My Online Prose Portfolio

"Write out of love, write out of instinct, write out of reason. But always for money."
Louis Untermeyer

Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul

Edited by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Bud Gardner
Health Communications, 406 pp, 2000

I got this book as a birthday gift from my wonderful wife. It’s something I normally would not buy or read, so I’m glad she got it. It’s a nice collection of true stories from successful writers, how they overcame obstacles, got that first book published, became a writer, dealt with distractions, etc. Even the big names (Clive Cussler, Ray Bradbury, Sue Grafton) all had to start somewhere. All had to deal with rejection, discouragement, and shattered dreams. All had to persevere to get where they are today. As an aspiring writer, I took heart in their tales. If they can do it, why can’t I?