Several on this thread have mentioned suicide. I also suffered from depression and had almost zero self worth.

I began trying to write a novel many years ago, on yellow legal tablets. Since I'm always really busy in summer, I would write all winter, then put the book aside. In the fall, I'd read what I had written, throw it in the trash and begin over. I just didn't know HOW to write. You know, characterization, dialogue, suspense.

I learned of a writers group in the area and joined in the '90's. It was a serious group, dedicated to the members becoming published. Two members were English Lit professors and several members were English teachers. For years, they tore my writing apart and I put it back together again. Sometimes it took several crits before I got it into decent shape. But my writing improved. And now I was writing on a computer, which was a WHOLE lot easier.

I began submitting. In 2002, I had a poem accepted for an online magazine - I think they paid me a dollar. Soon, small magazines and anthologies began accepting my work. An independent publisher published a book of my children's poems. I never broke into major markets, but I didn't care; I wanted to do novels. In 2006, the same publisher accepted one of my novels. Then two other indie publishers accepted novels. Last year, I decided to self-pub 3 historical novels.

I've got 6 novels out now. None of them have had any major success yet, but I keep plugging away. I've learned I'm a whole lot better at writing than promoting.

Still, I consider myself a writer now and, you know what? As small successes mounted, my shy, introverted, geeky self morphed into a self-confident, outgoing, smiling extrovert. I've not only been published, but have won a few minor awards and distinctions. I've even been asked to be a guest lecturer at a museum.

But it didn't happen in a vacuum. I urge new writers to join writers groups and put their work onto writers forums for criticism. Learn to embrace criticism, because it's what makes your writing improve. But always consider the source. If someone responds to your writing prefaced with, "Well, I'm not a writer, but here's what I think," take that criticism with a grain (or maybe a shaker-full) of salt. I know most folks advise new writers to read a lot, but getting advice from other writers is what helped me. I spend a lot of my free time critting on writers forums.

JohnB

If you can afford to do so, you might want to try self-publishing. The outfit I have used is called AuthorHouse. I just finished my seventh manuscript this morning but so far have only had three published due to cost considerations. There might be more affordable ways to go, but it is very hard to get an agent and publisher. That's what I tried to my last effort but finally went the self-pub route--otherwise I might be in the grave before finding an agent.