We all know life is trial and error. Of course, when you travel an unknown path, you have to expect a few stumbling blocks. No matter how much research you put in, there is always a variable which arises that might be unique to you. Many people will explain away their lack of success with a multitude of excuses. You are never accepting responsibility for their failures. It is always someone else’s fault when we do not reach a goal. As a writer, do you learn from failure?
You go through the painstaking effort of creating a novel. Then you have to get said creation, titled, edited, and published. When writers set out on the journey, the main concern is penning the story. Others will try to find out as much as they can about the process of writing, submissions, and publishing beforehand. Many do not worry about editing and publishing until after the story is complete. I am here to say there is no wrong or right way to go about bringing a book to fruition. My point is that regardless of how well you prepare, you can still suffer from failure.
What happens when you believe you failed as a writer? The degree of failure varies from person to person as well as situation to situation. Some give up entirely before the book is ever published. Others try to figure out where they have gone wrong. It can range from not having a good plot to not marketing your book to the point of discoverability. With every book you produce, your technique, confidence, and promotion should improve.
The main objective is to be satisfied with your end product. For someone who writes for personal fulfillment, it can be. For others who want a writing career, self-gratification for finishing and publishing is only the tip of the iceberg. The real goal is for an audience to enjoy what you have created. Every writer wants to know that their work resonates with readers. Of course, becoming a best-seller is the icing on the cake for any writer.
In my experience, writing requires a tough exterior. You have to swallow many rejections before you get a green light. It can take moments or years. The key is to continuously work on your craft to achieve the result you crave. When I started on the road to authorship, aside from the ability to write a proper sentence, I had no idea if I would finish my first book. Sure, I have made plenty of mistakes along the way, but as a writer, I learn from failure. I found out you have to write about what motivates you. One day it could be mystery/thriller, and several months down the road it could be science fiction. Go with your gut. Your passion for writing needs to migrate from your mind on to blank pages.
Today, I have more than a dozen books under my belt and a growing fan base. In the process, I have changed book covers, changed story endings, and learned to market my books better. I have grown from failure and improved over time through determination. As a writer, you can learn from failure.