The best advice I can give to all future writers is to learn how to develop a thick skin. I can remember when the box came with my first published book, “The Chance To Do It Again”. Holding it in my hands and seeing my name in print was a dream come true. Writing romance novels was something I had wanted to do since I was a child. My heart was overflowing with joy because I finally did it.
Then I saw my first review on Amazon. The person who wrote the review crucified the book. As I read the review, I realized it wasn’t just a review on the book it was a personal attack. I’m 99% sure I know who wrote it and why, but that didn’t stop the pain and hurt. This person didn’t care how long it took me to write that book or the dreams I had. With just a few words, the bubble of joy I had been feeling burst into a pool of tears.
Reviews are what sells books. They are what help your book rate higher in the search engines and algorithms. I knew readers going on reviews alone would pass my book up. They won’t even give it a chance.
I was so devastated, that if it hadn’t been for the fact, I had already paid for the next two books to be published, “The Luck Of The Irish Johnny’s Gift and The Luck Of The Irish Sarah’s Gift” I probably would have quit. But I’m so glad I didn’t, and neither should you.
Not everyone is going to like what you write and that’s ok. Write because you love to write. Write because there is a story inside of you. It’s a story that only you can tell because no one has the imagination that you do. Or the experiences you have had.
Write for the sheer joy of it! I promise you, when you hold your book in your hand for the first time, you will feel as if you can fly. You will have accomplished something that many talk of doing, but only a few ever do. You are the dreamer that never gave up!