I KNEW what I was in for. Wouldn't have made any difference on me quitting or not. But I would tell myself to pass on several early deals that - at the time - I thought were critical to my career. In reality, careers can be as long as your whole life; you don't need to say "yes" to everything.

You were clearly a very informed child!

OMG I feel that but when you're just starting out...there is that I MUST DO THIS OR IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN panic

There is real desperation when you're young to get FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED. These days, I'd tell someone to wait for the bigger publisher with the bigger money. You can go back and pub the other stuff with small presses or new publisher after. Get the biggest debut you can. It will cushion you later