Meghan Morrow

By Meghan Morrow

The world of fantasy has been growing steadily popular over the past decade from stories about witches and wizards to the lives of an obscene amount of vampires. Readers have been thirsting for the next great book and after sifting through practically every book on my reading list and becoming thoroughly depressed, I have finally found the story to take me out of my doldrums. Author Gene Doucette, of Beating Up Daddy: A Year in the Life of an Amateur Father, is introducing his newest novel titled, Immortal. From page one of Doucette’s book I was hooked and could hardly find the motivation to put it down—if only we had no need for sleep.

The story opens with a seemingly normal man, currently calling himself Adam, waking up in an unfamiliar room and little knowledge of how he got there. Adam quickly reveals that he is not quite so ordinary. In fact, he is immortal, but we learn that aside from not getting old or sick and dying, he has no other differences from the everyday ‘Joe’ off of the street.

Where time is not an issue, Adam is capable of choosing every possible scenario one could make in their lifetime. In Adam’s most recent endeavor, he has decided to act poor for a change and is attempting just to get by each day with at least a place to sleep and a drink in his hand, though he could do without a bed if forced to choose.

As he stumbles on to his next place of residence, Adam soon discovers that the flagrant mention of his immortality to pick up women or to just have a decent conversation with someone has made him a target. His usual plan to hide out and wait for everyone else to die is ineffectual when he finds that he is being tracked by someone who has no remorse for killing anyone in his way.

Apart from his immortality, Doucette has created a relatable character for anyone who can’t seem to find their right path. While Adam has taken every possible route a person can come up with, he is still no closer to finding what he desires. His clever personality and snappy remarks attracts the readers to him from the beginning and we are eager to see more.

In a world of hidden fantasies and creatures that belong to the imagination, Doucette has found a way to introduce reality. To be released by Hamel Integrity Publishing on October 1, 2010, Immortal reveals a new type of hero.

For more information on Gene Doucette and his novel, Immortal, visit his website, http://genedoucette.me/

By Meghan Morrow

It seems to me lately, that we have been growing a bit sloppy with our writing. I don’t mean that our grammar is slipping or that our characters are unbelievable; just that we don't appear to be paying as much attention to the details as we once did. One of the largest mistakes that seems to be showing itself more and more is the complete lack of research being done for our stories. We cannot claim to know everything there is to know out in the world, but we still write stories involving areas that we do not fully understand. Since the first person put pen to paper and wrote, "Once upon a time..." people have been writing books, short stories and any other forms of writing you can think of that stray from what is known to them. Whats more, is that readers believe the author has actually been to the places he writes about or experienced the world he describes. These authors have put the effort into creating a “real world” for their readers and some have even been able to convince us of a not-so-real world. But these authors have done their research. They know what and how the world must be described. They have traveled to the places they hope to describe, spent countless hours on Google, read book after book after book on the subject. These writers are dedicated to providing a realistic experience for their readers.

So why, now, have we been growing lazy when writing about places or people we have little to no knowledge of? Are we hoping no one will notice if a few colloquialisms are wrong or the setting is unrealistic? In truth, readers know when the writer is full of it, so we shouldn't hope to fool anyone with a lack of knowledge. The anachronisms may start out being few and far between, but the moment the reader spots the first one, they become mistrustful of the author and their eyes open to the possibility of other errors. The entire point of writing a story is to go somewhere, even if it is your own backyard, an create a new world. We are not going to achieve this goal by filling our stories with mistakes. The only way for us as writers to create is to thoroughly research the subject we are trying to write about.

Some topics will be easier than others. Writing a story about your neighbor will be infinitely less difficult than writing about a woman from the seventeen hundreds. Each of these settings can lead the readers to get lost in the writing, but one slip and the reader will notice. None of us can be absolutely sure how people spoke in the seventeen hundreds even with the proof of written documents from the time period, so how are we supposed to ensure there are no discrepancies? Honestly, there is no way--aside from time travel--but with enough research we can describe the world and the people in it with enough detail to create a believable atmosphere. Even writers who make up there own world do research. They cannot just write out that all of the world is made of pudding and be done with it; they would have to learn more about the properties of pudding.

I leave you with this piece of advice; Research. Read books, check the Internet, ask your friends. Whatever approach you choose, the research must be done. Writing a story isn’t just about writing down a string of words and ensuring there is a beginning, a middle and an end; it is the attempt to create a place of wonder and share it with the world.

Meghan Morrow

WritersNewsWeekly recently interviewed David Delaney about his upcoming book, Out of Australia, which comprises one hundred of his Australian poems.

WNW How do you hope to distinguish yourself from other poets?
Delaney I’m not all that interested in distinguishing myself from other poets, I would rather be accepted by other poets, as a poet, and be known for what and how I write. I would also like to ignite the interests of school aged children and those not normally involved with poetry with my poems.

WNW Are there any poets/authors that you admire? If so, who?
Delaney There are so many and it is hard to choose just a few. Being Australian I adore the likes of ‘Banjo’ Paterson, Henry Lawson, Barcroft Henry Boake, C J Dennis, Dorothea MacKellar, and later poets like Les Murray, Glenny Palmer, Kym Eitel, etc. My poem ‘In the Shadow of Ghosts’ is my tribute to quite a few Australian ‘great’ poets.

WNW There are so many of us out in the world who are not quite sure what poets are trying to say, but your writing is so clear. Was this your intention?
Delaney No..it was not my intention, but, this is how I write. I think a lot of today’s poets and their poetry is to ‘sterile’ or ‘academic,’ using words, phrases or metaphors that average people do not understand. I believe this is one of the reasons poetry has lost some of its appeal. I try to keep my writing simple and clear so everyone can understand them.

WNW You’ve mentioned that you have had no formal education in writing; do you feel this has dampened your poetry in any way?
Delaney No..I don’t feel it has dampened my poetry and do not believe lack of education should stop anyone from ‘going for’ their dream. While my love is Australian bush poetry, I am actually enjoying my exploration into the many different forms and styles of poetry, including; free verse, Sonnets, Haiku, Tanka & traditional rhyme. But it is frustrating at times, because of my lack of education, trying to understand the rules of punctuation and grammar.

WNW What do you use for inspiration, if anything?
Delaney Inspiration can come in many forms and from anywhere, most of my poems are ‘jotted’ down at work, in-between answering phones and picking orders to dealing with customers and transport drivers. Also inspiration could be a smell, incident or song that ‘jogs’ my memory. My wife, children, grandchildren, talking to veterans & friends, other poems or story’s inspire. I also receive a lot of inspiration from reading my friends poems on Australian Bush Poets Association http://www.abpa.org.au/ and the wonderful support and coaching they can offer.

WNW Have you ever thought of stepping away from poetry and moving into novels?
Delaney I don’t think I could ‘tackle’ a novel yet. Once I start writing something I like to get it done, finished, out of the way, ready for the next piece, though in saying that, I have recently started writing a short memoire/story. One of my memoires was selected for publication by a panel of academics at James Cook University for their journal LiNQ.

WNW Poetry, and writing in general, can bring up a lot of emotion; do you ever feel unable to write due to painful memories?
Delaney I don’t seem to have trouble writing my ‘emotional’ poems, though there are a number I can not perform or have trouble performing.

WNW Your writing seems to involve much of your family; how do they feeling about your poems?
Delaney My family enjoy my writing, and the support I receive from them all is wonderful.

WNW What are some of your favorite poems?
Delaney There are so many, I always enjoy reading my poems, “In the Shadow of Ghosts’, ‘New Generation Veterans’, ‘A Drovers Lament’, ‘My Mate’ etc. I also love to read, ‘Where the Dead Men Lie’ by Barcroft Henry Boake, the beautiful ‘Bell Birds’ by Henry Kendall, the timeless ‘The Man from Snowy River’ and ’The Man from Ironbark’ by Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson, and so many, many more.

WNW How would you describe the experience of writing your first poem?
Delaney Shock followed by pride. My 1st poem ‘The Outback Track’ was intended to be a short story but when I started writing, I wrote in what I thought to be rhyme. It was not until some time later, when learning more about writing poetry, that I re-worked the poem.

By Meghan Morrow

WritersNewsWeekly recently spoke with Paul Nandzik, President of Red Tie Products. Red Tie Products, which include Grammar Matters T-shirts, is an eco-friendly company working toward promoting literacy while retaining an ethical means of production. With great moral standards and even greater senses of humor, the team behind Red Tie Products has worked diligently to create a fun and exciting way to experience literature.

WNW: Let us first start off by asking who you are. Who is the face (or faces) behind Red Tie Products?
Nandzik:There are many faces behind Red Tie Products, but by and large, I (Paul Nandzik) am the driving force behind the company. My titles include Founder and President, but “Brainfather” might be a more appropriate, though thoroughly unorthodox, title.

My wife, Marie Nandzik, spearheaded our expansion into jewelry. She’s well-versed in the industry and has a great mind and a great eye for crafting exquisite designs. God bless her, she tries to teach me about all the stones and metals and techniques, but 95% of it goes over my head.

Also, long time friend, Vinnie Russo, has designed a number of graphics for the company. He also convinced me to start up a podcast, which he edits and tweaks and everything else a sound engineer does. The podcast is definitely something we’ve done a poor job of keeping up with. I never imagined there was so much work behind it – at least in the way we’re doing it. We research everything thoroughly beforehand, then try to make it as entertaining as it is educational.

Oh yeah, and Vinnie’s also invaluable when it comes to quickly breaking down the booth at the end of a show.

WNW: What got you started in creating Grammar Matters designs?
Nandzik: That’s an interesting question with a long answer.

I came up with the idea while I was studying English at SUNY Fredonia. My peers’ grasp on grammar was so lacking that many professors literally stopped class to teach basic grammar lessons. As a joke, I created a series of away messages for AIM, including the “Outrunning Errands” and “Who’re” gags. The away messages got a lot of laughs, but I never thought much of it.

Once the gears started turning though, my original idea was to write a book about grammar, so I kept a Word file full of these little grammar goofs. The first entries were, of course, my pet peeves, like saying ‘A.T.M. machine’ or ‘P.I.N. number’. To this day those still make my eye twitch.

I also sketched out a significantly less clever design for the Outrunning Errands gag, intended to be one of many illustrations for the book. I knew I wanted comic-like panels and stick figures, but I’m not much of an artist (even when it comes to drawing stick figures).

After moving to Pittsburgh in search of new and exciting work, I got to talking with a friend of a friend before deciding to launch an actual business around the Grammar Matters design.

As an interesting bit of trivia, Mr. Grammar’s signature red tie (and what would later become the name of the company) was the result of a passing suggestion I made to liven up the stick figure’s personality and appearance.

Anyway, wonky classmates aside, my burgeoning fascination with poetry – especially in regard to line breaks – was another influence since, you know, poetry can get away with poor grammar in the name of ‘highbrow art’.

WNW: We see that you also create jewelry; do you plan on expanding Red Tie Products any further?
Nandzik: Absolutely.

We made a very distinct decision to name the company Red Tie Products (rather than ‘Grammar Matters’, which isn’t a very good name for a company, IMHO) so that we would have the flexibility to expand.

I’ve got some great ideas for non-grammar-related graphic t-shirts that are geared toward geeks, as well as posters.

The geek in me would also love to expand into video, board, miniature, and card gaming. I’ve got great ideas for them all.

WNW: What do you hope to accomplish with Grammar Matters?
Nandzik: I’d like to make some money, of course. More specifically, I’d like to be able to make enough money so that I could quit my other jobs.

On a much deeper level, though, I really want to inspire people to think as much as I want to make them laugh.

I launched Red Tie Products right when the Great Recession really hit hard (probably not the best business plan I ever came up with) back in 2008. At our first comic convention, I stood eagerly behind our table as we drew a crowd. Not everyone bought something, but everyone laughed – and that pattern continues to this day. So, to be able to offer people a good laugh – that’s something I hope to accomplish in good times as well as bad.

On the ‘inspiring thought’ side of things, I would certainly like more people to have a greater appreciation for language. Grammar should never be thought of as dry, boring, or irrelevant, even though it’s taught that way (I can’t understand why). In my opinion, the best way to appreciate the correctness of grammar – or, indeed, anything – is to appreciate its incorrectness. That’s why we use the comic panel design layout.

The study of grammar, like so many other avenues of study, is one that encourages analytical thought, which is really just the skill of knowing how to think, and I believe that knowing how to think deeply in a versatile manner will – by its very nature – help people better themselves. Based on my research, a language deficit is a major factor in juvenile crime.

As quoted by the U.S. Department of Justice:

The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.

WNW: Why have you worked so hard to maintain ethically-produced merchandise?
Nandzik: I think it’s important to respect and dignify every human; and the idea of making any sort of gain directly off of someone else’s misfortune seems to me very much like burglarizing your neighbors, then selling their stuff at your garage sale. In my eyes, an unethical business is an illegitimate business.

My stance on this does make our products a little more expensive, but it’s not called the ‘high road’ for nothing. If we’re going to spend our money, we might as well spend it to ensure the future of our world is a good and decent place to live – or at least better than it used to be.

After all, it wasn’t so long ago in our own history that we took advantage of child labor, that we suppressed the rights of minorities, and even owned slaves. Yet since abolishing these immoral practices, how many minorities have helped to revolutionize the way we live our lives?

WNW: Have you always been interested in promoting literacy?
Nandzik: It was never really an overt interest of mine, no, but it was definitely something I did as an English/writing tutor. Other than Red Tie Products, the most fun I ever had promoting literacy was when I worked this temp job pushing a broom during the graveyard shift. I was working with a Bosnian refugee couple, and when we went on break, I helped them with their English and they helped me with my Bosnian. It was wonderful, and I continue to cherish those memories to this day. I just wish they didn’t chain smoke.

WNW: Do you have any plans to expand your fight for literacy?
Nandzik: Yes, I’d like to start up a community workshop, a scholarship, and a Mr. Grammar video game that would help people learn grammar. I’d also like to do a Mr. Grammar web comic, although I’m not sure if that really counts.

Certainly, though, I’m all ears if anyone has suggestions.

WNW: This final question is directed to Mr. Grammar himself. Do you ever tire of correcting grammar all day and dream of another profession? If so, what is that profession?
Nandzik: Some days I do tire of correcting grammar. It used to be a long, unforgiving job, but it’s better now that I’ve developed a sense of humor about myself.

Still, we all have our bad days, and on those days I like to sit back in my chair by the window and dream of being…Batman!

For more information on Paul Nandzik and the team behind Red Tie Products, visit www.redtieproducts.net.

By Meghan Morrow

Typically, I am annoyingly selective when it comes to reading sci-fi/fantasy novels. There are so many cookie-cutter stories out in the world that I have grown to dread seeing the cover of a new fantasy. When I picked up J.E. Browning’s novel, Tales of Roumanhi-Homequest: Liberation, fearing that it was just another attempt at science fiction, I can’t say that I was instantly intrigued, but upon delving further into the novel, I was sorely mistaken. Right from the beginning, Browning introduces her readers to a different world, complete with a mystical terrain and a new language. I have to say that the geek in me did a little flip at the thought of an entirely make-believe language.

Homequest: Liberation opens with a young environmental technician, T’skya, and her crash landing into a strange desert on her way to finding a new home for her people. After mysteriously transporting to the edge of the Roumanhi forest, she is captured by Cail and Hollum then accused of being a member of their enemy clan, the Kházakha. Both technologically superior and devoid of morality, the Kházakha corrupted the land of Roumanhi and continue to tyrannize the inhabitants. T’skya manages to convince the Roumanhis that she means them no harm and works with them. In between her new daily life and worrying about her people, T’skya becomes quickly attached to the Roumanhi clan, even allowing for a romance to kindle.

Days pass and cause T’skya to become more anxious about her ship until she finally warns the Roumanhis that her abandoned ship will alert the Kházakha of her presence so it must be located. The supplies T’skya finds after returning from a less-than-perfect search expedition allows her and the Roumanhis to hatch a plan that will sabotage the Kházakha. The mission goes awry and they lose Cail to the enemy, so T’skya and the rest of the Roumanhis must find a way to bring him back to safety—if he hasn’t already been lost.

In a world of fantasy, Browning has done a wonderful job not to stray into the unbelievable. From start to finish, Homequest: Liberation captured me. Every character had soul that leaped from the page and I found myself emotionally invested in every one of them. The land of Roumanhi is filled with, not only beauty, but dangers as well, and the trek along the terrain had me anxious and excited. Liberation is a maze of stories that take the reader off in several directions, but Browning was able to lead us easily through the labyrinth.

By Meghan Morrow

Picture this: You’re outside your favorite bookstore. You go inside, look around for a bit, and then you see it. The book you’ve been looking for. The cover catches your eye from across the store and you are drawn to it. You’ve never heard of the author, or even of the book, but something about the color of the cover and the weight of the book tells you this is going to be a great read. You rush home to read it and can’t put it down for two days in a row. You come to the last page, waiting for the moment of finality and you see ‘TO BE CONTINUED’ taunting you from the page. What do you do now? Do you eagerly await the next book or do you toss the book across the room and vow never to read anything by that author again?

Well, I can’t give you a straight answer on that...yet. Before I can even begin to tell you whether each novel in a series should stand alone or they should just be a continuation of the next, we first have to try and understand what goes on in a publisher’s head because the publisher is the most important part of your book. Without the publisher’s support, your book will go no further than the box under your bed. I know there are some of you out there saying, ‘I’m not writing to be seen, I’m writing for the art.’ This is just fine, but I would suggest you stop reading this article now.

For months now, I've been searching every possible writers advice website I could find, and do you want to know what they all said? When it comes to writing a series of novels, the first book, at least, must be able to stand on its own. Up until about a week ago, I agreed with this theory, but as I thought more about the topic, I became increasingly bitter about the whole thing. ‘Why does the first in a series need to stand alone? The book writes itself, I can’t change how it ends.’ I understand that the characters need to resolve some big action for the readers to feel satisfied and I know I would personally be frustrated if at the last page of a good book I saw the words 'TO BE CONTINUED,' but wouldn't seeing these words only drive up your desire to the read the next novel? Wouldn't you want to know what happened to the characters in the final end and wait diligently for the next book to come out? Absolutely not. I'm a stubborn reader and if I am dissatisfied with the end of a story, even if the rest of the novel was brilliant, I refuse to waste my time on the second, or third, or fourth. As an author, it is your job to leave the reader with a feeling of resolution. Yes, there are those out there that will not completely turn their backs on an author just for leaving us dissatisfied, but writing a novel isn't just about those select few.

Publishers look for authors who can sell their books and make a profit. If the novel doesn't end, it will be less appealing to readers, and publishers are not going to waste their time on a second one. Why would they risk spending money to produce a book they don't even know will make it past the first stage? They are already taking a chance that your novel will turn a profit, now they will have to take an extra risk hoping you'll have a great enough following for your series. I’ll let you in on a little secret; most publishers are not going to take that gamble.

When writing a series of books, don't concentrate on the fact that you plan to make the story into a series. In fact, don't think about the other books at all. Only focus on the current novel you're working on and let that story come to an end. There needs to be some concrete ending for the readers or you will find yourself the owner of a failed novel—that is if it ever becomes a part of production. There is a reason that the three main areas of the story arc are the beginning, the climax and the denouement. The denouement resolves any issues that the characters come across and clears up any confusion the reader might have had. You can plan to write a series of novels, in which case you can add something that may need to be concluded in a subsequent novel, but the first novel must end.

I will admit that I once thought you could stop a story halfway through the journey. I was a bit biased in this opinion since my personal novel is that of a journey and I have been unsuccessful toward finding a way to end the first book while my character remains on her journey. My thought was, if J.R.R Tolkien can do it, why can't I. Well, I'm not Tolkien, not by a long shot.

I will leave you with my final plea to ensure that your first novel in a series, especially as an unpublished author, finds some way to come to an end. Leaving the book hanging is no way to treat your future hopeful

By Meghan Morrow

Life has become full of superstitions. As children, we fear stepping on cracks or crossing paths with a black cat; as we become older, we fill our rooms with trinkets that are supposed to bring luck. These fallacies have become so widespread that they have even merged into traditions and rituals. During holidays, our families come together hoping to intensify bonds, and various cultures perform rhythmic dances to bring on a better crop season. Superstitions are even seen in sports’ players who repeatedly wear the same socks with the hopes of achieving a winning streak.

So what about writers? Do we, as the hopeful voices of tomorrow, have certain traditions we live by in order to write? I cannot speak for every writer out there, but I know of several who cannot even write a word until they have finished their ‘author’s ritual.’ I myself cannot open Microsoft Word before I have played and won a game of Mahjong. There are some who must ensure they are surrounded by total silence while others need a room full of white noise to get inspiration to flow. But are all these superstitions necessary? Do we really believe that by putting a little Coldplay on in the background we will become betters writers? To be honest, yes. We do think these traditions improve our abilities and in some cases, this may even be true. A certain lyric of a song may trigger some snappy dialogue, or a run around the block could introduce you to a new character.

We grow to depend on our pre-writing habits and believe we cannot write without them. We think we need that spark from a muse to get the words flowing and the pages flying. But this is a false notion to follow. Do not give in to the temptation you may have to believe in inspiration. As writers, we cannot rely on the chance that inspiration may strike to start our stories; we have to be the pushers. We must create our own inspiration when it fails to arrive. Right now, I am having a difficult time trying to decide where to go with this article, and do you want to know what my first thought was? ‘I need to turn on my music.’ No, I do not. I am going to stay in front of the computer and get the words out even if they sound awful.

By choosing to write only when we receive some sort of insight into the story, we will never see the end. We will be trapped in the world we failed to create until the pages finally end up hidden in a drawer and left to be forgotten.

Writing is not easy, and it’s not supposed to be. We must force ourselves to sit down at the computer, or desk, or chalkboard, and write. We must write every day. It is the only way that we will become better writers and the only way we can feel complete. Without finishing the story, we will feel that ‘something’ missing from our day and the only way to rid ourselves of this sensation is to write. But by forcing ourselves to write, we begin to hate everything that comes out of the pen, and this is the most crucial step in the writing process. Only with progress can there be any results. You, writer, must learn to enjoy the feeling of hopelessness experienced when writing becomes a chore.

Our superstitions are not going to disappear, so I say to use them as motivators and not as a crutch. We cannot hope that our pre-writing rituals will inspire greatness, but that they will prompt us to start working on our next project. So, if you must, go turn on your stereo or finish up that game of Mahjong and get writing.

By Meghan Morrow

The number of people writing novels and attempting to publish their work is growing with each passing month. As readers watch the accomplishments of authors such as J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer, eager writers dream of experiencing the same success. I must admit that I am one of these enthusiasts.

Three years ago, after waking up from a particularly vivid dream, I began the journey into my novel and have since found myself practically incapable of being away from my computer. As most writers are aware, when inspiration sparks, there is little anyone can do to stamp out the fire. Many sleepless nights and phone calls to my sisters contributed to getting the story out of my head and onto paper, and though my schoolwork suffered slightly, nothing could keep me from my characters and the world I created for them.

Six months and three hundred pages later, my novel was complete and the editing process began. Little did I know that writing the story was the easy part. I spent hours, days, weeks fixing every little detail and mistake and, let me tell you, if you ever want to put your head through a wall, just try examining your own work several hundred times. You will reach that point of pure exhaustion before you know it.

The moment I felt the novel was ready (I won’t say it was perfect, because I still find changes to make), I dove into the process of getting my work published. After studying the business thoroughly, I discovered how naïve I’d been about the entire procedure. Seeing my novel in print wasn’t as easy as just packaging the manuscript in brown paper and sending it to a publisher; there was so much more involved, and it all started with writing query letters. None of my queries were the same and each had to meet the different requirements of the literary agents or publishers. Who knew you had to make a proposal to a prospective publisher before it went to print?—as a writer new to the industry, I certainly didn’t. The queries required compact, specific information—I had to mark if I had a single or multiple submissions; whether to add one, two, or three chapters, and sometimes none at all; find some way to compact the entire novel into a single page, and then to top it off, I had to sell myself as a reputable author. If I weren’t so infatuated with my characters, this step would have been enough to make me give up, but I continued the attempt to get my work out in the world.

My life has been dominated by learning every possible fact about publishing that I can find, from reading blog sites and newspapers to subscribing to writers assistance websites, and I am certain at the end of this entire project, I will be quite sick of anything that is even remotely related to writing.

There are so many hopeful writers in the world these days, but what is it that keeps them writing even after hearing the word “no” so many times it loses all meaning? Is it truly passion that pushes us, or is there some other determinant to keep the fire going? Anyone can put pen to paper and scribble down an idea that they believe to be spectacular, but only those who have the drive and dedication to the craft can genuinely create something magical.

My novel has yet to be published, though I keep my fingers crossed for the day I get my “big break.” Finishing the novel is an accomplishment itself, and I am sure my perseverance will pay of someday, and to all of the aspiring writers out there, I have only one piece of advice: do not let the rejections make you feel unworthy. It is in the complications in life that we find what we need to achieve greatness.