As a newcomer to Medium (and an intended future op-ed contributor to it), I was elated to read your advice here.

Your first point especially resonated, and I feel it would behoove me to keep it in mind as I begin planning which pieces I'm going to submit. Nothing good (usually) happens overnight.

I'm ready to inevitably make mistakes and feel disappointed...but I ought to bookmark this piece of yours as a future re-read, for when I find myself in those "downer" moments.