Can Authors Turn The Negative Into A Positive?

 

 

If you live long enough and try many things, you likely have experienced many or all of these:

* Lost substantial money
* Had your heart broken
* Failed a course
* Was snubbed for a promotion
* Didn’t get what you auditioned for
* Were publicly embarrassed
* Got beat up
* Farted/belched/vomited at the wrong time
* Forgot your wallet at home and the restaurant check came due
* Had something stolen
* Were pulled over by the police
* Said something that you wish you hadn’t
* Clothes got  torn apart or severely stained while in public

If you are a writer, you may have suffered one or more of these incidents:

* Getting rejected by a publisher
* Being ignored by a literary agent
* Seeing lots of red ink from your book’s editor
* Not hearing back from a news media outlet
* Getting a bad book review from a consumer
* Receiving unkind words from a professional book critic
* Getting booed as a speaker
* Not getting much in return on your book publicity campaign
* Seeing an ad campaign flop

What is one to do when confronting these setbacks, losses, or embarrassments? How do you handle disappointment, adversity, and rejection?

Many just accept this stuff, perhaps mourn themselves and have a pity party. They stop trying. Life has beaten them into submission. There is no resistance, no new strategy, no fresh ideas, no more attempts to try. They are simply done. They feel beaten down and accept defeat.

But some choose not to be denied, despite getting shunned, hearing “no”, or experiencing a shortfall. They operate in a different
mental environment. On their playground, a mulligan is the norm. Many take multiple shots at a second chance.

Why is there such a stark contrast in their reactions?

Some are wired to keep at it, doggedly persisting, filled with a confidence and belief in themselves that provides them hope. Failure is not an option. They each know they have written a great book and they choose to keep looking for how they can break through. They reckon, one has to keep participating even to get lucky.

For those who simply quit, nothing good will come.

If one has a natural disposition towards never giving up, he or she will win out where others lose without really trying. Such people are born with a gift that was likely nurtured at a young age or shaped by life’s events.

But is there something that others can learn to do so that they are not destined to fail but they may lack the gene that wills a rare few to overcome any challenge or obstacle?

So, just to summarize. A good 50-60 percent simply fail, either because they tried and gave up after a setback — or because they lacked courage and initiative to even try.

Then there are 10-15% who succeed because they are talented, lucky, determined, and connected. Life is simply on their side.

But then there might be another 25% who could be successful to some degree at least some of the time. This could be you, those who have to work a little harder, longer, and smarter, who have to block out negativity and checkered pasts, who bring to the table more heart and energy than raw talent or natural skill.

You can write a decent book, create a good platform, and generate modest sales. There is no advantage to giving up prematurely, not taking some risks, or embracing feelings of insecurity.

You may even be able to produce a great book, a strong platform, win awards, gain positive reviews, and become a bestselling author. Don’t rule any of this out.

You can succeed!

Choose to believe in yourself.

Dream beyond what you have accepted.

Seek out paid help to fill in the gaps.

Learn what you don’t know.

Create your own opportunities — don’t wait for them.

Lastly, reword how you say or hear things. Stop making excuses, apologizing for yourself, or feeling you deserve nothing.

You are somebody. You can succeed. Don’t invest in arguing otherwise.

 

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.