Jennifer Wilson's Blog - Posts Tagged "books"
Fending off Writer’s Doubt…
Ah the dreaded writer’s doubt. Every writer would love to say that he or she is above it, that there was never a doubt in his or her mind about their book, their writing or their characters, but that would be a lie. It seems it is in our human nature to have moments of doubt. There are always the dreaded moments when an agent whispers no in your ear or a reader blasts that he hated your book online. Those minuscule moments in time are all it takes for that tiny seed of doubt to take root. So how do we overcome those thoughts of self-doubt, those moments that make you want to give up and condemn your literary works to the digital bookshelf of shame?
While it is easy to fall into that self-pitying sea of doubt, your confidence in your own book is your best advocate. No one will ever be as loving or as passionate about your book as you are. Readers can fall in love with your characters, hate your villains and dream of being a part of your manifested worlds, but ultimately it was your passion, your need to feed your own soul that brought that literary world to life. If you don’t love your characters, why should anyone else?
Even though all writers should pour their hearts and souls into their works, it is also important to be able to detach yourself a little bit. The market can be fickle thing and not everyone is going to like your work and that’s okay. Don’t take it personally. Agents are often looking for the next trend and just because your book doesn’t fit into that category doesn’t make you a bad writer. Horror books have been around long before Edgar Allen Poe, wizards were wielding magic long before Harry Potter and forbidden romances were being read and whispered about long before Fifty Shades of Grey. In short, don’t write to emulate the newest trend, write about what makes you passionate. It doesn’t matter if it’s trendy or not. If you are ardent about what you’re writing, people will read your book. Not because someone in an office told them it was trendy but because their best friend recommended it. Your current work may not be a best seller, but that does not make it a bad book. Not everyone is going to love your book, but many others will.
When it comes to the book world, no doesn’t really mean no anymore. Thanks to the digital world, authors don’t have to give up when agents say no. If you are really passionate about your work, self-publish. Just because ten agents told you no, doesn’t mean hundreds of readers won’t say yes. But remember to listen to your fans. While sometimes brutally honest, their points are often be valid. Take that feedback and use it to grow. The day a writer stops growing is the day he or she should put down the allegorical pen. If you aren’t developing, then your characters aren’t either.
I am not saying it’s easy to have self-confidence at every turn. Like most things in life, writing is a bit of a roller coaster. There will always be highs and lows. The key is to look up in those low moments and remember it’s the only place to go from there. If that is not enough of encouragement for you, take a look at a list some of this last century’s most popular authors. J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Dan Brown, Dr Seuss, C.S. Lewis, Margaret Mitchell, and Stephen King were all repeatedly rejected before their books exploded onto best sellers list. What if they had just given up?
Doubt is literally betting against yourself. So try and stack the odds in your favor. When in doubt, keep writing. You can only grow with experience, and while you may edit that part out later, or get another rejection letter, at least you’re still wading forward through that dreaded sea of doubt instead of drowning in it.
While it is easy to fall into that self-pitying sea of doubt, your confidence in your own book is your best advocate. No one will ever be as loving or as passionate about your book as you are. Readers can fall in love with your characters, hate your villains and dream of being a part of your manifested worlds, but ultimately it was your passion, your need to feed your own soul that brought that literary world to life. If you don’t love your characters, why should anyone else?
Even though all writers should pour their hearts and souls into their works, it is also important to be able to detach yourself a little bit. The market can be fickle thing and not everyone is going to like your work and that’s okay. Don’t take it personally. Agents are often looking for the next trend and just because your book doesn’t fit into that category doesn’t make you a bad writer. Horror books have been around long before Edgar Allen Poe, wizards were wielding magic long before Harry Potter and forbidden romances were being read and whispered about long before Fifty Shades of Grey. In short, don’t write to emulate the newest trend, write about what makes you passionate. It doesn’t matter if it’s trendy or not. If you are ardent about what you’re writing, people will read your book. Not because someone in an office told them it was trendy but because their best friend recommended it. Your current work may not be a best seller, but that does not make it a bad book. Not everyone is going to love your book, but many others will.
When it comes to the book world, no doesn’t really mean no anymore. Thanks to the digital world, authors don’t have to give up when agents say no. If you are really passionate about your work, self-publish. Just because ten agents told you no, doesn’t mean hundreds of readers won’t say yes. But remember to listen to your fans. While sometimes brutally honest, their points are often be valid. Take that feedback and use it to grow. The day a writer stops growing is the day he or she should put down the allegorical pen. If you aren’t developing, then your characters aren’t either.
I am not saying it’s easy to have self-confidence at every turn. Like most things in life, writing is a bit of a roller coaster. There will always be highs and lows. The key is to look up in those low moments and remember it’s the only place to go from there. If that is not enough of encouragement for you, take a look at a list some of this last century’s most popular authors. J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Dan Brown, Dr Seuss, C.S. Lewis, Margaret Mitchell, and Stephen King were all repeatedly rejected before their books exploded onto best sellers list. What if they had just given up?
Doubt is literally betting against yourself. So try and stack the odds in your favor. When in doubt, keep writing. You can only grow with experience, and while you may edit that part out later, or get another rejection letter, at least you’re still wading forward through that dreaded sea of doubt instead of drowning in it.
My 2014 End of the Year Book Survey
Best in Books 2014
Here's my breakdown. Please feel free to leave your answers in the comments below!
1. Best book you read in 2014?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?
The Host by Stephanie Meyer (Better than I thought it would be.)
4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did) in 2014?
New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson
5. Best series you started in 2014? Best sequel of 2014? Best series ender of 2014?
Series started: In the After by Demitria Lunetta
Sequel: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Series ender: Champion by Marie Lu
6. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
7. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
8. Book you read in 2014 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
9. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?
New World: Rising (Forgive me for this is a selfish choice because I never though I would see my own book finished.) :)
10. Most memorable character of 2014?
Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey (I didn't like the main character or really most of the books to be honest, but his character was interesting and had a lot of development potential. He was interesting.)
11. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
12. Book that shocked you the most?
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
13. Book that made you squirm the most?
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
14. Favorite book you read in 2014 from an author you’ve read previously?
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
15. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?
Day from Legend by Marie Lu
16. Best book you read in 2014 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else/peer pressure?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Here's my breakdown. Please feel free to leave your answers in the comments below!
1. Best book you read in 2014?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?
The Host by Stephanie Meyer (Better than I thought it would be.)
4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did) in 2014?
New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson
5. Best series you started in 2014? Best sequel of 2014? Best series ender of 2014?
Series started: In the After by Demitria Lunetta
Sequel: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Series ender: Champion by Marie Lu
6. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
7. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
8. Book you read in 2014 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
9. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?
New World: Rising (Forgive me for this is a selfish choice because I never though I would see my own book finished.) :)
10. Most memorable character of 2014?
Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey (I didn't like the main character or really most of the books to be honest, but his character was interesting and had a lot of development potential. He was interesting.)
11. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
12. Book that shocked you the most?
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
13. Book that made you squirm the most?
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
14. Favorite book you read in 2014 from an author you’ve read previously?
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
15. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?
Day from Legend by Marie Lu
16. Best book you read in 2014 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else/peer pressure?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Release day!!!
Tada!! Guys New World Rising is finally available for purchase!!
PLEASE NOTE: Amazon had a glitch and did not link the paperback and kindle editions. They are fixing it now, but in the meantime you must search "New World Rising paperback"" and go to page 2, it's in the middle. Please spread the word!
After all what is a release day without an Amazon glitch! Anyways, time for celebrations!
NEW WORLD ASHES OUT JUNE 7th
Greetings fabulous fans!
Apologies for being MIA lately, but we have been working hard on some behind the scene magic to get ready for New World: Ashes big release day!
If you want to join the party here are the best ways to celebrate:
Support us with Thunderclap
Join the Facebook Party
Tag me on Instagram
There will be giveaways for those helping us celebrate... hint hint
xxJennifer
Apologies for being MIA lately, but we have been working hard on some behind the scene magic to get ready for New World: Ashes big release day!
If you want to join the party here are the best ways to celebrate:
Support us with Thunderclap
Join the Facebook Party
Tag me on Instagram
There will be giveaways for those helping us celebrate... hint hint
xxJennifer
Jennifer Wilson's Blog
Author of the New World series and The Chosen series.
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