Comments on: Preparing for Publication Anxiety

By: Barbara Samuel O'Neal

Barbara Samuel O'Neal — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:38:03 +0000

Glad to have been of some help. And remember, if you have a book coming out: breathe!

By: Paula R.

Paula R. — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:39:36 +0000

Hi Barbara, thank you for posting this blog. As a newbie, it helps to know that “older” pubbed authors go through this type of anxiety. When I get home, I will try to print this out, as a reminder for myself, when I get to that stage in my writing career.

Peace and love,
Paula R.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:39:53 +0000

I so needed to hear this. I’m going to stick this up in my office and read it when I begin to feel overwhelmed.

By: carleen

carleen — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:18:08 +0000

Great post! J.A. Konrath has also blogged extensively about how much luck plays a role, and that notion is very helpful to me. So much of how a book is received is out of our hands. To worry is really kind of crazy. Listen to me, all Zen after only 2 novels! LOL

By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:45:02 +0000

LOVE THIS, Barabara. I’m definitly going to have someone filter for me. You can’t please everyone, and in this age of the Internet, anyone can say anything anonymously.

By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:28:45 +0000

I LOVE this post and think that every almost-published author should refer to it. Thank you for sharing your wisdom! (p.s. Kristan, I just added the “share” code to the end of Barbara’s post, so you and others can spread the word/save the word more easily.)

By: Kristan

Kristan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:27:28 +0000

Barbara, this is one of the best posts I’ve read in a long time. Your #1 and #2 things to remember are fabulous, as is your advice. Going to fave/del.icio.us this for later (you know, someday when I’m agonizing over my publication and reviews ;P).

By: Richard Mabry

Richard Mabry — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:09:50 +0000

Great advice, and some I sorely needed to hear as publication day approaches. Thanks for sharing.

I’m going to have my wife embroider this on a sampler so I can hang it in my office: There is no book on the planet that was loved by every single person that read it.

By: Jessica Scott

Jessica Scott — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:32:10 +0000

What excellent advice. My writer’s group has had several authors recently published and they’ve all made the same recommendation that you’ve made here: mainly write the next book. Stay busy. And don’t take it to heart. I’ve read reviews where readers are critiquing the author for trying to write the book for the readers instead of what the characters need. The books were trounced in reviews but still wildly popular. I can’t imagine being that author and having to take all of the painful snarky remarks. Filtering the reviews is also excellent advice as bad reviews are simply nothing more than another rejection, something as writer’s we’ve long ago learned to live with but still don’t have to like it.
As I gear up for my agent to start submitting my trilogy to editors, I find myself eagerly reading advice on how to deal with the submissions process and the books once they’re published. Thanks for adding another post to my writer’s tool kit!

Jess Scott

By: Annette McCleave

Annette McCleave — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:23:46 +0000

I have no tips to share, but I appreciate this advice immensely! I have a book coming out next week, and I can already feel the anxiety easing. Thank you, Barbara.