The Writer’s Guide to Agony and Defeat

43 of the Worst Moments in the Writing Life and How to Get Over Them

The Agonies of Sharing Work in Progress

17. You ask someone you love to read your book with the erroneous assumption that they will love it as much as they love you

You give the book to your wife. She puts the manuscript on her bedside table, on top of Fifty Shades of Gray. Every night, for weeks, you watch as she grabs the steamy novel — and the sequel and the other sequel — instead of your manuscript. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, you remove the manuscript from her reading pile. She doesn’t notice, and you decide that you hate her with all your heart.

The way forward:

Keep the people you love away from your writing. They love you — isn’t that enough? You can’t expect them to love your writing, too — and chances are that if they do love it, it’s blind love, not a useful love that can help you craft a better story. People you love aren’t automatically part of your fan base. Loving you and loving your work are two entirely different things.

Now start searching for someone who loves you as a writer. This is not permission to have an illicit Internet (or other) affair. This is a directive to find a writing peer. A pal. A colleague. She’s out there. Go find her.

“The opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference.”

― Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Stay tuned on Medium for all 43 of the worst moments. If you can’t wait to read all 43, check out The Writer’s Guide to Agony and Defeat.

There are cool contests and giveaways there, too.Jennie Nash is a writer and book coach who offers her tough love approach to the writing life in a weekly blog atjennienash.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennieNash. Medium readers can try out her Author Accelerator accountability and feedback program for free.