You can be your own worst enemy

Creative people are often the most sensitive and the most passionate. As a result, they can also let emotions get the better of them in their profesional lives. I have seen this situation again and again in our industry.

Some of the situations go something like this. These examples are not from specific authors.

Author A got a bad review. This review is less than a hundred words in length and is riddled with typos. The review is not accurate in describing the plot--even the character names are spelled incorrectly. The author takes this review to heart and lets it impact her writing schedule instead of brushing it off. I understand that negative or inaccurate reviews hurt, but as a professional author, you must work through them. Reviews are just opinions. Don't give them the power to derail your work.

Author B sees that there is a buzz associated with New York Times best selling Author Z. She vows that she will write 'Just like Author Z' to hit the best seller lists and is surprised when her efforts don't produce the perfect Author Z clone. Author B is a fine author to begin with and there is no need to try force her work and voice into Author Z's mold. Author B does herself and her work a disservice by trying to imitate Author Z. In a year or two, Author B's book of the heart may have crested the best seller lists as well.

Author C lets professional molehills become mountains and upsets herself so much that writing isn't an option, sometimes for multiple years! Author C is a fine writer and these issues can be easily put to bed, if only she can let go of them and put fingers to keyboard or pen to paper. Author C may know this, but she cannot always seem to let go of the newly built mountains. More than a few promising writing careers have ended this way.

Author D surrounds herself with negative people who may be furthering their own agenda. She becomes convinced that the world--everyone from her dog walker, her children's teachers, everyone in the industry-- is out to get her. She isolates herself and her entire professional scope shrinks to this small and not so trusted group of 'friends'. She lashes out at bookstore personnel, readers and everyone from the newest Intern to the most Senior Editor at her publisher. She sends nasty letters and sometimes insulting gifts to review publications in a sarcastic thanks for less than perfect reviews. She threatens lawsuits. Her friends encourage and fuel her negativity. I'll let you guess if they're around when Author D has alienated industry professionals and done significant damage to her career. Author D may take multiple years to rebuild the reputation she had and she may very well never be able to turn the tide.

These examples may be extreme, but they do happen. Keep positive and keep writing!