Writing a book and seeing it published can be a very emotional experience. Understandably, you want your book to be well-received by readers. But that isn’t always the case. Even the most famous, successful authors have struggled, and many have had what would be considered a failure, often with their first published book. If your first book flopped, don’t give up. Find the motivation to help yourself get back to writing and learn to make some changes so your next book has a better chance of success.
- Be objective – It’s hard to be objective when it comes to a creative work that you likely put much of your time and heart into, but you must if you want to change for the better. Look at your work from an outside perspective to see how you can improve and what changes you can make to do better next time. Having a plan can help you find the motivation to get working on your next project.
- Focus on the positive – While looking for ways to improve is important, it’s also motivating to focus on what you did right. Take notes from positive feedback from readers to understand how you can implement those same successful strategies in your next book.
- Take a break from writing – Taking a break before writing your next manuscript can help get your mind off negative feelings about the status of your first book. Don’t look at it as giving up, but simply allowing your mind time to focus on other things.
- Talk to other authors – Nearly every author has a perceived failure, and many are willing to commiserate with other authors about these shared experiences. Talking with other authors can help you know that you’re not alone and give you insight into ways to move forward.
Writing your first book may feel like you’re putting your heart and soul out for the public to read. When that first book isn’t well-received by readers, you may feel like a failure. No matter how discouraged you feel when your book doesn’t do as well as expected, you mustn’t give up writing. Take some time to objectively consider what you can do to improve your writing, talk to other authors, and then get back to your next project.
