Helpful Hints To Authors: Battling the number one thing that new and unpublished authors complain about​

Helpful Hints To Authors: Battling the number one thing that new and unpublished authors complain about​

The query process for authors seeking a traditional publishing deal, the endless process of querying literary agents is often described as "screaming into the void".

Rejection is common and often comes without feedback, making the experience feel arbitrary and frustrating. So here's some tips to help

In researching this weeks topic, I took the opportunity to chat with Dr. Dan Doyle (author of “For a Women’s Love”) and countless published short stories.

For a Woman's Love

He suggested that "this is one of the biggest issues facing authors." In fact; as I have worked with him for years and listened to his struggles in his writing work. I have seen the frustration, anxiety, exhaustion and countless times his work was passed over by publishers and countless submissions of short stories that he didn’t even get any kind of response back negative or positive from his submissions. He was able to pass on some very helpful hints to new and unpublished authors alike.

To further illustrate today's topic: A 2023 study by “The Bookseller” found that more than half of debut authors reported that the publishing process negatively affected their mental health, citing exhaustion, anxiety, and depression.

So let’s change this perspective

If you are in this craft of writing for the long haul then let’s look at it as a journey and not some obscure destination. Writing like life is a journey and not a destination.

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So let’s start the journey with what I think is the biggest challenge to most new and unpublished authors

Unrealistic Expectations:

Many first-time and unpublished authors mistakenly believe their book will sell itself through word-of-mouth alone, and are disappointed when it doesn't. Others fall prey to vanity presses that overcharge for poor quality services, mistakenly believing they are receiving a true publishing deal.

Here is a positive exercise:

Challenge yourself for the next 30 days to take just 10 minutes of your writing time and make a continuing list of what your personal expectations are when it comes to getting your writing published. As you do be honest with what you think and begin to re-structure your expectations to what are more reasonable for you.

Now let’s talk about how to overcome the Pressure of Getting Published as a new or unpublished Author

Let It Go to Grow: 

If you're a new or unpublished author, you've probably been there: staring at the screens cursor, heart pounding with excitement and dread, hoping this draft, will be "good enough" to get published. You dream of book deals, agents, launch parties, and seeing your name on a bestseller list. Then, reality sets in: rejection emails, radio silence, or worse — your own self-doubt whispering, "Maybe you're just not cut out for this."

You are a writer, you absolutely must have patience and persistence and take time for your business to grow!

Take a breath. You are not alone

The Myth of Instant Success

In the age of high speed social & multi-media, it’s easy to believe everyone is getting published and fast. But what we often don’t see are the years of failed drafts, rejections, rewrites, and small wins that came first.

Don't compare what you feel on the inside with what you see on the outside of other's or what you perceive in the world. Publishing isn’t a single achievement it’s a long, often unpredictable journey. Letting go of the expectation to be published right now doesn't mean giving up. It means giving yourself the freedom to grow as a writer without tying your worth to some obscure industry validation.

Why the pressure hurts your writing

When your only goal is to get published, your creative process starts to suffer:

• You may rush through drafts instead of revising deeply

• You may write what you think publishers want instead of what you’re passionate about

• You may fear taking risks even though risk often leads to originality

Don't let the pressure get to you! It can and in many cases has destroyed the uniqueness in other writers.

Your unique contribution to the world is the very thing that is essential to your success.

The truth

Good writing takes time. No publisher or agent can promise you a shortcut.

3 Mindset Shifts to Free Your Creativity:

• Write to Explore, Not to Impress

Your first draft doesn’t need to be “publishable.” It needs to be honest, curious, and messy. View your writing as an exploration or maybe as an adventure it's a way to discover your voice and uncover the stories only you can tell.

• Success Is Not a Straight Line

Many now-famous authors were rejected dozens (sometimes hundreds) of times. Success often looks like persistence, not perfection. Your writing will improve, your confidence will grow, and opportunities will come — maybe not on your timeline, but they will.

• Focus on the Craft, Not the Outcome

Publication is only a milestone in your life and not the finish line. Whether you're self-publishing, querying agents, or submitting to literary journals, the most important part is that you're writing. Every word you write makes you better. That’s the real win.

Practical Ways to Stay Grounded

• Join a writing group or community. Surround yourself with others who get it. Writing can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be.

• Celebrate small wins. Finished a draft? Submitted to a contest? Wrote today? That’s progress. Reward yourself now.

• Read widely. Learn what excites you, what moves you, what you admire. Let it inform you and help with your own work.

• Keep a “rejection log.” Not to punish yourself! Use it to track how persistent you’ve been. Every “no” is proof you’re still in the game.

You Are a Writer: Even Without a Book Deal

You don’t need an agent or a publisher to call yourself a writer. You just need to write. Publishing will come when it’s time. For now, write because you love it. Write because it teaches you about yourself. Write because the world needs your voice, whether that voice is in a bookstore today, or five years from now.

Treat your writing like a business:

No matter the publishing path, many new and unpublished authors struggle to accept that writing must be treated like a business. Some are uncomfortable with the idea of "selling" themselves and their work, which is essential to attracting readers. It is essential that you treat your writing like a business if you want to get published. Just don’t let “the business” overwhelm the craft of writing! Treat it serious but in most cases it’s a part-time job to begin with, so treat it as what it really is, not what your expectations say it “should” be. Let go of the “should've”, would've, could've & have's etc... They don't help!

My final thoughts:

Let go of the pressure to be published

Make space for the joy, challenge and craft of writing. Ironically, when you stop chasing publication as your sole goal, you often become the kind of writer who does get published.

Thanks for reading and please take the time to join our community and comment, we have left all our blogs open to comments.

Together we can help each other grow in our journey to become better writers.

Denny