Cintia asked Elizabeth Boyle:

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?

Elizabeth Boyle Cintia,
First of all, how do you know your manuscript will be rejected if you haven't even finished it? That's the thing--unless you sit down and write it, then polish it and work it until it shines, you don't know what will happen. And yes there are a lot of people who want to be writers, but it takes a lot of hard work, determination and talent to FINISH a book. I emphasis FINISH, because so many people start but never finish. And my best advice to all aspiring writers is:

You will learn more in finishing 1 book than you will in starting 10 books.

And ignore the industry while writing your story. Pick the idea that lights a fire inside YOU and write it from page one to the end. Through the hard parts, through the endless parts, all the way to the end. And learn, never stop learning about the craft of writing. Because it is a CRAFT--that takes continual practice and challenges, and understanding.

Best wishes and happy writing!

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