Author's tweet about a disappointing book signing snowballs in the best possible way

Forging a career as a writer is no easy feat, whether it's finding an agent, getting a publishing deal or trying to make a name for yourself as a new author.

The bad news is that all that can lead to plenty of rejection and, as debut novelist Chelsea Banning discovered recently, some pretty disappointing events.

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"Only 2 people came to my author signing yesterday, so I was pretty bummed about it," wrote Banning, who recently published Of Crowns and Legends. "Especially as 37 people responded 'going' to the event. Kind of upset, honestly, and a little embarrassed."

It wasn't long before the retweets, and the messages of support, began to pour in. And pretty soon something else became clear — every writer, including the most successful ones, had been through something similar when they were starting out.

Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, and Neil Gaiman among literary legends who offered support

Here are just a few of the replies Banning's tweet received:

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While the responses might not completely take the edge of the book signing disappointment, they'll almost certainly have helped. Plus it's nice to know you're in good company.