gets you through the rejection emails and it's persistence that pushes you to keep submitting your work when you want to throw in the towel and go back to dreaming about being a writer but doing nothing to pursue that dream.
Persistence is the only thing standing between you and your dream of being an author and is the only thing keeping you on the side of a writer instead of an author.
It's not permanent - it's just temporary as long as you have persistence.
So build it, learn it, borrow, or steal it if you have to.
Be persistent and don't give up.
Keep going despite the doubt, the fear, the negativity, or the negative comments.
I believe in you and if you don't believe in yourself I'll keep believing in you until you do.
Now go write and edit and submit and revise and write and keep going until you have achieved all that you dream and then some.
With love,
B.K. xo xo
____________________________________________________
*If you've liked what you read you can show your support by subscribing, pledging your support, or leaving me a tip that directly supports and aids me as a writer.
By joining Vocal+ you can earn more per read on every story you publish on Vocal.
_____________________________________________
This story was originally posted on Medium. Join Medium as a member for just $5/month to access premium content and help me continue creating articles like these. You can also earn money by posting your own stories using Mediums' Partner Program.
Thanks for your support and happy writing!
About the Creator
Elise L. Blake
Elise is a full-time writing coach and novelist. She is a recent college graduate from Southern New Hampshire University where she earned her BA in Creative Writing.

Comments (1)
YES, this is such a good message!