Failure.... and the compulsion to keep writing

I had a project last year that did not sell. Before it went out on submission I chatted with my agent about what I would do if it didn’t sell and the answer left my lips immediately, without hesitation. I’ll start working on the next thing. Because I can’t help it. It’s a compulsion.

Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash

Not selling something I had worked very hard on was not fun (understatement). It was frustrating, disappointing and I felt a little bruised. But ultimately, I was proud of what I had created and though there were commercial reasons that it was not sold, it was (in my eyes) not a total failure. The goal was to publish and get paid, of course, but what I learned about myself and my voice as a writer, about craft and process while I was working on it were also important. I had gained a lot from completing that project, even though it was not published. I am a more experienced writer because of it.

I’m not sure if I know a single author who hasn’t either had whole manuscripts shelved, or tens of thousands of words dumped, or proposals rejected or incompleted when it was clear it was not working. It is part of creative work to explore roads that may not lead to cities of gold.

One of the things I do when I am chatting to potential book coaching clients is try and put them off. I emphasis the length of time publishing takes, the amount of work needed to be put in before anyone will be willing to pay you for your words, the likelihood of being rejected, the sheer work involved in promoting a book. None of these are even necessarily about writing, just the work (and heartache) around the writing of a book.

Why do I do that?

I’m not in the business of promising dreams and making things look easy as pie. Writing a book is a big undertaking. There are easier ways to earn money or receive accolades. Much easier and much less risky ways.

Writing a book proposal or a manuscript that’s not yet commissioned will always be a risk. It’s time poured into a project that you may or may not see financial rewards for. So the goal - being published, getting paid - may well be important but it can’t be the only thing driving you.

For most writers I know, writing is a compulsion. It’s something we can’t not do. It’s a way for us to process the world around us and understand our place in it, and then to share those thoughts and ideas with others.

Do I want to get paid for my work? Of course. But creative work will always mean going out on a limb and exploring projects before anyone else is willing to back them yet. Some of them will pay off, others won’t.

So I will continue to put potential clients off. I will tell them the risks. If the only thing drawing someone to writing a book is the opportunity to call themselves an author, I doubt that they will stay the course. Because writing a book means actually having to sit down and write it, risks and all, rather than just calling yourself a writer and some people don’t actually want to do the former, just the latter.

If that hasn’t put you off (ha!) then congratulations, you are a compulsive writer. And you will very likely reach your goals someday, even if it looks a little different than planned.

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There are just a few spots left on the next Book Proposal Group Program beginning April 30th. Would you like to finish a book proposal by the summer, have the support of a writers group and have me by your side every step of the way? You can book your place here. Payment plans are available.