photo lollyknit frustrated artist yeah cliche heard publishing world frustrated hopeful author's middle editor year eager move forward book proposal halfway normal work minor concern topic chapter recently told publisher longer interested spent past year improving proposal ways rejection hard time writer lived plenty rejection rationale rejection fact alter situation shift publishing landscape editor talent strong proposal publishing landscape changed past year memoir-type books essentially strong author's platform words you're widely you've you're luck regular person build platform feels genuine developed significant connections twitter facebook built community blog committed engaged published essay anthology print participated readings powell's books portland women children bookstore chicago york scheduled sept garnered letter endorsement book proposal significant glowing makes blush what's plan start dreaming crazy schemes scandals pitch oprah readers lose frustration dreams publish bigger issue ultimately emerges result trend publishing industry brought financial woes loses would-be authors readers personally reader stories people's lives self-help books stories crave stories real average people people kids maddening ex-wife wife marriage takes work christian struggles church walk writer modest successes dreams works hear life stories famous athlete young pastor mega church made million overnight woman babies intrigued inspired fascinated stories leave feeling empty hopeless hear stories remind failures struggles messes everyday hopes dreams share stories people 