--- title: "The Realities of Author Life: Honest Advice for Aspiring Writers" description: "Get an honest look at the writing journey. From navigating writer's block and 400 rejections to finding success, here is the real author experience." canonical: https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/the-realities-of-author-life last_updated: 2025-09-15 --- # The Realities of Author Life Tribe Verified · Successfully navigated a 5-book deal By [Swati Hegde](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor) · Available online globally · ₹7,000 per course (lifetime access) (estimate) Part of [Fiction Writing Coaching](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/gallery) Getting a book deal is a dream, but the actual process is messy, filled with rejections, and a whole lot of self-doubt. Here is what my writing journey really looks like. ## Photos and videos - [Video: What people see versus what they don't. Behind the romance author and dream job is a girl who overworks, lives with constant anxiety, and never feels "good enough." We are all works in progress.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/628441a0-27e4-4cff-8d4b-c6f33db92abd) - [Video: My anxiety and bipolar disorder make things hard. Even after achieving my dream, I still have moments of doubt. But therapy, good friends, and remembering my readers are waiting for my next book helps me keep going.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7bffa3a5-c46f-4518-baf6-0175fb08bed1) - [Video: The worst feeling ever is accidentally coming across a bad review of your book. If you're an author, you know the feeling. You just have to close the app and move on.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1729259a-d928-4bf3-ab4c-080b9497b540) - [Video: A reminder to all authors: don't check your Goodreads reviews. It's a habit I'm still trying to break, but detaching from that need for validation is crucial for your mental health.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/df93a5fd-baaa-46a4-b30f-d38f7ab6853c) - [Video: Author life expectation versus reality. The reality is a lot more Googling "tips for writer's block" than it is glamorous book signings. But the good moments make it all worth it.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/cf775354-5731-4795-8f1a-7bfed046c011) - [Video: My writing process some days. I get pumped to write 2,000 words, but end up writing 70 and taking a two-hour nap instead. It happens to the best of us.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9e0e4435-9a53-41f6-a712-d583b5157563) - [Video: This is what my brain looks like when I'm writing a first draft. The note "DESCRIBE COURTROOM LATER IDK WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE" is a very real part of my process. First drafts are for getting the story down, not for perfection.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/fd7fe083-787b-4255-af4f-b4ccfc44104b) - [Video: The chaos of being an author. Trying to market my upcoming book, edit my next book, and write my next-next book all at the same time is a constant juggling act.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d141ba93-d5e2-45e9-9f3b-1dac6270b2e8) - [Video: The struggle of having a hundred book ideas but no time to write them all. I'm currently working on four books in different stages, and my brain is still overflowing with new stories.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6ad95a2e-8626-4059-ac27-5ddb6d01ff81) - [Video: A duplicate of Media ID 33, showing the same struggle of having too many ideas and not enough time. This is a common pain point for many writers.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8931c0b4-8a02-40b3-9193-59ca71567ad1) - [Video: Feeling sad about my book's sales, then realizing I've already made my younger self proud. It's important to have faith in yourself and just keep swimming.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a59a8f85-05d8-48ee-b975-81b077af611c) - [Video: Sometimes I wasn't sad, I just needed to write my book, see it on shelves, do book signings, and be proud of myself. These are the things that truly fuel me.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0cab23b5-ae3e-4659-b866-67e10e68bc61) - ![What's it really like being published? It's a rollercoaster. I'm so grateful for my readers, but I have a long way to go to prove to the industry that I get to keep writing books.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ad06c280-9f62-42b9-ac17-8dfb1c7f4850) - ![A photo from an author event. Even with these amazing moments, the pressure is real. As an author of color publishing in the US while living abroad, it's a challenge to market myself and prove my worth.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/39c1c959-6a08-4224-ac6a-8c29a853f36e) - ![A real text I sent. "I can't decide what to be more anxious about, my nonexistent love life or my nonexistent book sales." The vulnerability is real.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bb2796d4-5507-4599-a624-3b3b09b1d36c) - ![Another real text. "Logically I know all this... but I feel like a flop." Being disappointed in myself can feel hardwired into my brain, and it's something I'm constantly working on.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/89b4bad9-d42d-459f-a23c-2eba23f86936) - [Video: A funny take on being a romance author. Sorry, my male main character needs my attention more than you do right now.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/31feb49d-b8af-4ce4-b063-a0d758961c13) - [Video: Bookish propaganda I'm not falling for. Things like "reading romance is a guilty pleasure" or "you have to write every day." I believe in reading and writing what you love, on your own terms.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8b76f453-623b-468c-90f1-785d83c5f56c) - [Video: My face when people tell me they only "read to become smarter" and don't enjoy fiction. Fiction builds empathy, imagination, and emotional intelligence.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/df09f46a-c910-45da-afb3-bacf34605060) - [Video: If you believe romance novels aren't real books or that self-published authors aren't real authors, we can't be friends. I will always stand up for the legitimacy of all forms of reading and writing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d784da27-d805-44a7-b78f-9184de3c160f) - [Video: A controversial opinion: Is the female main character "unlikeable," or do you just have internalized misogyny? I'm tired of FMCs being judged for having the same flaws and ambitions that are celebrated in MMCs.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9cad7f77-322f-4d84-a399-32631208adce) - [Video: Sometimes when I feel dumb, I like to remind myself that I wrote four books without ever using ChatGPT. That's both smart and ethical.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5fdd1fbb-e971-44dd-acaa-f6f88f8c8e53) - [Video: Here's your sign to do the scary thing. Whether it's singing on stage, telling someone how you feel, or writing that book. A year from now, you'll be grateful you chose yourself over your fears.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/76ea92c8-7e54-454e-a9a0-d036544f9dde) - [Video: My library of lessons at 28. The right people will stay, doing what you love is still work, heartbreak is inevitable but not forever, and you are worthy of joy even with a mental illness.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8a1255b1-12ed-4f1b-945f-d343fe7f6248) ## About The Realities of Author Life I often get asked about the glamorous side of publishing, but the real work is mostly staring at a blank screen, fighting writer's block, and wondering if my words actually matter. My 5-book deal did not come from luck. It came after 400 rejections and learning how to push through the anxiety that comes with being a creative in a loud, fast-paced industry. Writing is not just about the final book release or the nice photos at events. It is about the grit behind the scenes. From my experience living and writing in Bangalore, I have learned that the gap between 'expectation' and 'reality' is where most writers get stuck. You might be struggling with a first draft that feels like a disaster, or perhaps you are hitting a wall with query letters and feeling that familiar sting of rejection. I share these moments of vulnerability because I want to demystify the process. When I am not working on my desi romance novels or dealing with the anxiety of publishing, I am helping other writers navigate these same hurdles. Whether it is mastering manuscript revision, understanding traditional publishing, or just needing someone to remind you that your story deserves to be told, I am here for that. My coaching style is not about ticking boxes. It is about practical, real-world advice that helps you get from a rough, messy draft to a polished manuscript. If you are serious about traditional publishing or just need to get unstuck, let us talk about your process. ## About Swati Hegde I am Swati, a Bangalore-based author writing desi romance and YA novels. I have been through the 400-rejection trenches and come out the other side, so I know how to help you find your path without the corporate fluff. 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