Common pain points in the life of an author

:cracks bullwhip: welcome to Mistress Neon's dungeon of literary agony.

Most people who haven’t gotten a book deal yet imagine that publishing is an exercise in escaping self doubt. It’s such a big life accomplishment! Such a capstone! So many people in your life will be impressed and envious!

The truth is that writing a book is an “escape” from self-doubt the way that walking the Camino de Santiago is a “vacation.” I mean, …