Cintia
asked
Sabrina Jeffries:
I'm an aspiring writer, but I'm dealing with two things: I get discouraged every single day because 96% of manuscripts are rejected, and I haven't had an idea for years, literally. There's too many people wanting to be writers, and knowing there's so much competition just kills me a little every day. When I get motivated, immediatly something appears about the industry that kills it. Any tips on how to deal with this?
Sabrina Jeffries
Cintia, you need to just focus on the writing and not on the business. Yes, if you're a commercial writer you have to have readers, but if you don't enjoy the writing, you'll never last. Most of us started out writing because the stories in our heads demanded to be heard. You need to block out those voices telling you about the business and write to please yourself. The rest of it will come.
More Answered Questions
Cintia
asked
Sabrina Jeffries:
Hi, my name is Cintia and I'm from Argentina. Being a writer is what I want the most in this world, nothing makes me happier than writing, but I'm more and more frustrated with each passing day, because I've been blocked for 3 years. And it is not that I have an unfinished story. I have NOTHING AT ALL. A blank page in front of me, that only makes me sadder... Is there a way to overcome this? How do you handle it?
Jean Uhland
asked
Sabrina Jeffries:
I really don’t have a question but a comment. When doling out currency in your regency time, it is totally out of whack. As a working girl in England in the late fifties I made only thirty two shillings a week. It cost a farthing for a bus ride. That’s a quarter of a penny. Five pounds would have made me rich! A meal in one of your stories cost ten shillings...in today’s currency that would be two thousand ?
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