Spin the Wheel!

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Here’s an interesting article from The Book Standard about how books get attention after being published. There’s a good quote in there that we should all probably remind ourselves of from time to time. “When I finally came to peace with my novel-writing obsession was when I came to the conclusion that it is my job/goal to write a novel good enough to deserve getting on the publishing roulette wheel. That’s really all a writer can do. The rest, to some degree, is up to timing, luck, connections etc. And if you start dwelling too much on what it takes to get published or reading too much into what gets published or what does well, I think it not only hurts your chances of writing something strong and original, but it also nudges you closer to the writers’ ward of the nearest mental hospital.”

Words of advice we should all remember during our moments of frustration. Just put your nose down and write the best book you can. That’s all you can do. Or, as Cynthia Shearer said, “don’t stalk publishers, stalk magic.”

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