A Formula for Writing Success

A Formula for Writing Success

2

Persistence¹

 

One day when I was checking out books at the library, the librarian asked about my book choices. When I told her I was doing research for a magazine article, she told me she had once sent a magazine an idea for an article. “They rejected me, so I gave up.” That’s the difference between want-to-be writers and successful writers. Want-to-be writers admit defeat easily. Successful writers never give up, no matter what the obstacles.

 

Just make sure you don’t become pesky. Avoid calling editors unless you’re asked to do so. And don’t swamp editors with any old idea just to get your name in front of them. Research your ideas. When an editor says no, have another idea ready to go. As they say, if at first you don’t succeed, write again.

 

Talent

 

Success isn’t possible without at least a little talent. But you don’t have to be a born word aficionado² to make it as a writer. Just write. The more you write, the better you’ll write.

 

Even if you can only find five minutes for writing, schedule that time into your day and don’t let interruptions coax³ you away. If your skills require more honing, take a class or read books about writing. Then read writing that interests you, and learn from successful writers. Who knows? Maybe someday, aspiring⁴ writers will read your work.

 

Vocabulary Focus

pesky (adj) [5peski] annoying or causing trouble

coax (v) [kEuks] to persuade someone gently to do something or go somewhere

aspiring (adj) [Es5paiEriN] making great effort to become successful

 

Specialized⁵ Term

aficionado (n) 狂热者 someone who is very interested in and enthusiastic about something

 

写作成功的公式

2

毅力

有一天，我在图书馆借书，馆员问我为何选那些书，我告诉她我是为了写一篇杂志文章而做研究。她说她曾经提供一家杂志社一个文章构想：“他们拒绝我，我就放弃了。”这就是希望成为作家的人和成功的作家之间的不同。希望成为作家的人轻易认输，而成功的作家不论遇到何种阻碍，都绝不放弃。

但要确定自己不会变得惹人厌。除非对方要求，否则避免打电话给编辑。不要只为了让你的名字能在编辑面前出现，就拿过时的点子来轰炸他们。研究、准备你的点子，如遭编辑拒绝，就适时提出另一个点子。就像人们说的，若出师不利，就继续再写。

 

天分

成功多少要有点天分，但你无须是个天生文字狂才能成为作家。写就是了，你写得愈多，就会写得愈好。

即使你只能挤出５分钟来写作，也要把这段时间排入生活，不要受其它事物诱惑而分心。如果你的技巧需要更多磨练，就上写作课或读些相关的书，然后读些你感兴趣的作品，并向成功的作家学习。谁知道呢？也许有一天，一些胸怀大志的作家也会读你的作品。

1 persistence   

n.坚持，持续，存留

参考例句：

• The persistence of a cough in his daughter puzzled him.他女儿持续的咳嗽把他难住了。
• He achieved success through dogged persistence.他靠着坚持不懈取得了成功。

2 aficionado   

n.…迷；运动迷

参考例句：

• This is good news for postcard aficionado Drene Brennan.这对明信片迷杰纳•布雷南来说是个好消息。
• I'm a real opera aficionado.我是个真正的歌剧迷。

3 coax   

v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取

参考例句：

• I had to coax the information out of him.我得用好话套出他掌握的情况。
• He tried to coax the secret from me.他试图哄骗我说出秘方。

4 aspiring   

adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求

参考例句：

• Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day. 想当音乐家就要每天练许多小时。
• He came from an aspiring working-class background. 他出身于有抱负的工人阶级家庭。 来自辞典例句

5 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。