Recently during an interview, I was asked what tips I might give to a prospective writer. There were so many things I could have said, but in the end I settled on one tip...just do it! There will always be some who are jealous and want to drag you down, or hope you won't surpass them in the writing and publishing arena. But most, especially independent authors, will support, encourage and welcome your efforts. Never let anyone tell you that you can't do it. If your passion is writing or your goal is to be an author then fight for that dream.
Now, I do understand how difficult it can be to find an agent and to navigate the query and publishing processes. Although I am self-published, I did pursue the more traditional route of finding an agent first. I did my research to find agents who might have an interest in my genre, but quickly found my writing didn't necessarily fit into just one genre. Regardless, I submitted my manuscript per each agent's requirements and waited the requisite period of time needed to review the manuscript. At first I felt dejected when those rejection responses came in. I thought there was something wrong with my writing. After analyzing the situation, and receiving a kind rejection letter from one of the agents I queried, I realized there was nothing wrong with my writing. Rather, the few agents I queried weren't interested. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion, and at first, I staked my entire writing career on the opinions of just a few agents. Why...you might ask? Because traditionally, that is the way things in the book world were done.
To make a long story short, I soon noted the error of my thinking. Why let just those few determine my future? After several months of this back and forth dance with agents, I decided to take matters into my own hands with the encouragement of family and friends. I set out in search of a publisher/printing company and decided to do everything myself from the formatting and editing all the way down to the cover design and back copy. Of course, an agent and publisher could be helpful, but if it's at the expense of living a dream...I'd rather have a go into uncharted territory. Hence, that is exactly what I did. In the end, creativity and determination is all you really need to be a writer, so harness that passion, that goal and just do it!
If you're interested in the interview I mentioned, you can find it here: Interview with Anoofah