I notice that one of the recurring themes in my novels is this idea that if you have a dream and if you keep working toward it, you will eventually succeed. It's a belief I've carried through my own life, particularly as it relates to my writing.

In a recent interview, I was asked when I knew I wanted to be a writer. I've known my whole life. I've been writing since I was a little kid.

My early work was heavily influenced by my favorite authors at the time. I read a lot of scary stuff and tended to write about it, too. Zombies, vampires, and monsters are still thrilling to me, though I don't write about them anymore.

Along the way, people told me how hard it would be to publish books. People told me that a writer's life was difficult and poor and not worth pursuing. I should give up. Some people gave me good advice about the writing craft; other people gave me bad advice.

The best advice was to keep writing.

"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut."― Stephen King, quote from On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

I try to follow that advice and keep believing that I can get a little better at my craft each day. "Bird by Bird," as Anne Lamott says.

If you're a writer, or just a dreamer, don't stop believing. Keep going. You can do it.

Khristina Chess is the award-winning author of several YA novels about troubled teens turning corners. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter as an active daily contributor in the #5amwritersclub.