Long ago I had a dream. I’d write marvellous romances. An editor would snap one up. I’d get ‘the call’ and life would be rosy, a softly lit glow within which I’d craft great stories, work my own hours, have coffee with friends when I’d dashed off a chapter or two and bask in reader feedback.

I can report that ‘the call’ is terrific. Seeing your book on sale is thrilling and nothing beats hearing from a reader who loved your book. Writing romance is a wonderful career. Yes, you work your own hours and even occasionally get to have coffee with friends. When the words are flowing it’s magic.

However, there’s much more to writing for a living. That first acceptance is a door to new opportunities, a step along the way, but it’s no guarantee of instant or continuing success.

I don’t say this to deter anyone. Being a romance writer is a dream job in many ways. But writing for a living is work, rewarding but not always fun. There are days when the words won’t come, when the editor’s ‘tweaks’ run to pages that will take weeks to fix. When the reviews are bad or the feedback snarky or the cover/title/release date not what you’d hoped for.

I thought it might be useful to hear from some authors on how they coped with their ‘downs’ since half the battle of getting back ‘up’ is knowing it can be done.

Take my case. In 1999 I sold to a new Aussie publisher. The book was released in 2000. Bliss. Then came major distribution problems and too soon the company folded. Five years of rejections followed. That they were ‘good’ rejections only seemed to make it harder. I despaired as I knew I was close but not close enough and felt ready to quit. I thought of not attending RWA conferences as it was hard facing the kind queries and commiserations. Fortunately I finally found my home with Harlequin Mills and Boon Sexy in late 2005.

What got me through? Sheer obstinacy (and listening to the people who said successful writers are the ones who persevere). I’d invested so much effort I didn’t want to admit defeat. But above all, it was the encouragement and support I received from other writers that kept me going. I felt I’d fail them if I gave up. A discussion with another writer, positive feedback or an energy boost from attending a workshop or conference were worth their weight in gold. All that positive stimulation kept me focused and determined to try… just one more time.

Melissa James, who writes for Harlequin Mills and Boon Sweet, shared this: “When I won the 2000 Clendon Award and sold to Silhouette, I thought my career was set. It didn’t work that way. I sold 5 books in 4 years while others sold 10 or 15, and when the senior editors changed, I never sold there again. For 2 ½ years I sold nothing, and wandered around in no man’s land, feeling lost. I was lucky to have sold one short, sweet comedy to Silhouette Romance, which the senior editor in London read. I got an offer to write for Mills & Boon, and they accepted the second book I sent over.

Many people think “the call” is all you need: a sale means all the hard work is over. But this industry is hard, and just as hard on the published side of the fence. In fact it’s harder. What you enjoy becomes your job, writing to deadline, working with revisions and edits, worrying about reviews, readers and royalties. Some days you don’t want to work but you have to, like any other job – you don’t turn the work in on time, one of thousands of hungry unpublished writers will take your place. Treating this job with the respect it deserves – turning up every day and putting in the work – can help you keep it.”

Anna Campbell, RITA-nominated Avon Historical author, had this to say: “As unpublished writers, we focus so much on the magnificent day when we make our first sale. It becomes this fantasy nirvana where selling a book means life will be perfect forever and we’ll never have any problems again.

Even after selling, life in all its glory and tragedy continues and things happen in the best-planned existence that throw a spanner into the works. A child/parent/spouse might become seriously ill. You might suffer bereavement. You might fall ill yourself. Published writers are immune from none of these ills, nor from a thousand others that disrupt life in the long or short term.

From my own experience of life’s rich tapestry (often in colours I don’t like!), all I can say is be as kind to yourself as you can if you’re undergoing one of these huge life-changing experiences. Kindness becomes complicated, however, when you’re dealing with deadlines. Some people write more when they’re under stress, some people find their muse takes a long holiday. If you’re among the second group and your life really is imploding, talk to your editor and your agent and not at the last minute, if possible. They’re human and they’ll help as far as they can.”

R*BY winner, Trish Morey, another Harlequin Mills and Boon Sexy author, commented on a different issue:  “One of the scariest things an editor can ask you is if you have any other ideas... A dozen books back, I approached my editor about doing an author led mini-series set around Broome, WA. I got the go ahead and did loads of research into the pearl industry, setting up a family tree, preparing synopses that I'd sent to my editor. I was excited and ready to go.

Exit editor unexpectedly. My first phone call from my new (then) editor consisted of her telling me that directions had changed, that my proposed trilogy could not go ahead, did I have any other ideas? It's hard to think when the preparation of the last eight months has just gone down the toilet and your brain is still reeling.

A day or two to panic, recover and regroup and I got back to her, with new ideas already fermenting. Maybe it's sheer stubbornness or maybe it's the beauty of the creative brain in fitting author needs against what the editors want, but I managed to salvage one Broome book from that trilogy (A Virgin for the Taking) and moved the third story from the Kimberley to Sydney (The Greek's Virgin).”

Teen romance and children’s author Kaz Delaney/Kerri Lane added this: “This year marks my 15th as a published author. Fifteen years of amazing highs and terrifying lows where I found myself the star of my own black moment.  Times of doubt when it seemed all too hard and the words wouldn’t come.   Now I see them as something that has to happen. I envision them as the beeper going off on my dashboard reminding me my next full service is due. Low points, blocked times happen for a reason. They’re a warning that action has to be taken or I risk burnout.

My light-bulb moment came last year in the form of a doozy of a curve-ball. A brain tumour. The recuperation period was long and for the first time I had time to sit and think (and give thanks!). I indulged myself by reading just for pleasure. And I remembered why I love words. Why I have to write. Analysis? I’d been running on half empty for too long. I’d let the pressure of work drive out the romance of being an author.

Authors have an amazing gift. We sometimes forget how special that is. But it can’t be taken for granted and still be expected to perform for us. We need to nurture it. So, when I suffer blocked times? I embrace them! I take time to revitalize. Soothe and feed my muse.”

I don’t pretend to be prepared for all the ups and downs of an author’s life. I still feel very much a ‘newbie’, learning by experience and from the advice of other writers. One thing I’ve learned though is that whatever difficulty I’m going through, some other writer (and probably many of them) have been through it before and survived, even triumphed. Plot problems, changes of editorial staff or direction, illness, personal issues impacting on your ability to write or even think about writing aren’t particular to you alone.

An author’s life is anything but dull or predictable. The path of a writer can be a pot-holed, uneven track at times, not always a smooth, glittering yellow brick road. If you can maintain your focus and your sense of humour I believe you’re a long way ahead. But remember that there will be times when being kind to yourself (and those around you) is paramount. And if you need inspiration to pull you through, look to the amazing writers around you. Good luck!