Defending the art

Lisa Marie Basile says:

"When you're at a party, a family gathering, a wedding, a bar-wherever people might ask you about life as a poet, be honest: tell them about your work. Don't self-deprecate. Defend the countless hours, the late-nights wading through submissions, the pain and glory of rejections and acceptances. Tell them about why you write, why it matters and why it has an impact. Don't settle for hobbyist because it's easy to explain... Tell them that poets aren't all wimpy and sad"

• Dispelling the Myth of the Poet: Why All Writers Should Defend Their Craft