Overcome Your Roadblocks

Some days feel like you are stopped at every turn.
Your
queries to magazines are rejected. You've crafted your proposal or
manuscript and sent it to a number of literary agents at the same time. None of them are
responding. You glance at the Amazon numbers for your books and they are in the
millions (i.e. not selling at least on Amazon). Your twitter followers are not
growing. The list of possible roadblocks to your writing life appears
endless.



The critical difference between success and being
in these types of stall is to persevere and find the way to overcome your
roadblocks. Think about your current roadblocks. Are you stuck or are you
looking for the path around that roadblock?



I've written about how I use a tool called Refollow where in a short amount of
time I follow 800 new people every day. About once or twice a week, when I use
this tool, I will get a message from Twitter telling me that I've followed the
maximum number of people for that day and it will reset tomorrow. Maybe I've
only followed 123 people of my planned 800. It looks like I'm blocked from
following additional people.  Yet I've learned if I wait 45 minutes to an hour,
then return to the tool again, it starts working and I follow the additional
people. I have found a way to move forward even when blocked.



It's the same way with your writing. If you want to
write for magazines, are you targeting the right audience for a publication? Are
you crafting good articles with solid storytelling, a beginning, middle and an
end? Do your articles have a single point or a takeaway? If not, there may be
good reason why you are getting rejections from the editors. You will need to learn
more or make different adjustments to get through these roadblocks. Maybe you
need to join
a critique group or form your own critique group to get this
help.



Or maybe you are writing children's books and
sending out your material and getting quickly rejected or hearing silence. It's
another roadblock. While many people believe children's books are easy to write
(they aren't), you need skills and background to pull off such a submission. Get this additional
information and you will find your way around the roadblock.



If you aren't selling enough of your books, what
actions can you take today to change this roadblock? Can you reach out to speak
at another event? Can you create your own event? Can you begin to be active in
an online forum? Pitch some podcasts for scheduling you as someone to interview
and gain exposure to a new audience? There are dozens of ways around the
roadblocks but it will not happen if you wait on someone else and don't take
action.



The world is full of opportunity but you have to
seize it. It will not happen if you sit around and wait for it to come to you. Look for the opportunities to overcome your
roadblocks.