I got to listen to part of Dear Mr. Henshaw and it made me think today about how writing used to be.  My first piece of writing that wasn't for a class or any other reason but the love of writing was handwritten and during a college math course (and yes I passed the class with an A as well).  This was the time when most writers were still using typewriters, whiteout, and copious amounts of paper.  No this wasn't back in the 30's and 40's, it was only in the 80's.  I graduated from high school in the early 80's just when personal computers were just coming out.  In fact my high school science club was responsible for purchasing the first personal computer for the school.
I look at and marvel how far this profession has really come.  It is so much easier now a days to write something and enjoy the process.  Just as I am writing this write now I have made so many typos but no one would know thanks to the delete key and the magic of it not being posted yet.  I have to admit, although reluctantly, that doing instant chats still scare me because of not being able to edit my words.  And speaking of editing, the computer age allows us time and easy of editing without the waste of paper or delightful smell of whiteout.
My last point brings us back to the book Dear Mr. Henshaw and the boy that was thrilled that an author called him one as well.  He made the point, expressed the pain of most writers, that books are rejected all the time.  It made me think of Beverly Cleary right then and all she must have gone through to publish her first book.  At that moment I wondered if she was talking to the many kids that have read her books over the years, or directly to all authors.  The boy in the story make the point that it was silly that some of the kids were not going to write or enter the writing contest again because they didn't win.  That even authors have had their books rejected.  How many of us have been there? How many of us have pushed through it?  If I learned any lesson today it was to persevere and never give up.  So what I will leave you with is that fact that whatever you chose to do, whatever you are trying for, never give up.