Transmute Writing Failures Into Success

How can you turn rejections, writer’s block, poor sales into success?

Look for the benefit in each and every failure. No really. If the book was rejected, that’s an opportunity to make it better. Having writer’s block? Is that a signal that you need to completely rework you story, start a new one, work in the garden, exercise, take a break and read a good book? Replenish the well of ideas? Brainstorm with friends? How do you handle poor sales? That’s a tough one. The best answer for that is write another book, and another. Are you writing in the right genre? Are you spending at least a little time marketing it? On social networks (blogging or visiting and commenting on blogs, Facebook or Twitter?). And not just “Buy my Book” socializing.

Fear is faith in reverse. Make a habit of being positive about your career. It may sound crazy but the positive energy perpetuates positive energy.

Visualize what you want. Do you want to be a best-selling author? What does that look like? Feel like? See it in your mind, experience it as if it already happened. Set your goals and write them down. Read them often with enthusiasm and emotion.

Transmute negative thoughts and doubts into positive ones. Anyone who works in the medical field will tell you patients who have a positive outlook on their health and life, recover much faster than patients with a negative, depressed attitude. Any time a negative thought comes into your mind, push it away and replace it with the opposite positive one.

Rejection is just another step toward success. An opportunity to learn and sharpen your craft, build connections, make new friends. Come up with your own.

Never talk badly about another author, publisher, agent, reviewer, etc. It may be hard at times because we’re so close to our work and we tend to take it personal. Take a step away from that negative response. It’s part of the business and you’re a professional. Self-discipline.

Look for opportunities. When they come up, think of them as gifts and GRAB them. These are bonus chances to succeed toward your goals.

Step out of your routine and old habits. Try something different in your writing. You may discover you have skills you didn’t know you possessed. Take a class, a day trip, a college course, go to a conference, read a book in a genre you’ve never read before, etc.

Always strive for greatness, never good enough! Imagine greatness. Think about greatness and your goals before you go to bed and the minute you wake up. Let me know if you notice a difference or change taking place in a few weeks. J