First Book Syndrome

What’s the question every writer wants to know?

When will I get published?

It’s the question burning inside of all of us, a desire we feel so strongly sometimes it’s more than we can take. We start writing a book and we wonder, will this be the one? The one to be published? For some people, they write a book and it’s the next best seller. For others… it’s not that way.

But that’s the big question: will my first book get published? It’s different for every writer. I’ve heard of some writers publishing their first book and having great success. But that’s not going to be the case for every single writer. For others, it takes a lot more practice and patience.

For some time I let this stop me. I had this belief hindering me that if this book I’m currently writing isn’t going to get published, what’s the point of even writing it? Thankfully I learned differently.

There is a point. A big one. It’s called growth.

Your first book may not be the book you publish, but it will grow you and shape your writing for the book you will publish. You have to accept the fact that it most likely will not be the book you publish, most authors first books aren’t the one. But you have to accept that and not let it stop you.

Because if you let it stop you, then you won’t be writing. And if you’re not writing, then you’re not growing. And if you’re not growing, then you never will be published.

Just being real with you.

If being a published author is a dream and goal you are actively pursuing, then you can’t let anything get in your way. Not even first book syndrome.

Your first book may not get published. Or your second. Or your third. For some authors it’s taken many tries to get it right. Writing is what we love but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard. It takes practice, lots of it. You have to study the craft, the publishing industry, as well as grow your platform in order to be ready. You can’t just wake up one day and expect to be ready to publish. It takes years.

But I say this to encourage you, not dampen your spirit. If you finish reading this article and suddenly you no longer want to publish, then maybe it’s not meant for you. Because I say this to prepare you, not scare you away. I haven’t been published yet but I am constantly taking steps towards it and I know, even the tiny steps that I’m taking that sometimes feel like nothing at all, are hard. Publishing is hard.

That’s why you have to remember why you’re doing this. So on the hard days, you can still smile and think, “This is only a step to my end goal”. Because that end goal, holding your published book in your hands, will be more than worth it. It will be beautiful. Magical. Even if you think of that alone, that should be enough to keep you going through it all.

So don’t get stuck in first book syndrome. Allow yourself to write other projects. Don’t become so hyper focused on writing and rewriting your first book that you forget that it may not be “the one”. Keep writing. Keep practicing. And you will get better and you will become published one day if you don’t give up.

Your turn!

Are you stuck on your first book or is that a distant memory? Do you have confidence in your first book that it could be the one? Do you believe that you can achieve your dreams?

Blessings, Allyson

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