I have a novel coming out and I'm so anxious?

[GreenSweater]

For the longest time, this seemed like a pipe dream, and now that it's actually happening, I'm terrified. I'm not naturally a person who likes the spotlight and I'm worried about how I'll deal with it - not saying that this is going to be a best-seller and I know 99.9% of people won't read it, but I'm worried about the 0.001% who will. I'm also a very anxious person and my anxiety levels are absolutely peaking.

I've already shared the novel with a few friends and when one friend was slightly iffy on certain aspects I found it so difficult to deal with - how am I going to deal with any critical reviews? I also worry about random people popping up like exes or people I knew years ago. An acquaintance of mine who wrote a book said all kinds of people contacted her afterwards. The novel isn't directly about anyone but I've naturally drawn on certain experiences of mine and I'm worried people will draw conclusions about me and my life based on it or think I've used them as inspiration for something.

So basically, I'm just a big ball of anxiety and finding it really difficult to look forward to the release at all. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?

I don't have any tips or suggestions, i'm sorry, but I just wanted to say well done.

A novel is not a small undertaking. To get it from an idea to an actual finished product is an awesome achievement that very, very few people can manage.

If you are that anxious why didn’t you use a pen name so that people from the past wouldn’t know it was you?

good luck by the way.

This ^^

Would've solved your problem immediately.

What's the book?

I considered this but they would see me in any promotional materials or interviews so it wouldn't really help, unless I went for a fully anonymous approach like Elana Ferrante.

Honestly chill out and enjoy the ride. I’ve written five novels, pitched 100+ agents/publishers and still not got a book deal. Appreciate what you’ve got and stop worrying about stuff that hasn’t even happened yet!

Thank you so much, I'm trying to remember how hard I've worked to get here and how much I wanted this but I'm struggling to find any joy in the prospect.

Will you tell us what it's about?

What do you want more?

For your book to be a success, to find a readership, for you to crack on and promote the shit out of it so that it can be successful.

Or for it to sink like a stone so that no-one you know works out it was you, so to speak, and gets in touch with you.

This is very much one of those 'feel the fear and do it anyway' moments. It's OK to be nervous/anxious about it, but you cannot let that get in the way of your own success.

Well done

What's it about and what's it called

Talk it through with your agent and/or publisher. It is natural to feel nervous. In reality, unless you really hit the big time, people from your past won't even be aware you have a novel published.

As for reviews, don't read them! Especially on Goodreads where some people take pleasure in being nasty!

but they would see me in any promotional materials or interviews

Are you getting a big marketing push from your publishers? If so, be very, very glad and don't focus on possible negatives.

You'll be absolutely fine! Huge congratulations on getting published. You will get all sorts of weird reviews. If I were you, I would never ever read goodreads. They say it's the place where writers' egos go to die! Don't read reviews either. Just focus on writing the next novel, that's what's important.

Tell us what it's called so we can read it and get you used to feedback!

Congratulations! That's amazing. You got a publisher to take a chance on your book. Most people never will write one and 99% of those who do will never get published. You've won already.

One of my friends has published 5 novels. Do I love them all? No. Do I think she is amazing and talented? Of course!

At the moment I've had fantasies about withdrawing it from publication entirely. I'm finding it really difficult to feel positive.

My publisher has been really supportive and they do want to do some marketing, and I know that especially in today's publishing climate it's important to do some level of promotion, but I'll have to see how I hold up. If I'm already struggling I might just have to step back and let it go out there without trying to promote it much at all.

A few people have asked what it's about but I'd rather not be too specific - it's a novel and it's nothing very racy or offensive, lol.

Congratulations! People often think the hard work is over once you've typed "The End", but that's not the case ...

You'll have to be strong and remember that the novel may be about you in some sense, it may feel like your baby, but it is NOT actually you. It is a piece of work that you've completed. If people are critical or even unkind about it, that's not you they're criticising; it's the product. (And let's face it, a lot of people are incompetent as literary critics, so you can safely ignore them.)

Good advice from PP above to avoid sites like Goodreads and the Amazon comments. There is some absolutely bonkers feedback there, and probably nothing you'll find helpful.

You've done fantastically well to get it published, so soak up all the praise your book is given, and for the rest - as Taylor says, shake it off!

It's not yet published also - it'll be coming out this year. I will try to stay off Goodreads!

You believed in the book enough to write it - a huge achievement that many talk about but few actually do, now you to have to believe in yourself and back your book. You are so very fortunate to be published and be getting marketing. Be proud and look for the positive. So what if some people don’t like it 100% there will be plenty who do so just focus on those - your first readership!

Holy shit, WELL DONE! I think probably people who haven’t also written a novel and got it published don’t actually get an opinion about yours. Sod them. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot for their sakes.

Also, this Anne LaMotte quote:-
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”

If this thread turns into an advert, it'll get deleted.

Are you on Twitter OP? If so seek out other people who are debuting around the same time as you and in your genre. Book Twitter is generally a supportive place and there are lots of people to offer advice.

That is a massive achievement- really well done! Don't read reviews but do go on tours and do readings would be my advice.

Wow what an achievement! Congratulations!

I don't have any advice as I have no experience to share. However I am, like others within this pots, keen to know the title of your pending book!

I found it so difficult to deal with - how am I going to deal with any critical reviews

I've got two tips for you.

Number One: Remember no book is liked by everyone and Indulge in Reading the One Star Reviews of Great Work'

I would hold on to that phrase "you can't please all of the people all of the time"!

Think of something - book or film or comedy series or film (anything that is sold on Amazon) - that you love and is widely recognised to be an excellent example of that art form. Then go to Amazon and read the reviews.

I guarantee you that no matter how "wonderful" something is to you or even 90% of the right thinking population, there will be people who hate it and think its rubbish.

It's just life. And really you wouldn't want it any other way as it is what leads to variety and richness in art forms! Say that everyone in the world only liked philosphical art films or only liked reality television - imagine how narrow and overly commerical one line of art form would be!

So take heart.

Number Two: Get an assistant

If you think it's going to bother you that much, get someone (best mate/partner/trusted relative/your agent) on board to read them for you and don't go any where near the reviews yourself.

That way, you can get distilled feedback through a softer kinder filter - so any constructive criticism that may help your next book rather than just randoms.

Good luck - remember it's an AWESOME achievement to have finished a book and to get it published.

Pat yourself on the back.