At conferences, you can spot them from miles away. They’re the ones who have been beaten down by years of rejection, the ones who believe the publishing industry is working against them … the ones who have lost all hope and faith and are now looking for someone to blame (or at least someone to complain to). Who am I talking about? The bitter writers.

SABOTAGE #7: BECOME BITTER

I've often had bitter writers respond to my rejection letters with strident explanations of why the rejection is wrong, or accusing me of bad judgment. (Unfortunately, the more I try to engage such people in a rational discussion of the reasons behind a rejection, the less they are convinced, and the angrier they get … which is probably one reason why few editors/agents like to write detailed rejection letters.) Part of what I see here is an inability to separate the personal aspect from the business aspect. I treat rejection as a part of my business day; writers take it as a personal affront, and being unable to bridge the gap produces animosity toward each other at the end of the day.

You can avoid this bitterness trap by understanding the industry, understanding why it works the way it does, and having the right expectations (or, no expectations).

I'll end with another quote as to the larger implications: "A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up" (Albert Schweitzer). And also from Schweitzer: "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."

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How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#6)
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#5)
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#4)
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#3)
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#2)
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#1)