Failure.
It is a word every writer learns to appreciate with time. In the beginning, it is frustrating and angry-making. Along the way it becomes “meh” to the point of quitting completely. Eventually, there comes the realization that it is normal and part of the business.
Michael Jordan, basketball icon, said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
A Writer’s Guarantee
At some point in your writing journey, you will face the question of whether or not it is worth all the work, disappointment, and minuscule dollars. I suspect every writer hits this place. It is embedded in the fabric of the creative gift.
That is because the marketplace is capricious. Your writing is good sometimes and great at other times. Your ideas connect with one set of readers and maybe not the second time around.
But if the big bad ugly traditional publishers don’t want the book, you can always indie-publish and reap amazing success! Guaranteed!
Do you want guarantees? You better talk with your tax accountant or your mortician.
Avoiding Failure
The only guarantee to avoid failure is to stop writing and stop showing your work to anyone. I’ve known many writers who have ended up in this dark and lonely place. The most unusual was a writer who had never experienced rejection. Not once. The author’s first proposal was accepted; another book became a national bestseller, and for years, everything (fiction or nonfiction) created was published … until one day, it all stopped. Suddenly, no one wanted the next book proposal. I talked to this writer at length, trying to figure out what happened. This author solved the problem by never submitting a new proposal. No more failure. But no more writing either. In my opinion, that was not the right answer.
I have failed more than I care to admit.
As a bookseller, I spent thousands of dollars on a big, local promotional event only to have only about 50 people show up–and none of them bought anythin,g.
As an editor, I acquired books that no one wanted to buy. I also passed on books that became wild bestsellers.
As an agent, I signed projects that received 100% rejections from various publishers. I invested time and effort that was for naught.
But none of those failures will be my last one.
Overcoming Failure
A few thoughts on overcoming failure.
(1) Define success. Then you have a goal or a threshold to achieve. But be realistic. I once received a proposal where the writer claimed the idea was bigger than Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings … combined. It may be that your “failure” really wasn’t a failure but was simply a poor definition of expectations.
(2) Remember again why you are writing in the first place. Some fall into the idea of writing because it seemed a fun thing to do. Others have the pull from a young age. Others can do nothing else because the call to write is so very strong. Failure can blind or deafen you to remember what brought you to this place where failure confronts you.
(3) Embrace your failure. And I mean truly grasp that smelly, prickly, burning, bitter, and nightmarish thing in your arms and pull it close. The sensation can be overwhelming. But it also can reveal itself to be the size of a small stuffed animal and not the scary beast from the forest of your mind. Once you have embraced the failure for what it is …
(4) Go out and do it again. The rewards for sticking with it outweigh all the rest. And whether you publish traditionally, indie, or hybrid, the words you write will not be void.
As Winston Churchill said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
I have been a victim of flagging enthusiasm after repeated failure. But repeated failure has also made my writing better (my early failures were well-deserved). Thus far, I’ve succeeded in getting better. Onward and upward!
Every night they come to say,
“Why don’t you quit, and just give in?
Why do you persist to play
a game you know you cannot win?”
And, you know, it’s right and true;
I’ve muffed all opportunities,
and it’s far too late to do
anything but to release
the hopes and dreams that did sustain
a dreaming, striving soul,
and though nothing now can remain,
I find I am more solid-whole
in offering my failure story,
not ’bout me, but for His glory.
I love this post. I have taken your advice and redefined failure not in terms of number of books sold. One letter from a reader who tells me that my book changed their life, saved them from a crisis in faith, or brought them peace, counts as success. And I have gotten enough of those to want to keep going, no matter how many people do not buy my books.
Thank you, Steve.
I am reminded of how Daniel, Jeremiah, and Baruch are mentioned in the book of Nehemiah (Chapter 10) as signing a covenant for the restored Israel to walk in the Lord’s ways. According to some historians, these were failures, e.g., Jeremiah “died in obscurity in Egypt.” (They had no wives or children; they did have many dangers and persecutions). Yet these people wrote books that are published best-sellers for the last 2425 years.
The most important post I could have read today (or many other days, for that matter)!
Romans 15:5 describes our Lord as “a God of endurance and encouragement.” The only reason anyone would need either of those is in the face of failure. But need is he who overcomes, and in Christ we are more than conquerors. Keep writing! (And thank you for this important reminder!)
Though I love the quote from Winston Churchill, I will admit it stung a bit. Who looks forward to failure repeatedly? And I smile as I type that question because the answer is simple…a writer, because in failure we can choose to grow and learn. It is through failure that I have made some of life’s most precious connections.
This post is filled with wisdom and encouragement, and for that I am grateful.
This is a timely message for me as I am trying to finish a variety of projects. Thank you for the encouragement.
Very well said. Thank you, Mr. Laube.
When it comes to feeling like a failure, I’m reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 4:3: “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.”
We may feel like we’ve failed or sense judgment from those around us—but in the end, that doesn’t matter. What truly matters is what God thinks of us. And if we are sincerely trying to live for Him, He is pleased.
Oh how I needed this today! I spent a whole day at a table with 7 other authors, most of whom did quite well. I sold no books. Not even one! It seemed like every time I said the word Christian the eyes glazed over the book went back on the table. I had decided, “no more.” But I know I can’t quit. Lives have been changed through my books. I have a fantasy series to finish. I’m going to go work on it now.
Thanks Steve, for keeping me on track!
Marcia Laycock
I think this must be the #1 most important lesson for writers to learn if they want to survive and thrive over the long haul. And when you do, you can stop being afraid of it. And then voila! The writing joy comes back.
Thanks, Steve, for the reminder that if I don’t quit, I will not fail — every time.
Sometimes it feels like the hard advice is the best advice. Thanks, Steve!
Wow! I read every paragraph and took this article to heart. Now, could you send out an article on HOW LONG SHOULD A WRITER KEEP WRITING? Into his/her eighties? The words don’t come so easily. I type “XXX” and hope that word will creep back into my aging brain. My very supportive husband, in his heart, wishes I would also retire. He deserves to relax more and travel freely. I said this would be my last novel, and it truly is my best. But, alas, another plot and totally different situation keeps knocking at the door, and it could be the start of a series. Into my eighties?
Should I finally hire a professional to redo my amateurish website at this age? Make a half dozen other financial investments at this belated point? How long should I keep writing?
Best thing I’ve read on accepting failure in pursuit of success. Thanks for sharing your experiential wisdom.
Beautiful post, Steve!
This blessed me. God bless you. Thank you.
Blessings.
Failure becomes a tool for growth when we seek to know why failure came and learn from the experience.
Failure… I don’t know what that is. I just keep writing because I enjoy it and the re-search is the best part, next to the artwork that is. Even the newsletter, website, and all the other things that go along with it has been pretty amazing. I’ve met the neatest people. Some of it has been kind of difficult, because I have a learning disability, but even that part was a personal conquest that I enjoyed.
Gods word never comes back empty.
SGClark