Message to New Writers: It’s Okay to Focus on Your Craft

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by Monica Valentinelli


On the heels of yet another discussion about whether or not success is attainable in today’s ever-changing publishing industry, I’d like to offer the following to new writers: there is absolutely nothing wrong with focusing on your craft. You don’t have to worry about the state of the publishing industry and your place in it.

Before I proceed, let me clearly state that I feel no two authors are alike and no two paths to (and within) the publishing world are the same. Your path and experiences will probably differ from mine. Every author’s story is unique. You may recall the story of bestselling author Pat Rothfuss, just as one example. (Go Pat, Go!) Amanda Hocking as another. This article is not meant to suggest that you are doing anything wrong by worrying about the news. Rather, I’m bringing a few touchy issues up because I think they are worth exploring.

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