There IS No Pattern to Writing Success
You’ve read about the “successful” author, right? The one whose debut novel gets snapped up immediately with a six-figure advance? But you’ve also heard the wonder stories of the author whose 10th book finally hits it big. Or the story of the author who wrote 20 manuscripts before finally publishing their first. Or the story of the author who has written one novel and gotten picked up by the first agent they queried. Or the one who got picked up after 100 rejections. 200. 300.
In other words, you’ve no doubt heard every permutation possible about the writing life.
Which means there is no pattern to becoming a bestseller, or getting published, or landing an agent. It’s understandable that you may feel despair if your path isn’t the same as an author you admire, but it’s also an illusion. You find me a writer, and I’ll find you a unique story. Yes, there can be similarities in our journeys (ahem, rejection) but for every “success” story one way, I can find you a success story another way. I can also find you a “failure” story one way and yet another a different way.
We want there to be a pattern; we don’t even care if it’s easy! But there isn’t (otherwise, everyone who followed said path would garner the same success), so instead, take heart to know that whatever your writing journey is, you’re not alone.