I have learned to tighten up the pace and not spend so much time in internal dialogue. I have also worked to make sure the book doesn't end abruptly, and the reader feels satisfied by the ending.
I try not to read reviews. The good ones make me feel like I can never write a book that good again. The bad ones make me feel like I should quit writing. It seems like a no-win proposition.
I would tell myself that it's a rollercoaster and to hold on. One book that sells poorly isn't the end of the world and one book that sells well doesn't mean you have it made. It definitely takes a marathon mentality.
