On Success, Character, Reviews and Criticism

With thanks to Wendy, who sent most of the gems below along.

I finished the final edits for Ashton's Secret yesterday, sent the manuscript off to be turned into a book. Next time I see it will be in galley form. All I have to do is proof read it, approve the galley and the next step is...a release date!

So this first quote has particular meaning to me, today, although I like them all.

"Success is a finished book, a stack of pages each of which is filled with words. If you reach that point, you have won a victory over yourself no less impressive than sailing single-handed around the world." --Tom Clancy

"It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does." -- William Faulkner

“From my close observation of writers...they fall into two groups: 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.” --Isaac Asimov

"Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger." --Franklin Jones

"To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing." --Elbert Hubbard