How to Recover from a Writing Setback (Without Giving Up)

It’s not easy to recover from a writing setback.

An email pops up. You open it, and yes, it’s a form rejection. Or maybe it’s a bad review of your newly launched book. Dang it. You thought this was the one that would succeed.

How you handle this moment could be the difference between staying stuck (or even quitting writing altogether) and moving toward the future writing success you deserve.

I know, because I’ve been there.

After publishing Loreena’s Gift, which was my second traditionally published novel, everything seemed to be going well. So when I finished the manuscript for The Beached Ones, I excitedly sent it off to my contact at the same publishing house.

Was I ever surprised when I got a message back saying they were no longer publishing books in that genre. They couldn’t accept my story and wished me luck placing it elsewhere.

Of course, I dove headfirst into self-doubt.

“Maybe Loreena’s Gift didn’t sell well enough,” I thought. “Maybe The Beached Ones just isn’t good.”

But here’s what I learned later: it had nothing to do with me. The publisher was going through a lot of internal changes. It wasn’t about my talent or worth as a writer. Still, it felt like it was, and that’s what makes writing setbacks so dangerous.

When your confidence takes a hit, you can make career-damaging decisions. I don’t want that for you.

So let’s talk about the steps to take when facing a setback and how to turn it into fuel for your next success.

Writing Setback Recovery Step 1: Reframe What Happened

Instead of letting self-doubt drive the story, take a moment to ask: What actually happened here?

A bad review doesn’t mean your book is bad. It likely just means it didn’t connect with that particular reader.

A rejection doesn’t mean your writing isn’t good enough. It might mean your story wasn’t the right fit, or that the publisher is shifting directions. (Trust me—I’ve been there.)

A quiet blog post or social media share doesn’t mean no one values your words. Maybe it got lost in the algorithm. Maybe the audience wasn’t quite right.

Think of your story like a song. Some people will love it. Others will want to change the station. That’s not failure. That’s art.

Writing Setback Recovery Step 2: Push Forward, Even When It’s Hard

Self-doubt whispers: “See? I told you this wasn’t going to work out.”

And so, we retreat. I did that for years.

I’d submit a book, get rejected, and then not send anything else out for six months. It felt safer to stay hidden than to try again.

But this is the wrong move. It slows your growth. It adds more emotional weight to your journey. I’ve learned that the only way to get better is to do the opposite of what fear tells you to do.

For me, that meant researching new publishers and sending The Beached Ones back out. (It eventually landed an even better publisher!)

When you take even just one step toward what you want, you’ll eventually find yourself saying, “I’m so glad I didn’t stop.”

Writing Setback Recovery Step 3: Ask What You Can Learn

There’s usually a lesson hidden inside the setback. You just have to pause long enough to see it.

Did you receive feedback that could help your next draft? Did you target the wrong audience? Could you try a different marketing tactic?

Ask yourself: What is my next move?

Revise? Resubmit? Try a new platform? Use the disappointment as fuel to take your next step.

Step 4: Celebrate the Try

Before you rush into the next project, take a moment to celebrate the fact that you even put your work out there.

A lot of people talk about writing a book. You actually did it. That’s huge.

A lot of people wish they could publish a story. Maybe you did that too. That’s even “huger.”

You may not be as far along as you want to be, but you are farther than you were yesterday. And that matters.

Writing Setback Recovery Step 5: Reconnect with the Joy

This one can be the hardest part, but it’s also the most healing.

After a rejection or a failed book launch, writing itself can feel painful. You’ve started to associate the creative process with disappointment. Now, instead of being excited about your characters or world, you’re second-guessing every sentence: Will anyone like this? Will this be rejected too?

To get around this, you have to gently untangle your writing process from the outcomes. Remind yourself: Writing is the reward. It’s the part you love.

It may feel awkward at first, but once you start writing again, you’ll remember.

Yes, you’ll think. This is where I belong.

And when you get to that place again—when you’re back in your story, when the writing flows—you’ll know you’re okay. That’s how you rebuild confidence: by writing the next book. The next story. The next sentence.

And before you know it, you’re where you want to be.

* * *

If you’re struggling with a setback right now, I’ve created a Self-Doubt Survival Guide just for moments like this. You’ll find it here.

Whatever you’re going through, please remember this: Don’t give up.

Your next writing success could be closer than you think.

_{Featured image by Freepik.}