Reminder:

Quick success in publishing is always the exception, not the rule. If it doesn’t happen for you that way, that doesn’t mean you’re a failure.

Often the whirlwind success is an illusion anyway. So don’t be discouraged if you’re not the person who goes from query to rep to deal in a matter of months. That’s so, so wonderful for writers with that experience, but very unusual.

For most people, it takes years.

Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself starting again on page one with something new, trying a different genre, looking for a new agent, or taking another book on sub after one didn’t sell.

It’s not a setback; you take the growth with you. This process is not linear.

Don’t be discouraged if you’ve been at this for awhile—it’s not too late for you. Rejections in your inbox are not indicative of your worth. They’re proof that you’re trying.

Keep trying. I believe in you.