Before I submitted it to my literary agent, I re-drafted and edited the pages of my book-length memoir at least 20 times. 

Last March, I toted my printed manuscript--plus a bunch of sticky notes--to a Florida beach where I lounged under the tropical rays while giving the book its final copy edit and spit polish.

I just got off the phone with a young intern who is working on a blog post about how new writers get started and get to break into publishing.

“What do you think is the single biggest barrier to getting published?” She asked.

“Yourself,” I said.