In Difficult Times by Rebecca Seaton

 

In Difficult Times by Rebecca Seaton

                                                        

                                                                   The perfect book launch?!

I’ve written before about success but what about when it goes wrong?

 

Problems can happen at different times.

This could be in the writing itself, either with issues getting started or things grinding to a halt despite a winning start. Once we have completed a manuscript, it can often be difficult to find an agent or a publisher to take us on. If we do make it that far? Sales and events might not live up to expectations. Social media can feel a pressure when our number of followers plateaus and we struggle to get people to interact with our content.

 

But it isn’t all grim!

There are solutions to our writing problems and they often bring hidden benefits.

1.    Perseverance: it isn’t likely to be the first publisher we contact who takes us on, after all. Pushing through despite rejection can help us realise how much we want a writing goal. It might also take us to avenues we wouldn’t otherwise have explored.

2.    Feedback (even negative) can help us improve our work. Our friends might all tell us it’s wonderful but this doesn’t move us on. Choose honest friends for beta readers and take a risk on sending work out.

3.    Tell people what you need. A lot of people haven’t been to book launches or might not be as familiar with the different types of social media as you are. Give them a specific job, like helping set up the room or writing a comment on your Facebook page once a month and they can actually see how they’ve helped you.

4.    Learn from others. Go to ACW days (or other groups, like SCBWI) but also look at the specific groups and workshops available through these organisations. Is there someone talking about a genre you want to write in or a specific tool you haven’t tried using? Make the most of their knowledge, but be aware that you may also have perspective to offer them.

 

The biggest benefit is that we can seek God in a new way as we pick a path through difficult times. We also soon find out who are our true friends and champions as they stick with us through thick and thin. Let’s also remember this when we see a fellow writer struggling.

 

#amwriting #amwritingfantasy #ACW     

 

Rebecca earned second place in the 2017-18 Pen to Print Book Challenge with her first novel, A Silent Song. She is currently working on a fantasy trilogy involving a prophet, a dodgy queen and a powerful relic.