[Teresa Edgerton]

Two things you need to keep in mind:

1) When someone says that only (picking a number out of the air) .0009% of aspiring writers will ever get published, that doesn't mean that everyone (or in fact, anyone) has a .0009% chance of getting published. It means that the vast, vast majority of books have 0% chance of getting published (the writing simply is not good enough and it lacks that indefinable spark that allows readers to forgive a certain amount of bad writing), and every book that doesn't fall into that dismal category has (depending on the quality of writing and how well it fits into the current market) chances somewhere between pretty darn good and not likely, but maybe. And while not likely, but maybe might not sound encouraging, it's a whole lot better than .0009%.

Of course some of the people in the 0% category might pull themselves out of it by working very hard at improving their writing, but only the tiniest percentage will have enough desire and gumption to do so. Just as, among those who really are good enough, many will give up after a few rejections or will never write another book.

2) There is nothing wrong with admitting you want to be a published writer. It's like the child who says "I want to be a teacher (or a policeman, or a fire-fighter, or whatever it might be) when I grow up." Many people choose a career because they believe they have an aptitude for it, because they know they have an affinity for it, and no one thinks them presumptuous for doing so. Even other artists can state without embarrassment that they want to pursue a career as a musician or a dancer or a painter. Why shouldn't it be the same for writers?

Just like any other career, if you want it you have to go after it. You have to admit (at least to yourself, if you can't bring yourself to admit it to anyone else) that it is an important goal of yours, and that you will do everything in your power to achieve it.

All the published writers I know wanted to get published, they really wanted it. Not for fame or to make a lot of money (they had done enough research on the subject to know the chances of that), and not just because they wanted other people to read their books, although that was certainly a factor. They just felt that it was the right career for them, even if it was only a second job. And they went out and pursued it with dedication and persistence. Because just like talent and skill, these are factors that will play a part in your success or failure.