Writer's Fallout Shelter

I have been on writing for just over a month now and the thing that I noticed most is the number of quality writers out there. I already knew that there were endless numbers of undiscovered poets, authors, etc. But my question is how do you know that your work is good enough?

Good enough for...
- You?
- Your family and friends?
- Random readers on the Internet (who don't have to pay for the content)?
- Publishers?
- Book buyers?

All different answers. And I'm not sure you ever really know, because the answer changes from work to work. It's not personal. Some bestselling authors have published utter flops (or at least have a "trunk novel" or two tucked away, that will never see light of day, if they're lucky).

The question is, do you have persistence and faith in yourself? Can you put aside rejection and keep trying, or will you let it crush you? As writers, we can always strive to improve. The day we cannot improve is the day we might as well learn to lay bricks, for writing will cease to be a challenge and a joy.

I am currently working on my very 1st attempt at a manuscript. I started last fall and am about 1/2 way through. I think? I have not really done an edit or worried about grammer. I am just trying to get the story out of my head. I like what I have done so far and a couple of friends and my wife say it's great.

Best writing advice I ever got came from Tom Clancy: "Just write the damned book." In other words, don't worry about finding an agent or getting it published or even whether it's any good or not until you've written the thing (and edited it).

Now they could just be saying that to be polite or they could actually like it. But how do you know if everyone else will like it? What will make Suzzie homemaker or anyone else pick up your book and pay good money for it?

You will never write anything everyone else likes. Give it up right now - it'll never happen. Can you think of any book - any book at all - that everyone likes? Not even the Bible. Now, making good money from your writing is a somewhat more realistic goal. Make it interesting. Grab the reader from the first sentence, and don't let go.

I don't expect to be the next King. Heck I don't even know it it will get published but I do plan to finish. If for nothing else to say I did it. This post is a bit of a rant and a little of my paranoia but I would appreciate some feedback so that my mind stops blocking my fingers and allows me to finish.

Tell your inner critic to shut up for the next hour and let you write, or Jessiebelle will come kick his/her patootie.