I was always told by teachers that I was a good writer with a lot of "potential." This was true from grade school through university. The problem is it made me lazy - I always assumed I could just "be" a writer whenever I decided to. Then I sat down to write my first novel, and probably started 20 different stories without getting past a chapter or two. No one was reading them, I wasn’t part of a writer’s circle, I just assumed if I could finish one it would be automatically published because of all that "potential" everyone talked about. It was an arrogant attitude, and I didn’t finish my first novel until last year. I realized in the middle of that project that all the potential in the world is nothing without the grit and hard work needed to actually put it all on paper, edit ruthlessly, and then self-promote in the face of continuing rejection. You also need a project and a message you really care about, and that other people would care about too. Acquisition editors and agents don’t care about potential. Potential sucks. 

Speaking of self-promotion, I’m happy with my novel Watchfires Against The Lord, but it required so much more than potential to get it done. If anyone reads this and wants to trade recommendations or reviews, DM me and you’ll make a new friend. I love to read and I’m really enjoying the community of kindred spirits here at Inkshares.