13 Things Mentally Strong Authors Don’t Do

 

I came across a book, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Written by Amy Morin, the international bestseller shares some self-help advice that could be repackaged to inspire authors. I took the liberty of applying her 13 principles to the lives of writers.  

Here you go: 

1. DON'T WASTE TIME FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF

When you suffer a setback over your book — and you will — no pity parties are allowed. You struggle to get a literary agent? A publisher rejects your book? A critic writes a negative book review? So what. Get used to it and get over it. The book world, like life, is a numbers game. Don’t count the defeats — just enjoy the wins. Keep trying. You will break through. 

2. DON'T GIVE AWAY YOUR POWER

You are in charge of yourself. Own it. Have faith in your book and do all that you can to put it on the right path. Don’t let others dictate your path. Set your course — and go! 

3. DON'T SHY AWAY FROM CHANGE

Change will find all of us. People die or move away. Companies go out of business. New technologies replace the old ways. New mores challenge traditions. Go with the flow. Embrace change and have it work to your advantage. Focus on what you gain; not what you lose. 

4. DON'T FOCUS ON THINGS YOU CAN'T CONTROL

From the weather to crazy family or bad genes, you simply can’t invest yourself in things that you can’t dictate. You can, however, control how you respond to such things.  

5. DON'T WORRY ABOUT PLEASING EVERYONE

None of us are anywhere near perfect. Don’t expect it from yourself, don’t demand it from others, and don’t feel you exist only to serve or please others. You live your own life, in accordance with your standards. Be respectful of others but don’t do things just to make another happy while suppressing your needs.  

6. DON'T FEAR TAKING CALCULATED RISKS

No one needs to senselessly expose themselves to danger, but one must be prepared to take some risks. Analyze the potential pay-off of any proposed action. How much potential upside or gain is possible? Probable? Exactly what is being risked and what are the chances of a worst-case scenario happening? Balance the extremes of greed and fear.  

7. DON'T DWELL ON THE PAST

If you were happy or great in the past, that is wonderful. But what have you done lately? Live in the present and prepare for the future. If the past was filled with negatives, there is no reason to relive that. Learn from the past, but don’t feel condemned by it.  

8. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER

It is ok you make mistakes. In fact, the more you experiment or take risks, the chances of screwing up increase. But so do your chances of winning. However, little is gained when we don’t learn from our mistakes.   

9. DON'T RESENT OTHER PEOPLE'S SUCCESS

Jealousy and envy will just eat at you. What one gets is their business. You focus on yourself and position your book for success. Spending time worrying about others is a useless pursuit.  

10. DON'T GIVE UP AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE

You only fail when you give up or never try. All failure is temporary — until you succeed. What do they call a high school dropout who went back to finish? Graduate. And someone who failed four road tests, but passed the fifth time? Licensed driver. Failed the bat twice before passing? Lawyer. Authors will hear no daily. Get used to it. Live for the yesses.   

11. DON'T FEAR ALONE TIME

Let the quiet and calm resurrect clear thinking on your part. Take a reprieve from the bustle and hustle. Shun the noise so that you can heat yourself think.  

12. DON'T FEEL THE WORLD OWES YOU ANYTHING

Great writers may not get published, and even if they do, their books may not sell or receive much recognition. They think they are due some kind of bonus or reward. They are not. Writers deserve what they get and nothing more or less. Writing a great book or getting it published is not enough. Push it to the finish line and market the crap out of it.  

13. DON'T EXPECT IMMEDIATE RESULTS

Building a brand as a writer takes time. The seeds you plant today may bring fruit in three to six months. Maybe a year or two. Network and connect with others always. It will pay off.   

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.