Cintia asked Katy Madison:

I'm an aspiring writer, but I'm dealing with two things: I get discouraged every single day because 96% of manuscripts are rejected, and I haven't had an idea for years, literally. There's too many people wanting to be writers, and knowing there's so much competition just kills me a little every day. When I get motivated, immediatly something appears about the industry that kills it. Any tips on how to deal with this?

Katy Madison Writing is a tough business and you need to develop a thick hide. Even when you succeed, there will be people who don't like your work and will let you know. You have to cultivate an inner sense of worth and know that the stories you want to share with the world are worthwhile. To me it all starts and ends with stories that move me. If I believe in the world and characters, then the rest falls away.

On the other hand, competition is a good thing. It forces you to hone your skill and become the best writer you can be. It took me several manuscripts before my writing was good enough to interest a publishing house. That is a normal part of the journey. I continue to strive to write better characters, better plots every day. It has never been easier to be a writer, but this is something I can't imagine doing if I didn't love creating stories. So I guess what I'm trying to say is focus on the story, and write the best one you can. Don't worry about what you can't control and strive to improve what you can--the writing itself.

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