I was at a planning meeting today for Wombat Books (my publisher) and had the opportunity to meet a new team player for the first time.

Emily has been working for Wombat for the past few months. She’s already been a great help to the team, and as we were commenting at the meeting, she brings something special to the table – enthusiasm.

I’ve always had trouble keeping my enthusiasm going. It’s especially hard with the ups and downs that are part and parcel of the author’s life. Hearing a new idea for promoting my books will see a spike in my enthusiasm. If it works, my enthusiasm rises and I have all the energy I need for the next endeavour.

However, if it fails, I take a hit and the next opportunity is usually met with some skepticism. If it succeeds, enthusiasm usually makes a return visit, but if it results in another body blow, it can be difficult to keep going.

The most important thing I’ve learned as an author is that you need to keep going even when nothing seems to be working. I keep reminding myself that some things might be working, even though I might not be able to see it. And even if they aren’t, I still need to keep plugging away until something else clicks. If I want my books to sell, I can’t give up on them.

Are you an author? How do you make it through the ups and downs? Are you a reader? Are there areas in your life where you face similar challenges? Let me know in the comments section below.