by For many college students, writing a novel can feel like a very big distant goal clouded by uncertainty, self doubt, and the pressure to succeed. While interviewing two Herkimer college professors and a local published author it is revealed that the path to writing is far less about perfection and more about persistence, discipline, and resilience.
Professor Avis, who focuses on self publishing in the fantasy fiction genre, approaches writing with a balance of structure and creativity. While he begins with a loose outline, he lets ideas flow and change naturally during the drafting process. “Sometimes I’ll come up with the idea for a scene and write, then see if I can write my way to it,” he explained. His goal is not driven by trends or marketing pressure, but rather by personal enjoyment as he stated “I tend to write to an audience of one.”
Yet even experienced writers can face challenges. For Professor Avis, maintaining the proper mindset has been proven to be difficult especially when personal responsibilities and financial concerns interfere with creative energy. “If writing isn’t bringing in significant extra income, am I wasting my time?” he reflected, which can become a concern among authors and aspiring authors alike.
Professor Devitt offers a blatantly different perspective. “I actually hate writing,” he admitted. “It’s hard work.” Despite the hard work needed, he continues to write for the satisfaction of creating something meaningful. Devitt recommends speed and discipline in drafting, encouraging writers to push through without editing. “Never edit a first draft. Just plow on through. Fix it in post,” he advised.
Both professors agree that the key to writing is consistency. Setting a daily writing goal such as five pages per day, can help students make visible progress. They also stress the importance of separating drafting from editing with revisions being seen as an entirely separate process which is usually the more demanding part of the process.
Local author Janina Grey’s traditional publishing journey reinforces these lessons while adding a critical dimension which is resilience. After facing early rejection and years of self-doubt, Grey eventually found success through persistence and community support. “The journey to getting published is not for the faint of heart,” she said. “Be prepared to have your heart trampled… Never give up.”
Grey credits her growth to joining a writers’ group where she learned to accept feedback and refine her work. Her eventual publication came after years of writing, editing, and building confidence in her abilities. She emphasizes the importance of networking, researching the publishing industry, and building an audience before even securing a publishing deal.
External resources support these three experiences. According to writing industry guides, rejection is nearly a universal experience for authors making it a part of the process. Many successful authors face multiple rejections before achieving recognition. These sources stress that perseverance and adaptability are essential traits for success in the long run.
Despite their differing approaches, all three writers share common advice for students. Which is to write consistently, read widely, and remain open to growth. Whether motivated by passion, discipline, or the desire to be published; the act of writing itself remains at the core.
“Writer’s write,” Professor Avis put simply.
For students who dream to see their names in print one day, the message is clear. Success does not begin with publication; it begins with showing up, facing the blank page, and continuing to write anyways.
