I have been working my little fingers to the bone, lately.

Now, I’ve not been working them to nubs like my CP, Louisa (aka The Blogless One and Title Slut) TBO&TS managed 50 pages this week! That’s just awesome and I’m so happy for her.

As Maria told you when she blognapped me, I’ve been finishing up revisions on my proposal, Thieves in the Night. I’m excited about its possibilities, but at the same time, I’m nervous that it won’t find a home.

TBO&TS and I had a discussion about why we wanna be in this business. Why do we put ourselves out there? I mean, publishing is a tough business and writing is a passion. Why do we want to mix the two? Because when the rejections roll in, it’s a tough thing to swallow.

It’s hard not to take it personally. It’s hard not to get defensive and say, “But dammit! That’s my heart you’re rejecting!” It’s like finally professing your true love to the high school quarterback only to have him say, “I really like you, but only as a friend.” or “You have a great personality, but I like Tiffani better.” (no offense to any Tiffani’s out there–but be honest, Tiff, you’ve never been told you have a great personality…)

I’m glad I’ve been in the corporate world for as long as I have. That has honestly trained me to take the rejection better. Sure, it still stings. I wouldn’t be human if it didn’t. It hurts like hell. But, after the initial pain wears off, I go back and try to learn from the R. Is it something I can change? Is it my voice? My story? My writing? Am I getting the same feedback from more than one house? After I analyze the rejections, I apply what I learn to the next project or I work on or my rewrites.

So, why do we want to be in this business? I love to write, but writing for myself isn’t enough. I can’t imagine not pursuing the goal of publishing. If I don’t succeed, at least I can’t say it’s because I didn’t try.

I used to joke that if I didn’t have any goals, then I couldn’t fail. But the fact is, I have one goal: To be a successful published author. I am taking steps toward that goal. And I will succeed because I’m not giving up until I do and because I have the support of some great friends and a wonderful agent who are there to pick me up when I think I’m failing.

Failure isn’t an option. That’s why I’m in overdrive now.