I've learned to ignore naysayers. I've proven them wrong more than once (which, of course, I delight in doing). Had I listened to them, Sun Signs for Writers would've never gotten published because I would've second-guessed myself and stopped writing it.

Instead, I believed in the manuscript. I wrote my first nonfiction book proposal, crafted a sample chapter, submitted it to the publisher I most wanted to publish the manuscript, and set out to snag the literary agent I wanted to represent me.

What happened? I did things ass-backward, but the result was the same: my query, proposal, and sample chapter resulted in selling the manuscript to the publisher I'd picked first. Then, I approached Meredith Bernstein, the agent I wanted to sign with because she'd been an agent for YEARS in the publishing industry. She took me on as a client and proceeded to deal with the contract I was offered, making changes to it that would benefit me more.

Below is what bestselling author Dean Koontz has to say about naysayers. Read what he says. Take it to heart. Not everyone's opinion matters. Yes, I said it. It's true. Plus, opinions are like assholes – everybody's got one. My agent's opinion matters more than my neighbor's does.

Remember: there are countless armchair quarterbacks. Not everything they say matters. You're out here, doing it. Opening a vein and exposing the soft belly of your soul. They're not.

Keep writing. Create. Learn. Improve. Build your backbone until it's like steel because, in the publishing industry, you'll need it. Above all, keep moving forward. As a writer, you're doing something most people never even attempt. As for the naysayers? Smile, nod, and do what you were going to do anyway.

And now, Dean Koontz:

"One of the hardest things a writer needs to do is learn to tell the difference between worthwhile criticism and mere naysaying. Here are a few ways to tell the difference.

Worthwhile criticism will be highly specific; naysaying will be a broad kind of negativism.

Worthwhile criticism of specific detail will be delivered in a helpful tone; naysaying will have a snarky edge to it.
Worthwhile criticism comes from people who have a deep experience of fiction—writing it, editing it, marketing it; naysaying comes from people who have done none of that.

To get on with your career, don’t waste time responding to the naysayers. Don’t dwell on what they’ve said. Stay true to your vision. Instead of letting their negativism get you down and slow you down, adopt an 'oh-yeah?' attitude and double your effort; move faster into the future. The world is full of people who say it can’t be done. If everyone listened to them, we’d still live in caves—and there would be no such thing as books.

Best,
Dean Koontz"