Failures in Writing that Leads to Success
You cannot call yourself a successful writer if you have never failed. Every writer encounters rejections, skepticism, and incompetence. Even myself had gone through it.
I recall reading a novel by Agatha Christie, one of my favorite authors. Her stories are primarily fictional, with a touch of mystery thrown in for good measure. When I decided to learn more about her writing journey, I was astounded by her perseverance and dedication as a writer.
Did you know that Agatha Christie's first novel, The Mousetrap, was never published? Her second novel was rejected several times before being published because she transformed the ending. Agatha Christie still didn't give up and went on a fruitful career, writing 72 novels and 15 collections of short stories despite her numerous rejections.
It is one example of background from the world's most successful authors; there are even more. I'm telling you this because as you keep reading, you'll discover the failures that lie behind every writer's victory.
Here's a question that most people ask:
Why do the majority of writers fail?
Simple. Writers fail because they try. They arrived at a starting point that deterred them because they lost sight of their strengths. Not just that, they often compared themselves to other writers at the helm without considering their struggles.
In my personal experience, I have failed loads of times because I prefer to quit rather than take risks. I used to stop writing for a long time because I was so self-critical. I think I was not a wordsmith after all. Don't get me wrong; writing is not an easy job.
I'm confident that you've had your fair share of failures, and as I tell you about some of the losses that writers have had after every attempt, you'll realize we have a lot in common.
Let's go on and discover those failures behind the success in writing.
Unfinished Story
Is it normal for a writer to have a backlog or a series of drafts in their stockpiles?
Yes, it is. Many writers started a plot which they didn't have a basic idea on how it should end. In that part, they already committed a mistake in the first step. Maybe they haven't thought of a good story concept that leads their story in drafts, unfinished. Undiscovered.
Many people avoid writing a book because it is hard. Pressuring yourself to sit, strategize, write, rewrite, revise, edit, cut, add, reformat, redo, and redo some more until you have between 50,000 and 100,000 words is excruciating work. That explains why writers stock an unfinished storyline—running out of words to write.
Writer's Block
What is it that prevents us from writing? What generates us to stop for a moment in the middle of a sentence and press the backspace key? I have three things to consider, and I'm sure for many of you:
1. I'm at a loss.
2. I'm mentally tired.
3. I'm terrified.
Which one used to be the most difficult for me to overcome? For me, it's number three. I was terrified. How about you?
Before I discovered some fantastic writing websites," I found myself blocking and deleting more than I was typing away on my keypad. It was vexing, and I had no idea what was going on. I knew exactly where my story was going, but I couldn't figure out how to get there. That's what we call "writer's block."
It's never easy to recover from that mentality. I'm sure it can take one article if we have to tackle it all. Let's talk about the basics. The best way to recover writer's block is to take a rest in writing, travel, watch movies and give time for yourself to enjoy.
Rejections
As I've said, there are hundreds of writers who have undergone a world full of rejections. Not only me, not even you, but also the rest of the writers out there, famous or infamous.
Rejection is not a choice. We hear it all the time. To deal with it, consider these tips:
Recognize the pain and mourn the loss. Rejection means losing something but trying again.
Don't hold it against yourself. It's natural to be curious about why you face rejections.
Increase your strength and resilience.
Continue to put yourself out there.
Edit your work. Take it slow. Don't hesitate to ask for support from trusted individuals.
Rejection is a pain. Whether you're a seasoned writer with a long list of publications or a newcomer throwing the ball of an idea for the first time, rejection can cause you to doubt yourself and your qualities.
Possibly that it's not rejection itself that causes these emotions, but how we deal with it, and that the better we learn to deal with rejection, the more we can use it to our advantage instead of against us.
Take it easy; let yourself experience rejections.
Less Percentage of Readers
Loosen up. Writing is not a competition. Fame takes measures to obtain.
When you publish a book, whether online or in paperback, it does not have the full potential to rise to the top. If it's viewed and liked, it could become the next best-seller. But don't get too ecstatic or depressed—there is always a good compromise.
I recall releasing my first book through an online reading platform. Can you imagine having only ten readers in a month? It's a failure on my part because I finished that book with so many conflicts and bold commitments. I've spent sleepless nights on an empty stomach only to get ten readers in one month. That was too painful for me.
But I never gave up. I still believe that my book has a chance of being read. I tried to be humble and patient because I needed it as a writer. I know there's a perfect time for every writer to shine. And to get there, failure is the key ingredient.
"Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also a place to go in your head. It is your imaginary friend who drinks your tea within the afternoon."—Ann Patchett