No such thing as failure?

A theme I hear a lot from writers (not necessarily my clients, but colleagues and acquaintances) is something along the lines of “I need to be published” and “I have to sell this project.”  A little poking (gently done) reveals that these writers think if this project doesn’t sell or they’re not published this year, they will be…

How long?

I am frequently accosted by writers, not necessarily my clients, who demand to know how long it takes to hear back from editors.  They have an agent who has submitted a proposal or a manuscript, and they are biting their nails waiting to hear back.  I understand how hard it is to be patient; I am as…