As an author, I have overcome many things. An introvert by nature, it has been a struggle to put my work out into the spotlight for all to see. I knew as soon as I self-published my first novel, the trolls would sniff the air, detect the newbie fear, and come out from under the bridges to insult my work- of course, that happened. My passion for writing has always been stronger, so I stop reading the reviews and wrote my books for me. Thankfully, the support from the writers and readers of Twitter helped me to overcome the fear of trolls.
The next mountain I have had to climb is pitch panic. Pitching to agents and to publishing houses is the greatest challenge of my life. Even though I am self-published, I still dream of one day being a part of the big six publishing world. That is a big dream to dream, but why not? If you are going to dream, dream big. We authors are great at imagining the dreamiest outcomes, right? But how do we overcome pitch panic? The fear of approaching an agent who may or may not want to represent us or a publisher that either ignores us, tells us to re-submit in the fall, or say you are not a good fit for their publishing house is very real. I must admit, pitch panic kept me from querying for years. I still struggle with the panic, but I thought I would share with you my strategies I am using to overcome pitch panic. I hope this will help you too.
- I remind myself to breathe. It can be nerve-wracking to expose your work and have a total stranger look at it. So, remember to breathe. Remind yourself that someone saying no isn’t the end of the world. It just means you will just have to try somewhere else.
- When you receive a rejection letter, remember, they are not rejecting you as a person. Nor are they always saying your work is rubbish. More likely, it is the fact they do not connect with your work, or it isn’t the type of books they publish. It isn’t a personal attack against you as a writer.
- Inspire yourself. After every rejection letter I get, I read about other writers I admire. Their stories of how they made it to where they are today keep me inspired to keep going.
- Never over think it. Our minds love to wander. That makes us effective writers, right? Just don’t let your mind go into overdrive to the negative. It is toxic. When we let our minds drop into a negative space, we begin to doubt ourselves and our ability to write. Worst of all, we compare our work to others and end up feeling imposter syndrome.
- Go for a walk or find some type of fresh air activity after submitting your work. I also use guided meditation to clear my mind of negativity.
- Keep writing! Never stop writing because you get a rejection letter or a negative review. Let nothing or anyone dull your creativity.
- Keep sending those queries. Eventually, you will find your publishing house, and/or agent. You will find your people! There is someone out there that will say yes. Until then, keep going.
I know not all my suggestions are fail-proof, but it’s what helps me to keep pursuing my dream. Hopefully, you can find a few nuggets of inspiration today.
Disclosure: This blog is not intended as medical advice or a means to diagnose any mental or physical conditions. This blog is written from the point of view of the author to provide inspiration to the readers. If you or someone you know is having a crisis, please contact your medical physician or mental health provider.
