Determination, perseverance, longevity and patience.

These are some of the qualities that were mentioned to me when I asked the elders in my families what they thought the keys to success are.

I have a website, blog, Myspace, Bebo, Yahoo group, Shelfari and Good Reads account. I recently started using my twitter account though I’ve had it awhile I’ve only recently started using. I’d like to add promo and marketing to that list also. Along with writing great books which captivate readers and consistently producing. At least from a publishing/book industry/writing standpoint.At first I was excited by Myspace and Bebo but it seems I have as many writer friends and others who are using it for promo and marketing purposes. Not to say that they aren’t fans of my writing but my sales number don’t reflect it. Shelfari and Good Reads are a way to connect with readers, other readers like myself who loves books so I don’t really use them for promo or marketing as much, if at all.

And I am not complaining. I am happy with my numbers. And I am writing as fast as I can. I have gotten great, fabulous feedback from those who have reviewed my books.

My yahoo group, admittedly, has very low numbers (less than 10). And maybe it’s partly my fault because I don’t put myself out there like a lot of other authors and artists. I don’t do a lot of chats because often they are during a time when I am at my day job (which is actually during the afternoon – 2^nd shift). So I can’t reach readers that way. I do participate in loop chats and excerpt days. Again, admittedly, not as much as I could probably.

On the internet though it is easier to hide behind a persona. Angeleque is more bold, outgoing and vociferous than the RL me. But there is part of me in Angeleque. Or part of her in me – not sure how that goes.

It’s also about publishers. Who you write for and how they are received by the reading public, especially in these times with so much going on in the e-publishing industry.

So what’s left – writing? Which is what it’s all about, right? Is it enough to just produce great books that readers clamor for?

I am a slow/moderate writer. Sometimes I’m lucky if I can get out one page a day with my real life schedule between family, work and other life responsibilities and happenings. And sometimes there is the dreaded – Lifetus Interruptus. Other times I can write 10 or 20 pages a day, 5 or 10K a day. But lately it’s been more like 1 or 2K a day.

But that’s still something. That’s more than those who sit around and say they want to be a writer, talk about being published but do nothing more than talk. And let’s not forget the Divas. Romance Divas that is. If it wasn’t for the support, encouragement, help and cyber friendships I forged there I probably would have give up along time ago.

After all, I reached my goal, reached my dream of becoming a published author. I have two novellas under my belt and I will be submitting more soon. Though one of my publishers just went out of business. But that’s a blog topic for another day.

So what are your keys to success? Or what do you think are the keys to success? Do you agree? Disagree? How do you do it?

Tags: Commentary, Keys to Success, Romance Divas, Writing Life //