Thoughts. Querying’s demanding, then your book may go on submission once you’re agented and not sell, or it may sell to a publisher and then not sell when it’s on the market. (Or you may be with an indie publisher unagented, it doesn’t take off and you sell a very small number.) BUT you’re not done!
Comments
Getting an agent isn't the end by any means.
I actually think getting an agent is the easy part.
Also I’ve had this twice plus three books my former agency didn’t want to sell so I failed more than you. 🤪
I'm still agented. How?!!!
Now writing 2 books - this is mad - 1 secret one & 1 not secret one.
The secret one is going really well. Bizzare.
Anytime I get a confidence sinkhole I just say, it's ok no one knows about this & no one will.
2. You can reframe the idea of publishing success
3. None of this may happen in the first place
4. Failure’s normal: most creative projects fail. If you can ingest that, it might stop you panicking
5. Think marathon not sprint
6. Think 1 big creative project INCLUDING the book
8. Consider writing in a different genre, even form. IMHO, that opens up all kinds of avenues & options
9. Compare & despair
12. Take a break and have some fun with your work. Truly, I want you to have some joy in this. Maybe it’s time to recapture that? Play.
13. Keep reading; expand your range: do it today
15. If you’re sad, join a writing group or start one. Initiating something is a great confidence booster. Can be online or in-person.
16. Sense of humour
18. Don’t self-reject. Yes, most things fail but don’t let that stop you from making bold and imaginative decisions & trying stuff. Tanking is not fatal I assure you