I crested that mountain range and, lo and behold, the big range appeared (publication) far across a valley. The worst (best) of it is, the more I learned and continue to learn, the farther that next range retreats: I want this current effort to truly be as good as I can make it, and my standards are now better informed and much, much higher. Bottom line, I have to view this not as write/publish, but write, improve, improve, improve, write—a lifelong love affair rather than the literary equivalent of of a shopping trip. Apologies for the tl;dr post, but Ira’s words resonated.

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I hadn’t thought of it like a teenager before…it made me laugh at the similarities and want to cry at them too!

I’m in your boat, but I’m not giving up on my first story or my second. I will go back and edit, but I’m not giving up. I love them too much! I’m sure you feel the same way. Hang in there!

I have been singing since I was five. Seven years ago I joined a community choir but it wasn’t until this year that I truly became a Singer.

I have been writing since high school, even published. I published my first book this year.

As I write the next book in a series of five I realize how much I have learned and how much better this next book will be. I could feel bad about my just published book, I know it isn’t as good as it could be, but I have others on the shelf that will be that much better because of that first book.

What do I wish someone had told me when I was a brand-new beginner? I’m not sure I would have listened to be honest. I think more encouragement from my parents when I was in school.

The things I experienced in life, good or bad, have shaped the person I am and who I was meant to be. It is reflected in my art, music and writing.

Thanks Ira, you said it all.

I’m still very much a beginner, and this gives me great hope that I will eventually write the way I want to on paper and not just in my head.

I think reading good stuff, stuff above your current writing ability is key to stretching yourself to reach your potential.

Couldn’t have said it better.

1. Genres exist for a reason (i.e. reader expectations and preferences); learn the expectations of your genre before you write the book. I’d have written my first book differently.

2. You will have to do most of the marketing for your book(s). I might have walked away before the writing bug bit me.

3. You will have to spend as much time developing a platform as you do writing. I might have walked away even after the writing bug bit, before the infection really sunk in.

I wish I’d listened several months ago to the advice several people had for me. Granted, if I had, I wouldn’t have had such an interesting topic as Requiem for a Pseudonym to post about in my own blog today, but I also wouldn’t have wasted as much time.

At least, not for awhile. : )