Disappointment; get use to it.

Recently some of you may have read that I had petitioned some bookstores to carry my books in their brick and mortar stores. Well I got an answer back from one of the largest booksellers in the world and basically their answer was no. What I was told was that since they already carried my books on their on-line stores and because they already stock some one million titles in their brick and mortar stores they did not feel that at this time they could add my books to their on shelf inventory.

I am perfectly OK with that response. The fact that I received a response in the form of a letter I see as a success. So many publishers and agents do not even afford that courtesy now a day.

A big part of trying to become an author is learning to deal with disappointment. I would guess that only about ten percent (or less) of my queries even get a response, but it is important to keep trying especially if you believe in your work. There are so many factors that go in to selecting projects, it can rang from timing to subject matter to marketability to talent or even what is happening in the pop culture and you may never know what some one is looking for at any given time. If you did know that it would increase your chances a hundred fold. But because most of us do not have a crystal ball we just have to keep trying. The important thing is to keep trying. There are things that you can do to increase your chances such as getting as much feed back as you can from friends, family, and even strangers. Have your work as finished as it can be. Use professional editors. Above all believe in yourself and your work and don’t let your disappointments get the best of you, because there will be disappointment but they will make the successes that much sweeter.

Good luck and keep writing.