Many writers seem to think that the only milestone worth celebrating is publication, but many milestones occur along the publishing path. Taking time to celebrate can help to keep you moving forward.

One of my best friends participates yearly in the 5K Color Run in Sacramento. The Color Run is a national event, and many different cities host the races year round. Lots of schools do this for fun or as a fundraiser, too. It’s not a very competitive race, but all of the runners wear white, and at each kilometer marker a group of volunteers pelts the runners with color packets. By the end of the race you are covered in five different colors, and you look like a sweaty rainbow. Knowing that something exciting is waiting at the next kilometer marker helps the runners to enjoy the race more, they stay motivated, and the time passes more quickly. The same friend does a fall “race” in Sonoma County (California wine country) where they give you wine at stops along the way and at the end of the race you get a wine glass to fill up with unlimited tastings. That’s huge motivation for some people. And it’s a race where you can actually gain weight by the end, rather than lose it.

I think your publishing journey should be like the Color Run (0r the Wine Run). At each milestone–publishing an article; finishing your manuscript; putting together your proposal; writing and submitting your query letter; getting manuscript requests; finding an agent; signing a publishing contract; seeing your book on the shelf–celebrate somehow. Hopefully your form of celebration doesn’t end in your looking like a sweaty rainbow, but if that’s what you enjoy, go for it! Building in celebrations, big or small, will help you to stay motivated and to enjoy the sometimes-grueling publishing process.

 At what publishing milestones do you celebrate?

Writing and editing are inseparable companions. Ask the most prolific writers and they’ll tell you that despite millions of books sold and hundreds of titles under their belt, an editor still looks at every word they write.

The most polished writer who turns in a pristine manuscript will have still missed something. And it might be big. I meant to say genuine but wrote geriatric instead. Oops. Four rounds of edits and none of us caught that?

Established authors realize that every book published likely has at least one oops left in it. We learn to turn our momentary grief into a marketing opportunity. “First reader to comment on the typo in Chapter Seventeen receives a gift card to purchase more books!”

Though writers become well-versed in the inevitability of editing in their writing, they don’t always pay attention to what needs to be edited out of their self-talk. Those oopsies can be the most dangerous of all, because misguided or erroneous self-talk forms neural connections that lead to more misguided internal dialogue.

My editor will catch that.

The writer notices a problem but doesn’t fix it, leaning instead on the editor to find a new word or figure out how to punctuate a quote within a quote within a quote or where to find 10,000 words to trim off the manuscript. If we frequently default to letting someone else solve a known problem, we subconsciously think of ourselves as unable to solve those problems. We form a neurological pathway that tells us we don’t need to own the known. We leave messes for other people to clean up. Doesn’t work with teens. Doesn’t work with writers either. And we cheat ourselves out of the education embedded in problem-solving. Need a different word here, but you’re not sure what it is? Flag it rather than letting it stop your creative flow. But return to it later and figure it out.

I have no chance at publishing this project.

That sentence on repeat can kill enthusiasm but also derail opportunities. It throws shade on our efforts and can be the single sentence that keeps us from finishing. Maybe it is a project that is unlikely to be published. If so, work on something else. But if we approach our computers with a built-in attitude that we have no hope our work will land with readers…and we change nothing except how deep that thought takes root… Well, watch for a Books & Such broadcast addressing how to stay miserable as a writer.

I deserve to have this project published.

Just as dangerous is leaving this thought rattling through our minds. Telling ourselves we are the worst, or conversely “I am the greatest and I am owed a contract or representation,” are both lies. And both can cripple us as writers. If we edit out deserve, entitled, owed from our self-talk, truth has room to work. What?

If we edit out deserve, entitled, owed from our self-talk, truth has room to work.

I’ll just finish stripping the wallpaper off the spare bedroom walls before I work on what my agent or editor has been waiting for. I’ll be able to think more clearly then.

Talking ourselves into rationalizing procrastination leads to unpleasant or even disastrous outcomes. Is it a common writer habit? Yes. Is it deletable? Yes. No writer is solely a writer (or few of them anyway). We’re moms or dads, daughters or sons, sisters, brothers, employees, teachers, doctors, volunteers, coaches, special needs caregivers… Full plates. Taking care of writing responsibilities or writing business can so often seem like a “when I get time” item. That self-talk needs a good edit. If you are tasked as a writer, signed with an agent, have a book deadline, or have been invited to submit something to an agent or editor, or if you want an ongoing writer experience, it can’t bear the label “when I get time.” We micro-prioritize all the time, but we can’t tell ourselves what our agent or editor is waiting for is not a priority…if we want to keep writing.

I can’t (pick one) lower the word count any farther/change the main character’s name as the editor asked/write faster/write more cleanly/write when circumstances aren’t ideal.

It’s the “I can’t” part of that erroneous self-talk that changes our neural pathways in unhelpful (no, let’s edit that to something stronger–hazardous) ways. Is it hard? Sure. Taking writing seriously is seriously hard. But you CAN trim the word count. You CAN change a character’s name despite your fondness for it. And you CAN write faster with a mindset shift or a pattern readjustment. You CAN write more cleanly as you develop the self-editing skills you’ll need for the entirety of your writing career. And who knew? You CAN write…and in fact, few writers don’t write any other way…when circumstances aren’t ideal. “I can’t” self talk predicts defeat. “It’s hard but here we go” predicts success that leads to more success.

“I can’t” self talk predicts defeat. “It’s hard but here we go” predicts success that leads to more success.

I’m just not wired to (pick one) take rejection/work under pressure/handle a complete rewrite/care about the business part.

And that’s the beauty of having a human brain to work with. We can be rewired. Neuroplasticity is a beautiful thing. We don’t just force ourself into new habits. The way we think and what we tell ourselves can disconnect bad connections and, like a skilled electrician in a home remodel, run new wires that are safe, up to code, and efficient. This isn’t a condemning post. We’ve all had to edit our self-talk. Some of us thought we couldn’t write without our 500-calorie super-sweet and deliriously beautiful venti-sized fancy coffee. Or that we can’t write without background noise, which changed to not being able to write if there’s any noise and did the icemaker just kick in? We may not be wired for what we’ll face as writers. But if we don’t edit the self-talk that reinforces the impossibility, we’ll never attempt the training that will help us implement the gift of neuroplasticity.

Image by Сергей from Pixabay

What other kinds of self-talk do you now recognize need a good edit? We’d love to hear your comments. It would be unusual if your self-talk doesn’t sound like other writers’. Welcome to the club.

And don’t forget to check out the Books & Such Literary Management website for its blog archives, info about our podcast, and news about upcoming writing intensives.

Among the common responses an agent may give a writer, is “Your project isn’t quite ready yet. Keep working to make it the best it can be.” The writer inevitably is left feeling frustrated, and maybe a little lost. What about the project isn’t ready? Why can’t the agent just help the writer make it ready? There are many reasons why an agent can’t sign everyone that queries us, even if we do like the projects we are presented. The main issue, is of course, time. If we signed every project that needed major revision, we would have no time for our other clients, who brought us publishing-ready or near ready projects. So, while it is frustrating to hear that your project isn’t ready now, be encouraged that down the line when you have an agent, you will be relieved they aren’t taking time away from you for writers who need to work some things out on their own first.

If an agent says your project isn’t ready, it could mean:

The writing needs improvement

This perhaps is the most obvious, but often it is the exact reason I decline moving forward with a project. Even if the concept is compelling, if the writing isn’t where it needs to be, it’s a pass. I want to be so thoroughly invested while reading a writing sample that my brain doesn’t switch into “editor mode.” As I read, I want to become enthralled, entertained, and oblivious to the outside world- just like when I’m tucked into a corner of my couch with a good book. When I begin to wonder why a writer phrased something a certain way, or chose a certain word, I know the writing could use some polishing.

The pacing needs work

Adding to the above, when a book’s pacing doesn’t feel like it flows well, this is not something an agent can fix for a writer. We’ve all read books that feel rushed at the end, or too slow in the middle. Sometimes nonfiction books will hurry a reader through a subtopic, or underestimate a reader’s need to delve deeper into a thought for longer than a paragraph or two.

The project is missing a unique hook

Sometimes a book seems like it addresses the perfect felt-need, but the writer hasn’t considered that many other books do as well. If a book doesn’t have a unique angle on a common topic, it is going to be a very difficult sale for an agent to make. The best books addressing common felt needs do so from a unique vantage point, offering readers insight into an issue they didn’t have before.

The bottom line

When an agent says your project needs work, that’s not a sign for you to spend thousands, or even hundreds of dollars on professional editing. Editors can be helpful, but we want to see how far you can take your own project. We want to see your writing ability, as well as your ability to take a project from its first draft to nearly final form. Keep in mind, an agent will be working with you- not the editor you hire. This is true after we sign you as well- you will be working with an editor at the publisher, and he or she will expect your writing ability to be what was originally implied, too. Don’t get discouraged- we know perfection isn’t possible, and we are cheering for you every step of the way.

Let us know in the comments, what helped you take a project from good to great?

Did you know that Books & Such is hosting our Writing Intensive February 16-18, 2027? We would love to have you join us! Learn more here!

Don’t forget that the agents of Books & Such chat about writing and publishing every month over on our podcast, too! You can also watch on YouTube!

This summer, as various library association conventions and publishing events conducted panel discussions on the future of reading. The question each asked: Is reading doomed? Are we in a post-literacy era?

Clearly libraries and publishing houses care a lot about what they view as alarming statistics regarding reading in America.

Here are just two of them:

• 21% of American adults are functionally illiterate, and 54% read below a sixth-grade level according to the National Literacy Institute. These numbers reflect a steady decline in adult reading proficiency, alongside shifting habits in how the public consumes books.
• The “Zero Book” Trend: A recent Pew Research Center Survey found that 25% of U.S. adults did not read a single book (in any format) over the past year.

Is the Sky Falling?

One of the stories my mother read to me as a child was the fable of Chicken Little. If you aren’t familiar with it, you can read the story here.

But I’ll summarize it for those who want to skip all the details: An acorn fell on Chicken Little’s head, and she determined that the object was a piece of the sky. She ran off to tell anyone she could find about the dire situation: The sky was falling! Knowing they were doomed, they rushed off to tell the king. The fox, who immediately identifies this as false information, cleverly offers the birds safe haven in his den while he pretends to take the urgent message to the king. Chicken Little comes to her senses when she sneezes from all the dust in the den, and they escape a dire situation.

Are libraries and publishing spokespersons right to declare the reading sky is falling?

Examining the Literacy Statistics

As writers, we also care a lot if people are ignoring books. We value and love books. Most of us have TBR (to be read) stacks we might never conquer, especially because we keep adding to them. We’re always asking fellow readers what they’ve been reading, in hopes of finding our next satisfying book to read. Not to mention the obvious–we want people to keep reading so they’ll read the books we write!

The National Literacy Institute Numbers

Lots of statistics are available for us to consider for ourselves on their website (see link above). But here are a couple that aren’t being highlighted for us:

• On average, 79% of U.S. adults nationwide are literate in 2024.
• Globally, the overall literacy rate stands at a commendable level. For individuals aged 15 and above, the combined literacy rate for both genders is 86.3%. Males in this age group exhibit a literacy rate of 90%, with females closely trailing at 82.7%. Notably, substantial variations exist between countries. Developed nations consistently boast adult literacy rates of 96% or higher, while the least developed countries struggle with an average literacy rate of just 65%. Accurate cross-country comparisons of literacy rates face challenges due to two primary factors: irregular reporting practices among countries, and divergent definitions of what constitutes literacy.
• Sadly, the US ranks 36th in literacy. That certainly isn’t good. Interestingly, the website puts much blame on our educational system that lacks qualified teachers. I would add that I have to believe our country’s basic abandonment of teaching phonics in the 1980s until recently has done considerable damage to not only the ability to read but also to enjoy reading.

The Pew Survey

If you actually read the Pew Survey, you’ll find that the reports given by libraries and publishing houses focus on interpreting the statistics negatively. But the report is written from a positive perspective.

Here’s one portion of the report:

Overall, 75% of U.S. adults say they have read all or part of at least one book in the past 12 months.

And here’s another revelatory quote:

The overall share of Americans who have read a book in the past year has remained fairly stable since we first asked this question in 2011.

Rather than our taking up the mantra,”The sky is falling,” should we not rejoice that, despite all the other ways people could seek entertainment, books remain a staple?

For Every Trend, There’s a Counter-trend

I learned long ago that while a trend dominates people’s behavior for a segment of time, a counter-trend always rises up as a counterweight. For example, if people are mostly buying mass market books because they are the least expensive way to purchase a book, a counter-trend of beautifully-bound, expensive books will follow.

When the Keto diet became a trend, vegetarianism and vegan eating became more common. (See a 2023 report on these types of eating  plans here, in which it is noted that, among Google searches from 2009-2014, they were among the five most popular.)

I’m sure there are exceptions to this rule, but I think, while reading habits reflect flat growth, people are finding new ways to consume books–and some of those are experiencing double-digit growth.

Is Reading Doomed? Not Yet.

I would remind all of us that physical books actually are quite popular among Gen Z and Millennial readers (61-80 percent). They are seeking breaks from screens, and books are perfect for that.They would rather read a physical book than a digital one any day. My 30something grandson and his wife both are readers. And they often request a book as a gift from me.

And then there are audiobooks, which continue to experience double digit growth for more than ten years straight. Spotify offering books to their music subscribers has been a huge success. And brought in sales for publishers and authors they wouldn’t have otherwise seen. It’s a new discoverability channel for authors. As one article noted, “Much of this growth is driven by users who were listening to an audiobook for the very first time.”

My three-year-old great grandson ADORES his Yoto, which reads children’s books to him with no screen involved. With a 70% retention of subscribers, who remain with Yoto for years, the numbers demonstrate that children and their parents love consuming books in this way.

Consuming of books can take many forms.

“The sky is falling” mentality set in strongly when families bought their first TVs in the 1950s; it meant the death of the radio! Nope. Radio still is with us. Then there was the prophesied death of the physical book when Kindle came on the scene. Nope. Paper books remain the most popular way to read.

None of that happened. As humans, we have the capacity to absorb new ways to access media without losing any of the old ways.

That doesn’t mean reading is in perfect health. But it does mean books are not dodo birds. Nor is the sky falling.

Relax, any Chicken Littles out there.

Chicken Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Dusty old book image by Tom from Pixabay

Sitting on a stack of books Image by Pexels from Pixabay

The world is overflowing with content and it’s tempting to chase what’s trending instead of truth that is timeless. Writers can easily find themselves asking,  What will sell? What will go viral? What does the market want? Those questions have their place, but they should never be the first questions we ask.

A better question is this:

What matters?

The books that leave a lasting imprint are rarely born from a desire to keep up. They grow from a deep conviction that something important needs to be said. They address real questions, real struggles and real hope.

Writing for what matters doesn’t mean writing only about big topics. It means writing with purpose. A children’s story can shape a young heart. A Christian Living book can remind someone they are not alone. A devotional can become a daily companion. A novel can help someone escape into storylines that aren’t their own. Every genre has potential to matter.

As an agent, I look for authors who care deeply about both the message and the reader. Platform matters. Craft matters. Market awareness matters. But those things work best when they support a message that genuinely deserves to be shared. If you’re in the middle of writing, don’t let comparison or changing trends pull you off course. Trends come and go. Algorithms change. Publishing shifts. But, truth endures.

Ask yourself:

• What burden has God placed on my heart?
• What conversation am I uniquely equipped to enter?
• What reader do I hope will close this book feeling see, encouraged, challenger, or changed?

Those questions will lead you to writing for lasting impact. Don’t settle for filling pages. Write to fill a need. Write to bring hope to a heart. Write to make the reader feel seen and no longer alone. And, in doing so, you will be writing for what matters.

]]> https://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/write-for-what-matters/feed/ 6 https://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/what-to-do-with-a-negative-review-2/ https://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/what-to-do-with-a-negative-review-2/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2026 01:00:09 +0000 https://www.booksandsuch.com/?p=36481 A negative book review can be devastating to an author; some of you may have already experienced this. It’s hard to put your book baby out there in the first place, but then when people say nasty things about it …

I can’t speak for all literary agents, but I appreciate an author with chutzpah! Not familiar with the word? Maybe you’ve not seen it spelled out, but you may have heard it. Here’s the pronunciation: HOOT-spah (spa).

Such a fun word to say, right?

Originally a Jewish word, chutzpah meant arrogance or pushing boundaries. However, something fascinating happened! Once chutzpah slid into the Yiddish lexicon, its meaning softened from a negative to a more positive connotation. Now, chutzpah is associated with go-getters or people with unshakable confidence.

As far as writers go, here’s how I would use it in a sentence to convey the theme of today’s post: Your pursuit of publishing requires chutzpah. However, you must avoid allowing your chutzpah to hijack your chance at publishing.

Here are four observations to help you stay determined while avoiding mistakes that could be detrimental to your career.

1. If the Agent Establishes Submission Guidelines, Follow Them.

Chutzpah spins into carelessness when you ignore an agent’s submission rules. Yes, we have a defined process because we receive a significant number of submissions. Our submission guidelines give us the best chance of viewing your work. If your agent or editor has another brand or business, submitting your project in those areas doesn’t increase your chances of being seen. You’re increasing your chance of being deleted. On my author’s Facebook page, I include an automated message directing people to our agency submission portal, but writers routinely ignore it. I do not view proposals or queries that are not submitted through our process. If a writer can’t follow those simple directions, how can I trust they will follow directions as a client?

For those who hate how it takes agents seemingly forever to follow up, my next observation is for you.

2. Patience Isn’t Only a Virtue; You Need It to Thrive in the Publishing Process.

You sent us your proposal or query, and now, you’re waiting like a single person waiting for a spouse. Each day holds the question, “Will today be the day?”

For someone with chutzpah, waiting makes you want to claw your eyes out. After all, you’re a go-getter. You make things happen. Now, nothing is happening. Ugh.

What you don’t want to do is email the agent or editor each week. It may reduce your anxiety to feel like you did something, but emailing us doesn’t speed up our process.

If you haven’t heard from us, it doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about you. More often,  we’re working with our current contracted authors. This could mean editing their proposals, working on their contracts, or problem-solving a myriad of marketing or publicity issues. I always tell people that they’re welcome to check in with me after a few months if they haven’t heard from me, but I endeavor to follow-up sooner if I can.

It’s helpful to recognize that your ability to practice patience now will bless you later. Once you have an agent and your project is under submission, it can take two months to a year or more to hear back from a publisher. Sometimes a project is rejected, and authors need to create entirely new projects. Patience is a necessary skill for surviving the publishing journey.

If patience is hard, I wrote another Books & Such blog post on the topic with some practical tips. You can read it here.

3. Stalker Posting is Not Recommended.

What’s stalker posting? This happens when a hopeful author has submitted their query or pitched an agent, and now they post all over the agent’s social media as a digital form of “Notice me!” Once you submit a query or proposal, be chill when you’re engaging with the agent. Overposting on their social media will not push your project to the top of their pile.

To be clear, we do encourage prospective clients to become familiar with their agent’s social media and engage with the posts. We’ve loved the commenters on our Books & Such blog over the years, and we’re looking forward to expanding our community on Substack.

If you wisely decide that social media stalking isn’t for you, then what’s next? This final point is for you.

4. Pour Your Chutzpah Into Self-Development!

Looking for a way to redirect your go-getter energy? If you’ve submitted your project or query and you’re wondering what’s a healthy or helpful way for you to keep moving forward, try any one of these:

• Attend or serve at a writer’s conference;
• Joining a writing community or critique group;
• Work on your next book idea;

Thank you for joining me for this week’s conversation. We also love hearing your thoughts in the comments. Have you seen authors doing wild stuff to grab an agent’s attention? What are you working on these days as you pursue your publishing career?

P.S. Do you know that Books & Such has a podcast? We do! Each month, we discuss the topics you need to know about in order to be successful in your publishing journey. Listen to this month’s podcast here!

© Barb Roose, Books & Such Literary Management 2026

Can we get real?

We understand the FEELING. But it is that; a feeling, not actual failure.

Can we call ourselves back to a central truth?

You have likely never written a word that hasn’t been at the urging of Jesus. You’ve never told a story for fame or notice. You’ve never created an idea without Him. And you’ve never edited a word without His guidance. (And the same can be true for our editors.)

That said, our commitment to excellence drives us and our longing to tell a great story. But who gets upset about that? Not our editors. The enemy of our souls. Oh, and exhaustion.

The work will always be hard. When we’re tempted to add the word ‘too’ to hard, we know it’s time to turn to the One who is THE Author to both feed us what we need and to advocate for us even in the unseen.

Can we stop being ambushed?

Summer has landed with a vengeance. Many places with normally sensible temperatures have been experiencing our triple digits. Kids are home from school. Vacations are planned and taken. It’s a break in the normal routine of the other nine months and, unfortunately, no lack of deadlines for the writer.

I thought it would be great if you could chime in and share some of the tips, tricks and hacks you use to keep writing despite travel and bored children. Use the comments to share with the writing community how you stay on track.

Here are a few of things I used to do when I had kids home and writing deadlines:

• Accountability— I have been part of a critique group for more than thirty years. Back in the day, we kept each other accountable in spite of that good ol’ summertime.

• Quiet time— I avoided the frantic schedule some parents kept with kids. Ours had to chose between activities– they couldn’t do it all. Plus we insisted on them spending time doing quiet hobbies for a small part of the day. My eldest daughter now credits this time for her love of music. We bought all the Disney animated music books for her and she loved playing these favorite songs on her flute and later her oboe (the instrument that accounted for her eventual scholarship to Biola). Our youngest daughter wrote and painted. Our son? Well. . . video games, but they loved this time and it allowed me time to write.

• Save your site research for summertime. The family will love to participate in researching sailing ships, marine life, historic settings, museums, and new places. Have them jot down details for you to use. They’ll notice entirely different things than you will.

• Enjoy these days in the midst of writing. They go so fast. I wish I could groan about kids home for three months all over again.

So, how do you work with the changed schedule of summertime when you have books to write? Help us out.

©2026 Books & Such Literary