Initially he didn't realize that his manuscripts would needed editing, but he soon recognized that editing his own work was impossible. He had the good fortune of having the same editor and mentor for many years.
Writing is hard work, because a good writer is always trying to verbalize emotions and feelings.
Alexander believes that schools contribute to the difficulty of becoming a writer because the inherent criticism can lead to writers block. For Alexander, the goal was to rise above it all and just write. In that, he has ably succeeded with a Newbery for the High King and numerous other awards for many of his books. However, success came only after seven years of having his work turned down by publishers. After a decade of writing for adults, Alexander turned to children's books.