“I think writers’ expectations of these two kinds of progress are usually backwards: They believe their talent is basically static, and progress will come mostly in the form of their talent being gradually more recognized. But the healthier and more realistic way to think about your career is that your writing will probably get better over time — if you work diligently and consistently, along with doing ancillary writing work like reading — whereas your publishing success will follow a much less predictable trajectory.”

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