Persistence and Determination
It’s the fall equinox, the time for celebrating one’s yearly harvest, meaning one must take stock of one’s yearly harvest. Some years feel more depressing than a cause for celebration, but we try.
When I tripped over this quote by Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds, I thought it would be inspirational for this time of year.
Press on; nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
Now I’m off to plant some more seeds, see if I can squeeze in an Indian summer harvest. 
I never seem to be happy with my word count, so I’ve been focusing on getting a solid 8 hours a day with the word document open and my fingers typing.
How was your harvest this year? Writing? Family? Career? Life?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I finally feel like I’m getting back on track with all my “stuff”. I just submitted a short story and sent another query for The Other Side, and I’m hoping to get back to my web design. Maybe my harvest will be ready in another month.
Awesome, Melanie! I’m hoping to get back on track, too. And I’m hoping my harvest will be ready in another month, too!
Hmmmm…Not as good as it should have been. However we did get our newest mystery finished and scheduled for publication. I did manage to get back to reading a fair number of books (twice as many as last year already) and I did get out orienteering (3 times thus far) after having not done so even once for a couple years so I have met some of my goals!
Oh awesome, Eric! When? I should add reading to my thankful list. And I have to get Glenn interested in orienteering this Saturday! I hope!
Eight hours a day plus piano lessons? I don’t know if I should admire you, envy you, or suggest some serious rest.
LOL, David. No, I stopped teaching this summer. It was too expensive to live in a community I hated.
This year my harvest was pretty bountiful. I finished one story (and revised it), completely revised another and am sending out queries, wrote a short story and am now in the midst of reading something I’d written a couple of years ago to see if its ready for the next round of queries. Busy, busy, busy.
Physical harvest? I have tomatoes up the yin-yang, with peppers, cukes and blackberries still coming in. I’m doing a frenzy of salsa and jam canning. Yum.
Wow, that’s an awesome harvest, Liz! I envy your blackberries! And even your tomatoes. I’d totally make a huge pot of spaghetti sauce!
Good luck with the queries!
Eight hours of writing? That’s an amazing goal. You can do it, Natasha!
Mine wasn’t as much as it should have been. Other stuff got in the way. I’m planning to make a more bountiful harvest this year.
Thanks, Edie! I’ll try! Sometimes it takes me 12 hours, as my breaks get longer and longer, LOL…
I’m aiming for a more bountiful harvest this year, too.
That is an awesome quote. We basically say that “concept” in our own words to the boys all the time. They don’t really understand that if you’re really bright but lazy, you’re not going to be successful. The world doesn’t hand you stuff on plates. The problem is, thus far in their lives, it has. I’m going to stitch that quote on a sampler. (OK. That’s going a bit far.)
Isn’t that the truth, Robin? I think I was twenty-one before my talent stopped saving me, LOL…
I agree persistence is more important than talent, although talent does count for something.
You’re right, Charles!
Well…with my mom moved in and a baby on the way, I’ve definitely harvested a family this year.
Writing has had some attention, though not as much as I would’ve loved to have given it, but it seems to be coming around these days. The first draft of my YA is finished, and last night I’ve decided to rewrite the beginning of an urban fantasy I hadn’t picked up in months. I have another project on submission and enjoyed the release of a new book this year. All in all, it’s been a whirlwind and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 
She’s there? Awesome, Marcia! Wow, that is just so cool. Isn’t the due date just around the corner? Wow! I’m so excited!
Good luck with your submission!
I got nothing to show for this year. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I’ve stopped referring to myself as a writer; it’s been so fruitless this year. I’m thinking of going back to my role of “just a reader.” Somehow reading is more enjoyable when I don’t think about what makes a good read, or that I should be writing, not reading, and the forensics of publishing and it’s chronic changes.
Aw, Kath. I wouldn’t underestimate the power of reading and need for reading. I once didn’t write a word for six months. If I hadn’t needed the money, it would have gone on for at least a year. And I totally know what you mean about the analysis!
I would’ve never been a writer if I knew about the publishing world for the first four or so years I was writing up a storm. I needed a period of being alone with my writing.
GREAT QUOTE! I needed that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL, Erica! I would say that every day on your blog if it wouldn’t get old!