There was a time when I would fret over a slowdown in sales, over a returned book, over a not-so-great review. And while I cannot deny these things still sting, I no longer torture myself with them.
I suppose I could argue that my skin has become thicker in the last year, but I think the reality of it is that I've been able to better distance myself emotionally from my books. Looking back, I think I so wanted my first book to be a rousing success to prove to myself (and others) that I am still worthy. Being laid off from a company in which I had invested more than a decade of my life hurt me more than I had been willing to admit. Having my book "fail" meant that I was truly a failure.
Time has given me a new perspective, however. The rational side of me has finally wrestled the emotional side into submission. The truth is, it is all subjective. Anyone who has created anything -- whether it be a book, a piece of art, a song/album, a building design, a recipe, etc -- opens themselves up for critique by others. Some people will love your creation, some people will hate it. Even people considered "masters" in their field have their detractors.
I have only just embarked upon this world of published writing, and I have a long way to go. The only thing I can do is write more, publish, learn, and write some more. And so I shall.
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