So the very nice Tamie Gonzalez, whose website has lots of interesting articles, as well as straight talk about pursuing publication, graciously gave me her towel.

I mean, she gave me permission to share the TOWEL acronym, which is actually courtesy of Marilyn Singer, a children’s book writer who’s had a long and varied career.

Are you ready for TOWEL?  Can you take it?

What you need to succeed:

Talent

Optimism

Widespread Interests

Endurance

Luck 

I like that because it both acknowledges that there is something innate and uncontrollable about success–talent and luck.  You need to contribute the a component, of course–endurance.  And then you need to have the right attitude–optimism–and a personal quality that I’ve always appreciated in people and been frankly bored by when it’s not exhibited: widespread interests. 

Now I am going to exercise my optimism and send out a bunch of press releases–something that also takes endurance because sorting through the list of contacts to find those who need to be contacted now…not so exciting.  Later, I will rock out with my talent (or at least, my writing) and…okay, yeah, this is going to Cheeseland fast.  But anyway, lest you falter: use a towel.

You can read Tamie’s full summary of the “People Who Made It” panel here.  There’s much less cheese there, I promise–and Richard Peck, too!