How Do Writers Really Celebrate?

 

Writers are so used to being rejected, criticized, or discouraged by others, from publishers, editors, and reviewers to teachers, family, and friends. From a young age, they are told they are not good enough. Some writers will start to believe it.

So how do authors celebrate their success? 

I was recently at the NYC Big Book Awards and Independent Press Awards dinner, and I saw how adults, many middle-aged or older, dressed up and partied like it was prom night back in high school. What a wonderful scene. 

When an author was announced as a winner of an award and they were called up to get their trophy or medal, music was played, just like baseball players have a song played as they step up to the plate to hit.  

The walk-up songs of these authors, all chosen by each author, are as different as each of the authors and their books. I was struck that out of about 100 songs played, not one was duplicated. I don’t even think the same artist was even used.  

These authors have their own stories to share, their own origin stories, and their own approach to writing. These song choices reflect their uniqueness but most of the songs are recognizable and say something that speaks to each writer.

Some ran up to the stage. Others slowly walked with a quiet step. On stage, some prolonged their two seconds of fame or made gestures of pride and excitement with their arms up in the air. A handful were allowed time to speak. Some thanked others for their support, but one thanked her childhood self, for making sure she had fulfilled that child’s passions and goals. I loved that. 

Most importantly, it was great to see so many terrific books and authors recognized for their accomplishments. Really, they were rewarded for their hard efforts to create and stick with it in the face of challenges, rejection, and a lack of support.  

All writers should celebrate their work, and play their walk-up songs even if they did not win an award. And if you are still struggling to find your way, just play the theme song from Rocky.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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

This award-winning blog has generated over 6,200,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 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.”  Copyright 2026.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity 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.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

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.

 

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.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum