I'd drafted this post prior to Friday and entitled it Triumph & Perseverance. The news is celebratory and focused on hard work and determination. I think that as writers, that's what we're about. We embrace the challenge of story and express ourselves through words. Wouldn't it be grand if everyone did the same?

So why is this so exciting? To me, it's not because Kim is a wonderful human being (she is) or that she got a two book deal (amazing), it's because I got the opportunity to witness if just for a few days, the Kim before the storm (of success). I got to see the effort that she put into everything that was her manuscript, the sacrifices she made, the anxieties and the uncertainty but most importantly the determination not to give up. That is what I think is inspiring to writers. The knowledge that it's not an overnight success but a cumulation of time, energy and love of the project.
So for all you hard working aspiring writers, here are a few good news stories for the month of December to help us triumph and persevere.
The New York Times creates separate middle grade and YA bestsellers lists - now you have more opportunities to be a part of this esteemed group.
Writer L.B. Schulman blogs about writing for the long haul - inspiration for those cold winter days when you just want to throw your manuscript in the fireplace.
Author Lee Child gives us the answer to the question "How Do You Create Suspense?" - which has a lot to do with patience and perseverance because as writers we have a penchant to want to give our readers a lot of information all at once. But by slowly unravelling the story, revealing small answers before big ones we create the suspense our readers thrive on.