One of author Scott Blagden’s favorite quotes on writing could strike fear into anyone who thinks it’s a glamorous, easy career path.

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness,” said George Orwell.

But as hard as it is, many feel compelled to set pen to paper (or ink to printer) and try their hand at becoming a successful author.

Four published young adult writers converged on Shipyard Park on Thursday, July 18, part of a program with the Mattapoisett Library, to give young, would-be writers a chance to pick their brains.

Rhode Island based author Rebecca Maizel has published two Gothic fantasy novels with a third coming out in 2014. She often offers up advice she learned from another author: every story should be an “emotional autobiography.”

“That’s where a lot of my ideas come from – emotions I’m working through or things I find interesting,” Maizel said. “If you don’t have the emotional part, then nobody wants to read your stuff.”

Dartmouth author Kimberly Marcus said it's OK for authors to have different processes. Marcus finishes her stories and books for the same reason that she reads.

"I read to know what happens. That’s what keeps me going," she said.

Blagden, a Wareham resident, published “Dear Life, You Suck” earlier this year, and said he gives writers three recommendations: “Write every single day, no matter what it is. Read voraciously in your genre. Read books about the craft of writing.”

And although Blagden’s first novel received positive reviews from the “Wall Street Journal” and a starred review from the “School Library Journal,” that increases the pressure for his next work of fiction.

“I don’t want to put out a crappy book where the character isn’t as well developed. All my writing times, I’m just trying to think how I can develop the character and make him real,” he said.

As hard as it can be, Blagden and his fellow authors are enjoying the positive feedback they get from fans and all are working on other novels.

Joe Lawlor, author of “bully.com,” a novel about a kid who is wrongly accused of cyberbullying, admitted that it’s hard to get published.

“It’s the one percent of the one percent that really breaks out,” he said. “I’m not that one percent, but that’s OK. We’ve sold a good number of the books that we published. I’m enjoying the process.”

Paying attention to the process is the most important part, said Maizel.

“A lot of people worry so much about getting published and less about the journey to get there, which is what they should be worried about,” she said.