Still Unpublished?

The answer is yes.

I'm going to be prefectly honest by admitting that four years ago when I signed with my literary agent, I had visions of getting published immediately and being on the New York Times Bestseller list within three years.

Yeah, really.

Back then I'd read about some authors who'd had to write two or three books before getting published. I never thought that would be my story.

Sadly, it isn't.

I've now written five books. FIVE. And none of them have been published.

Am I a failure? Do I totally suck at this craft? Should I throw in the towel? I mean, what's the point of wasting all those hours, months even, on a story, if it's not going to be published? 

I've asked myself those questions many times over the last four years. However...
 
Here's the upside to not getting published right away: I've discovered my true motivation for writing. It's not for the fame. It's definitely not for the money.

I write because I absolutely LOVE it.

I love creating characters to cheer for, fall in love with, or get irritated at. I love coming up with a crazy, twisting, romantic plot that could so NOT happen in real life. I love the months of hard work and persistence that go into writing an entire novel. And I love watching myself evolve into a better writer. 
 
So I'm still unpublished, but more importantly, I'm still writing!