Okay, maybe in that picture I’m just typing an email. It’s hard to say for sure. But my husband took that picture around the time I started my novel–in the year 2000 or 2001. And that’s the laptop I started writing it on (RIP first laptop) and the desk I was sitting at. I certainly harbored dreams of publication, but I tried not to examine those dreams too closely lest they fall apart under scrutiny.
And I had to write the novel first.
I started The Blue Jar. I stopped. I started again. I stopped again. I didn’t look at it for over a year. I dragged it back out. I wrote furiously. I ignored it. I wrote other things. I wrote NaNoWriMo novels. And at some point, the novel got finished.
I sent queries to agents. I got rejections. I got a few requests for the entire manuscript. I got a lot of letters that said, “compelling,” “important topic,” and “distinct voice,” and the letters also said, “not for our market” and “not right for us.” Every letter had nice things to say. Lovely things to say. Except for the “not right for us” part.
I put the novel away and worked on another one.
But in the meantime, I met more people and finally had someone who asked to see something I’d written. I brought The Blue Jar out again.
And away it went.
Now Plum Tree Books has my book and a giveaway.
So, the point is (other than buy-my-book-please) don’t give up. It may take a while, but you may get there. The world will hand you loads of discouragement, but you don’t have to take it.
Happy writing.
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 
A good philosophy Marta. What we do may not suit everyone but if we feel compelled to write then we should write for our own benefit. There’s no time limit set on how long we should take, but being happy with what we’ve done is paramount. If we don’t have publishers like Plum Tree Books with helpful editors we can take the self publish route. I’m delighted your book is out there now available to the public and open for review of what the years have brought you. The very best of luck with it.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
Yes, thank goodness for publishers like Plum Tree. Plum Tree suits me well. Bu above all, I think people should write if that’s what they feel compelled to do. No matter the rest of it.