Sometimes the publishing world gets me down.
I love celebrating the success of my fellow writers. I connect with a lot of writers for that very reason – to learn from each other, support each other on the writing journey, be there to say “yay!” when one of us reaches a milestone. But it also means that I often hear about the “failures.”**
**note these are all real examples, of people I personally know, with the names removed
- Failure to get an agent after sending 100 queries.
- Failure to keep an agent, because they quit, die, or just stop returning emails
- Failure to get a book deal, even after acquiring an agent.
- Failure to get the second book in a planned series published, even after having an agent and major publisher.
- Failure to interest your agent in your next book.
- Failure to publish your book because your publisher just went out of business.
- Failure to get your book on the shelf of Barnes & Noble, in spite of having an agent and a major publisher.
- Failure to get blockbuster reviews and sell lots of books.
With all that failure, like a staggering mountain of doom above me, well, sometimes I lose heart. Fortunately, it doesn’t last very long.
Each of those failures means that you’ve accomplished something along the way.
You wrote a book. You took the bold, brave step of querying. You survived the nail-biting process of procuring a book deal and sending your story out to be judged by the world. You wrote another book.
I guarantee there are thousands of people who want to write, but have never done any of those things.
So if you’ve failed in any of the above ways, CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve done something worth doing. Now don’t let it get you down. Go out and write some more.
Remember: It’s what you love to do.
I love this post, Susan. Love it love it love it.
Oh, Susan, I do love your can-do, will-do spirit! Perfect post at the perfect time for so many of us!
(Reaching down to give another tug on the ol' boot strap…)
@Karen and @Darby I'm glad it helps! 🙂
good stuff, Sus~ :o) <3
Sometimes, we have to be like 'the little engine that could' and keep on puffing and believing. It helps to have so many other writers/bloggers who reach out a hand just when it's needed. This post is one of those helping hands. 🙂
So true–I've been having my own publishing difficulties lately, and need to remember not to focus on the problem, but to remember the incredible thing of getting published in the first place. Great post!
hi miss susan! this is a really cool post for putting stuff behind that you cant do nothing about and just keep writing cause you love writing. for me i dont think anyone could fail just so long as you try your best.
…hugs from lenny
Hey, it wouldn't be half so rewarding if it were easy.
And failures are merely the necessary stepping stones to success.
(I should totally write fortune cookies)
what you say is so true about loads of people wishing they could write a book and never even starting. Just completing a manuscript is a really huge accomplishment.
Thank you for this, Susan. There is little acknowledgment for the accomplishments behind failures like those, but they ARE accomplishments. Great reminder!
@LTM 🙂
@Tricia It makes me happy to be a helping hand.:)
@Laura Kaye When you're in the throes of a tough time, it's so, so hard. Hang in there!
@Lenny You are absolutely right! We only fail when we quit (or don't try in the first place).
@Bryan Is there money in fortune cookie prose?
@Laurel I think there's a natural human tendency, once something is accomplished, to say "that was no big deal." But it was. Writing a novel is hard, and everyone that's finished one deserves a pat on the back for that.
@Shannon It's one step at a time, and each one is important. Now I'm sounding like Bryan! 🙂
Fantastic post, Susan! I also need to be reminded: Be positive. Focus on accomplishments, not on the so-called failures!! In fact, nothing is a failure if you've learned something in the process. Thanks for a thought-provoking post!!!
Ann Best, A Long Journey Home
@Ann Thank you! And you're absolutely right that everything we do in life is part of the learning process!
Everytime you complete a manuscript you are a success. Everytime you query someone you are one step closer to finding the RIGHT home for your work. (Even if it results in a rejection.) Great Post, Sue!
Love this post, and it's so related to what I'm posting tomorrow 🙂
It's like we all know this – but keep writing anyway. We're all masochists!
@Sharon Exactly!
@Sherrie I'll pop on over! 🙂
@Laura I personally don't enjoy the pain, but I'm willing to endure it. 🙂
I needed this post today as I'm feeling overwhelmed at the thought of beginning the long and harrowing editing process with the book. But you are so right. So thank you.
I'm grateful for you friend and so excited about your writing journey and what this year will bring for you!
(Can you tell I'm catching up on blog posts tonight? 🙂
@Charity Starting a new draft can be intimidating, especially after the intensity of a first draft under NaNo! Like anything overwhelming, break it down, look at smaller pieces, and tackle those first. You'll be surprised how quickly you get sucked back into it. 🙂
Wonderful advice to remind us writers that every small step is a victory and should be celebrated as such. Thanks for sharing it with us. 🙂