The publishing industry being dreadfully slow!
Feeling what you’re writing is awful. Despite knowing all writers feel this way and the thing to do is put the work aside and view it later with fresh eyes as it may not be as bad as you think, the feeling in the gut is still dreadful.
Struggling to get phrases and scenes out. Keep going. I don’t believe in writer’s block. When the struggles come, get anything on paper. There may be something in it you can use later. I learned ages ago whenever someone makes something look easy, you can guarantee that same someone has worked damn hard over years, decades even, to get the experience to make things seem easy. There are no shortcuts.
The majority of the time being too busy with the minutiae of life so you don’t escape into your own world as often as you like.
Not getting as much time to read as you’d like.
Being rejected for short stories and novels!
Rejection slips that give no clues.
Getting a handwritten note from an agent, which is brilliant, but you then can’t decipher it! I admit to having dreadful handwriting myself and you can’t go back to the agent and ask. It looks desperate.
Feeling the words on paper aren’t good enough. Perversely also when the words are coming so fast it’s a struggle to get them out.properly (though that could also be considered a joy).
Having your efforts dismissed by those who aren’t willing to try writing themselves.
Not sending those wonderfully written missives because you know the damage it might do. There are times you really want to say “sod it” and do so - resist!
Once published, getting awful reviews from folk you’re convinced don’t have the first clue what they’re on about. Have they no idea how hard you’ve worked on this thing? Answer: no and they don’t give a damn.