on Writers Helping Writers:

If only there was a magic formula, a secret trick that would improve your chances of getting published.

Well, there is—but it isn’t magic or secret, and in the end, it can’t guarantee publication. But it’s still the best formula I know of for getting a shot at a contract.

Some of this might not sound like good news, but I think it is, because in my opinion, talent is not the deciding factor in getting published. Instead, it’s hard work, patience, and an openness to feedback—things that are accessible to everyone.

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