So, you got a bad review, a critique that hurt, sales are slagging or another rejection came back. It happens, but being publicly negative doesn't help your case.

Every author trying to go the route of traditional publishing will face  rejection. It's crushing, but it isn't the end of your writing career unless you let it be.

It's all subjective, even when someone tries to be critical and objective about things.

***Sorry about the technical issues on this episode guys. My computer was fighting and freezing the entire recording!**

Leaving a review, especially for a book that wasn't that great, isn't easy to do. Some reviewers don't seem to care about balance, but the art of a good review—even of a bad book—is balance.

Critique groups have their place, but there are some horror stories out  there. Cliquey, bad advice, and other writing group drama will happen.  So, is it worth your time?

Giving and receiving constructive criticism is a careful balancing act—one that a lot of people struggle with. So, let's talk about the tightrope walk we take both when receiving and giving criticism. 

Welcome to a whole new year of Not Safe For Words! We're going to give a bit deeper into dealing with others as a writer—including the ones you'd like to see fall off the face of the planet. From readers to reviewers to other authors. We'll cover as much as we can in the next twenty-two episodes. 

Looking back on the first year of Not Safe For Words. I'm glad to have  shared this journey with you. Here are a few of the lessons we learned, a  few more words of advice, and a challenge (homework if you will) as we  move forward toward a new year.

How often has someone said, "It's a marathon, not a race" when talking about the long haul to becoming a published author? If you haven't heard that before, consider yourself lucky. There's only one problem with this phrase: it's not a marathon.