Well, what do you know. A few days ago, I started saying, “Book! I need to write a book! Book, book, book!”

And just now, I got hired to write a book. It’s a ghostwriting gig, so I don’t get to talk about it, and while I don’t get the glory, the money is mine. All mine!

Now you’re probably going to ask me how I found the gig (and the one before it that didn’t work out). I didn’t. They found me. They e-mailed and said, “Hey, we’ve seen your work, we like your work. Would you like to write a book for us?”

The writing business builds on itself. It’s very easy to get disheartened when you get heaps upon heaps of rejections, when you think the editors you’ve worked with don’t even remember your name, let alone the quality of your work, and when nothing sticks.

But it’s not a game for the impatient. The editor you’ve been writing to for years comes across an idea and notes that you’re the perfect person to do it. A staffer moves from one publication to the other, taking you with her. A client recommends you to her friend. It all happens behind the scenes. You don’t know it. You can’t possibly know it. Until it sticks.

I sent a Letter of Introduction to an editor of a magazine recently. The publication is aimed at highlighting issues that concern social injustice and human rights. I wrote to the editor with my bio and credentials and expressed an interest in writing for her. She wrote back to say, “Mridu, you don’t know me, but we’ve been reading your work for months. I’d love to work with you.” And then she handed me an assignment.

Maybe this is a good time to note that in January 2003, exactly six years ago, I had my first article appear in print. It would take another year before I would find and quit a job in publishing to pursue freelancing. And it would be another year before I would graduate from college and go full-time. It really hasn’t been all that long, has it?

But it took at least five years before people started finding me and coming to me, instead of me running after them and begging for work.

It took five years. Sometimes, it takes more.