I remember meeting with an unpublished writer in a Nashville coffee shop years ago. She told me in no uncertain terms she was a writer and was going to be published.

That writer was Rachel Held Evans, and she meant what she said. Evans worked hard on her craft and nurtured an audience. She honed her first book concept and got a deal, then a second, and now she’s a well-established and beloved author.

Evans had something you can’t quantify but is more valuable than perhaps any other asset: resolve. She was single-minded in her pursuit of getting her books into the world.

As I’ve worked with writers over the years, I’ve come to realize that while rejection is a real possibility, it is not the problem. The problem is we give up too soon. We hit a wall and throw up our hands, believing we have less influence than we do.

Having said this, it’s important to know resolve isn’t something you have or don’t have. It’s something you cultivate. Below are three simple but important ways to do that.

1. Tap into or Start a Supportive Community

Ask any successful writer this question: “When it comes to your writing, who has believed in you from the beginning?” My guess is she or he will be able to point to at least a handful of people who have supported them along the way.

Question: would you try growing a plant without water? Then don’t try growing a writing career without community. Your writing deserves support from others.

Of course, it only works when you join the community first of all to be a giver. If you come only to receive, it won’t work. Truth be told, it’s actually in giving that we receive the most.

By the way, if you want to tap into a wonderfully supportive community of writers, I invite you to explore BookCamp. BookCamp is a remarkable group of people who are resolute in their commitment to get their books into the world.

2. Decide on a Doable Routine and Stick to It

Start easy. Write fifteen minutes per Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for example. Don’t beat yourself up for missing a day, but try not to miss two in a row.

I use a social habit-building app called Spar that might be helpful to you. Check it out.

3. Celebrate Your Wins

We might think celebrating little victories is indulgent, but it’s actually very strategic. One of the best ways to cultivate your resolve is by feeling a sense of momentum. Where does that feeling come from? Celebrating your wins.

If you can do this on a daily or quasi-daily basis, that’s wonderful. Before you go to bed at night, or first thing when you wake up, or just before you turn on your computer each day, take a minute or two to jot down your wins—no matter how small.

Honestly, I struggle to do this on daily basis, but at least on a weekly basis, often Monday mornings, I write down my wins in my Full Focus Planner. I’ve found this simple practice profoundly helpful.

Resolve to Be a Writer

Let me ask you some pointed questions: Are you ready to work hard until you succeed? Prepared to get rejected multiple times? Can you face extreme frustration and keep going?

If so, congratulations. You are already a professional writer, and I’m eager to help you.

We can do this. Resolve is the key, and it comes when we build into our lives the power of community and tried-and-true rhythms of writing and celebrating our triumphs.

If we start with these relatively simple strategies, we’ll be making strong progress toward bringing our books to life.

Question: What will you do in the coming days to strengthen your resolve? You can leave a comment by clicking here.