The Writing Life: May 2026

____________________________________

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Fuel for Author Disappointment

Running on empty? Not selling as many books as you want to sell? Just like a car needs gas for fuel, authors need to take action to reach readers. Which actions are effective? I’m going to give you some answers below.

First, some background about some situations where I asked these questions. As an acquisitions editor at a New York publisher, Morgan James Publishing, often I speak with authors about their books. One our novelists with a trilogy of books, published his first novel with us about six months ago. Now he's speaking with me about getting a contract for books two and three in his series. Doing my due dilligence, I asked about the sales of his first novel. I learned this book has sold 40 copies in the bookstores. What disappointing news and shows this author did little (if anything) to promote those bookstore sales. The primary way our company makes money is selling books in the bookstores.

I’m speaking with another author who years ago published his first book with Morgan James. Now he is approaching me about publishing his second book. As a part of my preparation, I asked about his book sales for the first book. During the years his book has been in print, he has sold several hundred books inside the bookstore. Also this author has purchased a couple of hundred additional books. From a publisher viewpoint, these numbers are dismal. Often I tell my authors about the thousands of dollars Morgan James invests in the creation of their books and that to become profitable we need to sell about 4,000 copies.

Here’s the good news: despite those past sales numbers, we are working with these authors and all our other authors over the long haul. We don’t charge for our marketing training and are still helping authors who we published over 20 years ago. From my work in publishing, I know how different these actions are compared to other publishers. We do it because we understand that if the author takes steady and persistent effort, then the sales of their book can change. As a publisher, Morgan James is focused on the long haul and not a short period.

What to do with Author Disappointment

1. I encouraged both of these authors to get active and tell readers about the benefits of their book. It’s been proven that readers have to hear about the value of your book over and over before they take action (buy it). There are many different ways to show that activity such as blog posts, podcasts, radio, newspaper, live events, etc. Get a copy of John Kremer’s over 700 page book 1001 Ways to Market Your Book. Then read this book and try to execute as many of those ideas as you can.

2. As an acquisitions editor speaking with authors about their book, I’m searching for active authors who understand they have to take consistent action to reach readers and sell books. It is a constant area of my discussion with authors.

3. Another way I handle my author disappointment is to take action to get more of my work into the market. If you have heard any of my podcasts, I often talk about my own season of author disappointment when my books were not selling and how I turned that situation around through taking 100% responsibility for my own success. The process takes consistent and persistent work but is possible and every author can do it.

Finally I encourage you to watch this 55 second Facebook reel from “Starside” author Alex Aster on the impact that social media has had on her career. She tells Drew Barrymore about how she could not find a literary agent or a publisher for her novel. Alex believed in her story and created hundreds of videos on TikTok. Her readers watched and agreed. Now she is publishing her ninth novel. It’s a remarkable story about her determination, persistence and going directly to the readers with her books.

What fuel are you using for author disappointment? Let me know in the comments. Whatever you do, don’t quit and keep looking for the right place. I believe your persistence will pay off.

Tweetable:

When you experience author disappointment, what action do you take? This prolific author and editor suggests actions to fuel author disappointment. (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week another podcat recording launched:

Morgan McCarver (@GodTheArtistBk) and I spoke about publishing myths on God the Artist Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4ddVwQT

Currently I’m working with my third publisher as an acquisitions editor. During these years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations, dreams and desires for their books. I find many unrealistic expectations. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email:

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Labels: author, book sales, consistency, determination, Fuel for Author Disappointment, marketing, Morgan James Publishing, success, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life

____________________________________

Sunday, May 10, 2026

When You Hear Crickets

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

It happens to every writer. We pitch oaur books to editors and agents. We work for hours on creating a thorough and complete book proposal. We craft a query for a book publisher or a magazine editor. Select any of these active steps you are taking as a writer.

After this action, what happens? No response or crickets. What do you do next? First, my encouragement for one action not to take: quit. Here’s a second one not to take: stall and work on your piece and not submit or do anything.

From my years in publishing, I understand the challenges in the work but also I understand the opportunities. There are abundant opportunities for your work to be published and your words to enter the marketplace. In this article I want to present some ideas and encourage you to move forward.

While your desire to write and tell stories is a good one, publishing is a business and each of us (including me) need the help of others to find the right fit. Are you connected to other writers? Do you belong to a local writer’s group? If so, when does it meet and are you making the time to attend these sessions? Every writer needs these connections. Read this article for more reasons.

Another important writer activity is to join a critique group. Whether you do it face to face (ideal) or online (also possible), these groups are a free method to get insight and help for your storytelling. Whether it is a writer's group or a writer’s critique group, it will take some effort on your part to find the right connection. Don’t be surprised if you have to try several groups before you make the right connection. This trial and error is part of the journey that each of us have to make as writers.

For example, I’ve been in some incredible critique groups which helped me month after month for years. I've also been in some critique groups that I attended a couple of times, then dropped out of them. The critical element is to find the right one for you and your writing journey. It is different for each of us.

If you are not getting responses to your writing, I encourage you to try a different type of writing. Read the first free chapter of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams (follow this link). Maybe you want to write a book which is a good goal in my view as a book editor. But your first step should be to write some magazine articles. The 2026 Christian Writers Market Guide includes over 150 magazines where your writing could be published. The information changes from year to year so make sure you are using the latest guide. Articles are shorter than a 50,000 to 80,000 word book. As a writer, when you craft these articles you are learning some important skills about headlines, beginning paragraphs, writing to a single takeaway point and many other details. Use these links to learn more about magazine writing.

Another wise action when you are not getting any response is to attend a writer’s conference. There are large and small writers conferences with a variety of emphasis, cost and connections. The majority of us as writers are introverts but during these events,we have to push ourselves to interact with others, ask good questions and make new connections. At these events, I’ve made life-long friends who I can call or email when I'm stuck or need help. You can attend these events and take in the information yet not make new friends or connections. Bring plenty of business cards during these conferences and exchange with everyone you meet.

Recently I called a local writer friend. We had not spoken in years but during our conversation, she recalled the details of a conversation from over 20 years ago. The event where we met no longer exists but the details from our conversation has stood the test of time for this writer. You can have the same sort of impact with your writing and your conversations. More than reading about writing or listening to teaching about writing or thinking about it, getting your writing into the world takes consistent action. Every writer needs to spend time sitting at their keyboard and writing. You can make it happen through your continued actions.

When you hear crickets for your writing, what actions do you take? I look forward to your comments.

Tweetable:

Sometimes when we submit our writing, the response is silence or crickets. This prolific author and editor encourages a series of actions in this article. (ClickToTweet)

Editor’s note. For some reason, I could not get ClickToTweet to work. I’m including it below so you can easily cut and paste it on to others with my gratitude:

Sometimes when we submit our writing, the response is silence or crickets. This prolific author and editor Terry Whalin (@terrywhalin) encourages a series of actions in this article: https://bit.ly/3QYoXze #writinglife #pubtip

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Not every podcast host tells me about the launch of our recording. I found a couple more podcasts last week and here are those recordings:

Cameron Cowan (@cameroncowan) and I spoke about the publishing industry and much more on the Cameron Journal Podcast at: https://bit.ly/4uFDdLH

Christian Brim (@christian_brim) and I spoke about navigating the myths and realities of the publishing world on The Profitable Creative Podcast at: https://bit.ly/42VXW1R

As I’ve worked in the publishing world for years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations and dreams for their books. I’ve found many of these authors have unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help and take actions no matter what the publisher does for your book. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

Get these articles on your email:

Labels: book, conferences, connection, consistency, magazine writing, persistence, submissions, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life, When You Hear Crickets

____________________________________

Sunday, May 03, 2026

Avoid Something Terrible

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Thoughout my years in publishing, I’ve learned a critical insight that I will capture in this article. The sky looks threatening and the bench holds three monkeys who silently declare, “See no evil. Speak no evil. Say no evil.” They know something terrible is coming. I want to help you know how to avoid this experience as a book author.

I’m talking about the experience of looking at the sales numbers on your book and seeing single digits or zeros. I’ve had this experience with some of my books and it is not one that I recommend. When this happens, I have to ask myself, what am I actively doing to tell others about my book?

Most writers (including me) would prefer to be writing than telling others about my book (marketing or promotion). There are several things going on which make marketing or promotion necessary for every author whether they want to do it or not.

--Thousands of new books enter the market every day.

--Surveys have proven that someone has to hear about your book at least seven or eight times and maybe as many as 20 times before they purchase a book.

--Your book needs to be available everywhere (not just on one or two websites like your own website and Amazon).

--The process of telling others about the benefits of your book is often repetative and boring.

--Every author has excuses like I want to write or I dislike/ hate promotion and talking about myself and my book or I want someone else to do it. I’ve made and heard many different excuses. Don’t use it to let yourself off from it.

If marketing is something many writers avoid or don’t do, why should you do it? As the circus promoter P.T. Barnum said, “Without promotion, something terrible happens. Nothing.”

The Good News

--It’s never too early or too late. Every author can start and take action to sell their book.

--You can’t depend on someone else to do it. You must take your own action and your responsibility.

--You can learn to market and promote

--There are tools to help you in this process

--There are many different ways

--It doesn’t have to consume your day or time (you can still write)

--It can be fun if you do it consistently and perservere

Author Resources

You have to learn from other successful authors and use the right tools. I’ve tried Facebook ads and wasted money with no results. Follow bestselling novelist Mark Dawson and his LaunchPad course. Open now and only available a few times each year. Explore it. Buy it over time (as I did and have lifetime access). Watch the videos then apply them to your promotion work.

Years ago, I met and interviewed marketing expert Raleigh Pinskey. She has promoted many people and books throughout her career. Follow this link to get some of her details and insight. Raleigh gave me a copy of her excellent book, 101 Ways to Promote Yourself. The book includes a wealth of practical and easy to accomplish ideas for every author.

You have to craft your words and explore different methods. This weekend I received this email. Harrison House sent it out because I am a subscribers to ShelfAwareness.

Intrigued with the book, I saw YouTube video of an interview on Fox News. I watched the eight minute interview then I noticed some other wise marketing details. The first comment was from the author and included a link to purchase the book on Barnes & Noble. The email gave information which led me to additional information which led me to a link to buy the book on Barnes & Noble. Some wise person created a series of steps to attract and inform readers.

While I appreciate you reading this article and even passing it on to others (use the ClickToTweet), what actions are you going to take for your books? Thinking about it does not do it. You have to take consistent actions. Let me know in the comments below. I’m cheering for your success.

Tweetable:

Every author needs to avoid something terrible. Read this article from this prolific author and editor to learn the specifics. (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week I had another podcast recording launch:

Danielle Hutchinson and I spoke on the Authority on Demand Podcast about 10 Publishing Myths and my 40+ years of experience as an author, ghostwriter, editor, and acquisitions editor. Watch our interview at:https://bit.ly/4tPFT9m

Publishing is a complex business and much of the process is outside of anything an author can control—no matter how they publish. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors realistic expectations and practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

Get these articles on your email:

Labels: Avoid Something Terrible, bookselling, marketing, passion, promotion, repetition, TErry, The Writing Life