TRUE GRIT

Writing is hard work.

After 12 books published and a dozen more mediocre attempts dwelling in storage boxes, in notebooks, or on floppy discs somewhere, I think the key to achieving a goal as a writer is perhaps simpler than we think. I have to remind myself during my final revisions on Changed in the Night that this kind of work is not supposed to be easy. It never was easy before, after all, and my latest book is complicated beyond belief.

Sometimes revision can get overwhelming. That's when I remember that this is an endurance race and persistence pays off. It seems to me that authors who succeed have one trait in common: TRUE GRIT.

GRIT is perseverance and passion for long-term goals. While ability is extremely important, GRIT is the characteristic of high-achieving individuals that sets them apart. Such individuals are able to maintain their determination and motivation over extended periods of time in spite of adversity and failure. These writers are committed over the long haul and are passionate enough to maintain the course until the goal is reached in spite of setbacks and challenges.

GRIT is being resilient in spite of rejection, negative feedback, and less than glowing critiques. GRIT is persevering through the "shitty first draft" and then the following draft and the dozen or so drafts after that. Having GRIT helps us do good work over and over again even if it takes years.

Here are some examples of GRIT that inspire me:

Carrie by Stephen King got thrown into the trash after 30 rejections. King's wife rescued the manuscript, and it was sent out again to become a classic in the horror genre.

Dune by Frank Herbert was turned down 33 times before becoming an extremely popular science fiction novel.

Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen was submitted 140 times before becoming a multi-million dollar bestseller.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig was rejected 121 times before it found fans as a much sought after book for its many life lessons.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell was rejected 38 times before it wound up in print and then a must-see movie with a gritty heroine named Scarlett O'Hara.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle collected 26 rejections before becoming a best-selling children's book.

These are only some of the stories that help me stay the course. 

Without GRIT we don't win the marathon or circumnavigate the earth or write a great novel. When I get bogged down and want to chuck it all to simply clean out the closet, it helps to remember the tenacious GRIT of others.