You’ve been writing for years. You’ve poured your heart onto the page. Yet somehow, your writing career feels like a car stuck in mud—wheels spinning but going nowhere. The rejections pile up. The sales don’t materialize. The big break remains elusive.
Here’s the thing: almost every author has felt this way. Whether you’re just starting out or already published, it happens. The key is figuring out whether you’re truly stuck or just feeling stuck—and what you can do about it.
Taking Stock: Are You Really Going Nowhere?
Before you decide your career is dead in the water, take a hard look at what’s really going on. Many writers feel stuck when they’re actually making progress, just slower than they’d hoped.
Start by gathering facts about your current situation:
- You’ve received nothing but rejections for the past year
- Your book sales have dropped steadily for multiple quarters
- You haven’t landed any new writing opportunities in months
- Your income from writing has decreased significantly
To be more accurate, do a simple audit. Open a spreadsheet and track:
- Number of submissions/pitches sent
- Acceptance rate
- Income from writing (monthly, quarterly, or per project)
- Social media growth
- Newsletter subscriber growth
- Positive feedback from readers or editors
This can reveal many surprising things. You might discover you’re submitting less work than you thought. Or perhaps your readership is growing steadily, even if your income isn’t yet reflecting that growth.
Common Reasons for Career Stagnation
If your career audit confirms you’re truly stuck, identify the likely culprits:
Market factors:
- Your genre is currently oversaturated
- Traditional publishing is investing less in new authors
- Economic factors affecting book buying habits
Professional factors:
- Your work needs improvement in specific areas
- Your networking efforts haven’t reached the right people
- Your marketing approach isn’t connecting with readers
Personal factors:
- You’re spreading yourself too thin across projects
- You’re writing in a genre that doesn’t showcase your strengths
- You’re repeating the same mistakes without realizing it
These are only a few reasons. Understand the source of your stagnation and you’ll be better equipped to solve it. A writer struggling with craft issues needs a different approach than one facing market challenges.
What to Do Next: 6 Ways to Get Back on Track
Now for the concrete steps to get moving again:
1. Get Strategic About Your Career
Set clear goals. Break them down. Focus on what you can control. Instead of saying “I want to be a bestselling author,” say, “I’ll finish this draft in 3 months,” or “I’ll query 10 agents this quarter.”
Small goals build real momentum.
2. Upgrade Your Skills
Stay competitive and fresh by:
- Take a master class in your genre or niche to learn current techniques and expectations.
- Join a critique group for regular feedback that will highlight your blind spots and strengthen your writing.
- Consider hiring an editor for a professional evaluation of your work.
- Study works similar to yours that are succeeding now. See what makes them connect with today’s readers.
There are tons of people trying to make it as writers. Doing the above ensures you’re ahead or at least keeping pace.
3. Try a Different Path
If one route isn’t working, take another. Look into small presses, self-publishing, or hybrid publishing. Submit short stories to journals. Enter contests. Start a serial fiction newsletter. Your writing doesn’t have to live in one format.
Try adjacent genres that use your strengths while opening doors to different readers. Experiment with different formats like short stories or novellas. They’ll help you build credits and visibility faster than full-length books.
Or pivot to something adjacent. Consider doing related writing opportunities such as book or author interviews.
4. Build a Stronger Platform
Update your website. Polish your author bio. Post about your work online. You don’t need to be a marketing expert—just be consistent and real. Let people know you exist and what you’re about.
There are plenty of platforms you can use, each catering to different needs. You can use Substack of Beehiiv to start a newsletter with valuable content. Use Tiktok, Youtube, or Instagram to provide information or share your journey.
You don’t need to be everywhere. Pick one or two platforms where your audience hangs out and show up consistently. Give people a clear way to find you online—and a good reason to stick around.
5. Diversify Your Income Streams
Don’t rely on one path to success. Look for ways to earn through your writing and writing-related skills. You can offer editing services, teach workshops, freelance, or start a Patreon.
Monetize your platforms when possible. If you have a newsletter, offer paid tiers with bonus content. If you’re active on YouTube or TikTok, explore ad revenue, sponsorships, or affiliate links.
Let your content work for you, but ensure it adds value to your audience. People are more likely to support you when they feel connected and see the benefit.
6. Improve Your Network
Writing can feel like a solo sport, but careers grow in community. Join a writing group, attend a workshop, or network online. Talking to others in the same boat can remind you you’re not alone—sometimes, it opens doors.
But focus on creating genuine connections. Support other writers, share their wins, and be part of the conversation. Treat networking like building friendships, not making transactions.
Make a Plan
Writing careers rarely follow a straight upward line. They’re filled with plateaus, dips, and unexpected climbs. The successful writers aren’t always the most talented—they’re the ones who face challenges head-on.
Feeling stuck doesn’t mean your writing career is over—it means it’s time to regroup. Sit down, get honest about where you are, and map out where you want to go. Pick one or two areas to focus on.
Don’t try to fix everything at once. Small, steady steps are more powerful than burning out on a big push. You don’t need overnight success. You need consistency, clarity, and connection.
Remember, most “overnight success” stories had years of effort behind them. Your own might just be around the corner.
Do you feel like you’re getting nowhere in your writing career? Share your thoughts below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
