You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you're working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist.
Very good article. Read
Very good article. Read this. Harlan Ellsion is real. Read him. Respect him. Do not deify him.
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Life is a lot like caving: Most of the time you grope around in the dark.