It may be well-intentioned but there are a few statements that aspiring authors hear all the time. I don’t think people mean to be hurtful, but these types of statements can really discourage us. Here are a few of the most common (and unhelpful) things we hear:

Writers are never promised an easy path. Most of us know we have to take our lumps, whether it's writer's block, criticism or ongoing rejection. Dealing with all of this on top of jobs, school, family and other life stuff sometimes leaves us asking why do I write? Here are four good reasons to keep writing, even if you’re feeling so discouraged, you can't get another word down.