things I wish my parents would understand about my writing

specifically my dad, who said "if your current novel isn't working, you need to drop it and start a new one" 

LOL. As if doing that for like 10 years isn't a huge part of the reason why I'm still not ready to be published yet. 

"You've been writing for so long and still aren't published yet" 

Again, see above. You think I WANT to be here right now? It's like when they give me crap for being single -- do you think I WANT to be? The way they intonate and inflect, this is what it appears they are trying to insinuate. 

I am writing this here, because some people in this world cannot be reasoned with, no matter how hard you try -- at the risk of sounding cliche, it's like talking to a brick wall. 

But the real thing is -- I HAVE TO have multiple screw-ups in my writing. 

It's impossible NOT TO, for 99% of people. 

I accidentally made it to part 3 of Eternisummer, FINALLY, and I am not confident in this novel at all. I love the premise and characters, and I believe it'll be publishable eventually, but not without significant rework. 

But I'm learning, man. I am gaining a better understanding of how easy it is to accidentally forget plot points. To get lazy when outlining without realizing, which loses those threads. And while I still have no clue how to write a decent novel middle, I am getting a better intuitive sense of when things are and aren't working, which is the first step. 

Oh, I'll get published all right. And it's not like they read my writing anyway. 

But it's not going to happen in 2027. Hell, probably not 2028. But if I keep cranking out the words, keep practicing even when it's garbage...it's going to happen in time, probably in 5 years or less, and I will get better every single damn day. There is no other option. "It's do or die, the anthem of a bird with a broken wing." - Owl City