NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER by Author Shelley Bradley

Yes, I know, this is a line immortalized by Galaxy Quest, but it applies to writing as well. Lemme tell you a story:

I started dabbling with writing almost 20 years ago. And I enjoyed it. The good news: I didn't get rejected back then. The bad news: I didn't have anything to reject. I didn't finish anything. I wasn't serious at the time. I'd go for months without writing. People thought it was cute that I wanted to write a book. (Considering I wasn't yet a legal adult, maybe it was.) The fact is I did nothing, so nothing happened.

Fast forward 5 years. I'd gotten serious. I started really writing and writing and writing. The good news: I was learning my craft and writing some books I was really proud of. The bad news: I was getting rejected all over the place. It wasn't enough that I was a Golden Heart finalist or that I'd won or placed in lots of other contests. I wanted to SELL. I started learning the business. I joined my local RWA chapter, got involved and listened to the published authors talk about their joys and woes.

Then came the first snag. I didn't sell that Golden Heart book quickly, like everyone thought I should. In fact, it wasn't long after that Golden Network released a survey of Golden Heart finalists and revealed that something like only 53% of the people sold their GH finalist books. That stunned me. As the summer morphed into the fall and the rejections mounted, I cried a river. One day after receiving a pair of rejections, I literally got a box of heavy duty trash bags and started dumping every research book, craft book and paperback book I'd ever bought in them. I was quitting. Done. Finished. No more. My husband laughed and put them all back on the shelf. I wailed and asked him, "What if it takes me another five years to sell? I'll go insane!" Well, gang, it took me another 4 years and 10 months. But I kept going, believing I could.

Now jump another 5 to 6 years. Yeah, I was published. That was great news! Finally, my career was taking off. My first two books had come out with a third on the way. Nothing could stop me! I did stop to wonder why all but one of those published authors who had been selling and selling five years ago had dropped off the face of the earth, but I heard reasons--sick husband, household move from hell, writer's block. But none of that was going to happen to me! I felt like the bionic writer. Yes, I had a full-time job and a sickly infant. But I'd wanted it for so long, I could do it.

A few years later, we hit another bump in the road. I'd written 9 books in 4 years while still working, while dealing with a child's illness no one could seem to correct or understand. I was exhausted, in bad shape and tired of writing. Reader mail was the only thing that made me smile. But after I turned in my last historical, my editor announced that she was leaving. I turned in another proposal...but not quick enough. She'd already gone. The book was ambitious. I didn't know where I was going to get the energy to write it if my new editor did buy it. I couldn't imagine finishing it. My new editor and agent started discussing an offer for the book. Quickly, I realized that we weren't going to come to terms. I slipped into a depression. When I realized that I enjoyed having written more than the actual writing, I stopped. For a whole year, I wrote nothing.

In that year, I read a lot. Soul searched a lot. What did I want? If I didn't want to pursue writing anymore, why were all these stories running around in my head? Why was I still going to RWA meetings? Going to National conferences? Talking to writer friends? Attending critique? I knew the answer: I did want to write. But every time I approached the keyboard...I just couldn't find it in me.

Then one day, I decided to write something for me. Something I'd share with no one. It would be my little secret. So it didn't matter how bad it was, how unmarketable it was (who was even buying contemporary comedy erotica suspense?). I didn't care how off the wall it was. I was only amusing myself. The writer in me had decided to concoct something for the reader in me. I had a ball! I grew brave enough to show it to a friend or two and got positive responses. I wrote more. Showed it to a few more people. They still liked it. And while that was important, this was still for me. Finally, I showed it to Deidre. She loved it. So did Berkley.

When the offer came, I gulped. Did I want to do this again? Did I want to put myself into the stress of deadlines and promotions and always having to deliver, only to potentially find myself out of sorts and questioning my direction in a few years? That offer sat on the table for three days while I thought about it. And thought. My editor called me, and we clicked. I realized from that conversation that she understood the book every bit as much as I did. So I agreed to the offer. Because I rediscovered the joy of writing again. Because something in me just wouldn't quit. I may hit another snag or two--or ten--in the road. That's life. I'll just keep writing.

Over the years, I've seen a lot of talented people leave this business, some before they ever sold a word. Between their experiences and mine, I've learned one hugely important thing: The people who succeed over time aren't always the most talented; they're the ones who were too stubborn to give up and surrender.

Visit Shelley Bradley on the web at www.shelleybradley.com