I still feel like I’m learning and have so much more to learn. I don’t feel I’m in a position to give advice. But I’ll list some things that have helped me navigate the industry better and might help someone else.
1) Do not compare yourself to other authors. If you’re focused on how your book didn’t sell as many copies as “so and so’s” book, you’ll begin to resent your work and your career.
2) Write for yourself. If you try to write what you think people want to read, you won’t be able to put your whole heart into it. Write the story you would want to read. The more interested you are in your own words, the more honest your book will be.
3) Don’t write to get rich. The chances of a book finding an audience large enough to pay a bill, or even recoup your publishing costs, is slim. Write because you love to write, not because you need to.
4) Many disagree with me, but I let go of all expectations when writing a book. If I expect to hit the NYT or sell a certain number of copies, I will be setting myself up for possible failure. And then if those goals aren’t met, the joy of writing the book is overshadowed by a sense of failure. I’ve had many friends who started out this way, with high expectations for their books, and then became so jaded by the industry that they hate writing now. If you write a book and finish a book, that is a HUGE accomplishment. Let that be your only expectation—to write it and be proud of it. And then if something happens beyond that, it’s icing on the cake.
5) Google is your best friend. If you have a question, Google has the answer. Research, research, research.