Wisdom From a Fortune Cookie

In keeping with the theme of dealing with muck of publishing, I thought I'd share a few of my own thoughts.

As Amparo shared yesterday, if she can't be published, she'd write anyway. Kelly states that she writes because she strives for publication.

Me? It totally depends on the day. There are moments that writing is so satisfying that it makes me soar. Other times, writing is a labor of love--the pushing, pain-inducing, give me an epidural sort of labor. My writing journey initially started as "I am going to be published." and now teeters on "What the heck am I doing?"  to "This manuscript would make great toilet paper" back to "Maybe I can be published". So sometimes, the only thing that keeps me writing is pig-headed stubborn preserverence.

And that is tough sometimes, especially after query rejections. And even more so after editorial rejections. After you've had an agent and find yourself back at square one, it would be easy to chuck it all and forget the whole "writing dreams" thing. 

So here is when I share the fortune cookie I got the other day. I don't believe in them as fortunes go, but I thought it was a great quote.
  

There is no shame in failure. There is only shame in quitting.

Remember that next time you are considering throwing in the writing towel...