Bitten by Fleas

One of the saddest things that I’ve witnessed in the writing world is a fellow writer hanging up the hat. The literary weather is cruel, and some artists decide it’s better to seek shelter and put their efforts elsewhere. And if you are one of these people, I commend you. That had to be a tough choice to stop chasing a passion that’s gone sideways, no longer fulfilling due to how acrid the market can be. But if you’re on the edge, contemplating whether you should continue, might I ask that I get a moment of your time?

We live in a world where creators are being crushed to death. The wounds you’ve bled to incubate your project have already left you ragged, and now you’re asked to suffer another mile to get your work published. It’s like grabbing a hot pan again, and between the pains of editors, proofreaders, literary agents, and publishers, it can be overwhelming. The tough love blogger doesn’t seem to move you forward anymore, and you’re one rejection away from being done with all.

But these wounds are collective, suffered individually but grieved together for the good of the literary community. Not only is your work a temporarily overlooked piece of art, but its path will inspire others for years to come. Letting your peers see what it takes to overcome years of struggle serves as a powerful motivator, making the goal of publishing feel attainable for other writers. When authors are open about their publishing experiences, including peer reviews and interactions with publishers, it fosters camaraderie, accountability, and demands for a fair industry for everyone.

To normalize the highs and lows of the publishing journey, including rejection and persistence, transforms your struggles into a shared learning experience. Authors who share their trials provide firsthand expertise on navigating the market and offer a sobering view of the many dangerous pitfalls, from scammers to toxic opinions. I know I survived several early writing missteps thanks to authors in my circle or found online. Without them, I might have been in a dark place in my career, from which I would not have been able to recover.

It can take years to get published, and it never guarantees subsequent success. But you deserve to see what happens when you don’t give up. You’re the proof other writers need to champion their own efforts. You export paper dreams made from many broken things. It takes one stroke of much-deserved luck to make your story not just one for the pages, but for other writers to cherish in their own battle to hatch their creations.