Why I (Sometimes) Indulge in "Negative Thinking"

Natasha--of the Daring Female blog--offers bold advice to counter the dismal "publish and perish" view of the publication experience described this week in the NY Times Book Review.

In a comment posted here yesterday she urges us to remember we need to get better results by doing our own publicity, on-line and otherwise. I agree. I paddle my particular canoe as hard as I can.

Both the optimism and the writer's publicity campaign are necessary, crucial. Publicity is what most published writers spend a great deal of time doing these days.

And I'm convinced that my setting my own course and persisting are the route to the largest success. I believe that most of the time. I build my life around the idea.

Yet I also find that it helps in low moments (I'm feeling pretty frustrated just lately) to remember that what I'm trying to do is difficult, that a lot of the world will tell you it's impossible. When I factor the huge challenge into the equation, then I have more stamina and more pleasure, greater ability to stay bold through the long roller coaster ride of writing and selling novels.