Learning to be an "Author"

Writing a novel was easy......getting published is an entirely different story. (No pun intended). One gets an idea, makes an outline (0r not) of what might be a story, words flow from your mind to your fingers and the saga is born.
You fall in love with your characters. They become your bosom buddies. They do and say everything you want them to. You created them after all. You love every word you have written, thinking it all perfect. This form dementia makes editing rather difficult.
You can dream anything up and they will do it. You are living vicariously through the persona you have produced. Ah, the power of it all!
After much re-writing, friends proofing (and hopefully giving buckets of praise and kudos) and then it's time to send your baby to agents and publishers.
Get the wallpaper paste ready......you're gonna have a wall full of rejections.
Developing a thick skin is part of your own personal transformation. Never before have so many said such negative things about you.
But you still have those glowing reviews from your friends to sustain you.
Lo and behold....one day, when you least expect it, a publisher deigns to put your words in an actual book!
Glory of glories.....you have become an author!
Now the work really begins. First, getting the word out to everyone you know, ever met, nodded to at Walmart and passed on the street.
Waiting for the one day that you will get an actual Royalty Check.
Money in your hot little hand for the labor of love we call writing.