Don't feel pressured to write when you're not feeling it. Step away if you need to. Set your own schedule. Do something to free your mind from it; I know for me, I like to read other things, watch movies, take walks outside...generally just take my mind off of it.
I'll feel successful when people are clamoring for my books. Like, as soon as I put something out, people are clicking that BUY button. And they're eager to review and spread the word about my work.
It would be 'It's All Right...Now.' I was in a totally different headspace when I wrote that book and it's the book I read and hype the least now. It's way more graphic than I would do it now.
I've tightened up my writing over the years. When I got back and read over some of my earlier works, I can definitely see the difference in how I've learned to remove unnecessary stuff (i.e. like adding "or something" to sentences or phrases).
Oh yeah, several times. A couple of my books are largely directly based on big things that have happened to me ('It's All Right...Now,' 'Not By a Long Shot', mainly). There other small things sprinkled throughout other books, like using past professions or other small things like that.
I've absolutely experienced writer's block. I know some authors don't believe in it, but I certainly do. There are times when I want to write but it's just not happening. The words just eek out and I feel like I'm forcing it, and that doesn't work for me. So I just leave it alone for a while.
Not really. I'm working my way up to that. As an author, I'm well aware to be prepared for any kind of feedback if I'm gonna put my books out there. But that doesn't necessarily mean I want to see people not loving my books. lol It comes with the territory, though.
So usually, I don't read them at all, good or bad. I'm slowly easing into peeking at them, though.
