“When I was younger and first beginning to write, I’d think I was going to get the Pulitzer and the Booker and the Nobel Prize. Now I don’t give a damn. I’m content to know that I write . . . good. I’m a good writer and that’s all I care about.” – Evan Hunter (aka Ed McBain)
Yes and amen.
That’s a good place to be…that and wanting to keep learning.
👍👍
In the early 2000s, a couple of writers I knew had stunning debut novels with six-figure advances and glamorous book tours. I confess a little jealousy. Then fear paralyzed them that they couldn’t repeat success with second books. Both stopped writing and dropped out of sight.
My dream had been to win an Edgar for best first novel. Didn’t make it. Survived the failure. Kept writing and striving to improve.
Still am. Every single day.
I followed followed some writers like this in the’90s, too. Similar pattern. Big advance, book didn’t sell through, Book 2 orphaned or cancelled, author quits.
I’ve seen the same pattern. This is a tough business.
Hear, hear!
My goal is to keep getting better at writing emotionally impactful fiction.
Love this quote!
And as I lay here in my recliner after surgery, I have to say again how blessed I am to check in here every morning with the most encouraging folks around.
(And blessed by autocorrect…pain medicine does funny things to my spelling ability…)
🤓🤓🤓
Deb, may your pain be controlled and your recovery successful.
From one who’s been there.
❤️🥰❤️
We miss you, Deb. Hope the pain goes away soon.
As long as they keep making replacement parts, we’re OK.
🤡🤡🤡
I received an email telling me I’d been nominated for a Pulitzer. I laughed, and I laughed even before the paragraph about sending money. The day anyone who writes popular genre, particularly romance, is nominated for a Pulitzer, Nobel, or Booker is the day the literary world disappears.