The 3P’s are vital to a writer’s success. They actually apply in any pursuit.

Patience is to endure and to be steadfast. (This P is the First requirement of any goal, ESPECIALLY writing for publication. Keep trying. There’s a lot of rejection in this business and it is tough to take. But if you want to succeed, keep on writing, submitting and learning. Stay on the path to your goal.)

Perseverance is to persist. (I’ve said it before and have to remind myself periodically to not give up. You’ll never succeed if you quit trying. It took ten years for FEISTY FAMILY VALUES to go from concept to bookstore shelves. It received 100 rejections before it was accepted by Five Star. So, even though I’ve had one book published, it doesn’t get any easier with the next one.)

Pluck is courage and fortitude. (If you really want to be a published author, you have to be strong enough to weather the rejections, the criticisms, and the disappointments. You’ve got to believe in your work, keep inproving your craft, and research possibilities for publication. I have a plaque on my wall that reads: “Courage is being scared to death – but saddling up anyway.”~John Wayne)

The 3Ps have similar meanings, but they differ, depending on your perspective and where you are in your writing journey. (Right now I’m having some “patience” trouble with my computer and it is interupting my writing process. A paper notebook and pen allow me to make notes. I much prefer writing on my computer, though. I type faster than I write and no writers cramp.)

Really, the agent querying and waiting for responses is one of the hardest parts. So instead of staring at my email hour upon hour I started another novel. There are several ideas percolating in my brain, so it’s time to get one of them on the page. The acceptance (or rejection) will come whether I’m watching the Inbox or not. (Losing 2 weeks worth of emails due to my computer crash is a mixed blessing. Two were rejections. I made note on my submission log that they were a “no” but I don’t have the emails now to read over and over and torment myself with. This is a good thing.)

You can probably tell that this is a pep talk for me as much as you. We’ve chosen a tough profession, but I have to say “it can be a real fun trip.” Enjoy the journey, my friends. I’ll probably see you down the road.