Feel free to argue this point, but the thing that separates the successful from the unsuccessful, the published from the unpublished is sheer perseverance–to keep writing, writing, writing–through block, snow, sleet, hail or dark of mind.
Author, blogger, man about the Internet Ian Healy is on the fast-track to success
I can’t name another writer in my acquaintanceship who better exemplifies perseverance and gritty determination than Ian Healy.
I don’t know how he does it. He’s already written 15,000+ words on his novel during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I have 4,700 words, and I feel successful. He’s topped 15K and feels like he’s failing.
He’s also done NaNo numerous times, earning badges for completing his 50,000 words in several successive Novembers.
He’s got two blogs, he authors a web comic, and one of his books was named to the top 100 in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest last year. And when I blogged regularly, he always made it around to a lot of people’s blogs and made comments, mine included.
I was supposed to have posted this yesterday, but I ended up going to bed early. I was up way too late on election night.
But as soon as I put this post to bed, I intend to go add to my measly word count, inspired by writing mate Ian Healy.
Yes, Ian’s work deserves to be published. But make no mistake about it. When it is published, it will be because he’s earned it. He works harder than any other writer I know.
And I will always fall short, by comparison, but am nonetheless awed by his determination.
it's a trip . . . 
Thanks so much for the props, Gale. Yes, it’s terribly sad that I feel inadequate this year when I’ve written more faster than in any previous November. At any rate, I’m happy to be an inspiration to you and anyone else, and I hope to continue to do so throughout my career (whenever it launches).