What failures did William Shakespeare have before he was successful?

Answer 1

Nobody recorded them so we don't know. Presumably he was unable to make a living in Stratford which is why he went to London. Exactly what he failed at we don't know.

In terms of his literary work, his earliest plays show signs of immaturity and awkwardness as compared to his later ones, but that doesn't mean they were failures. On the contrary, they were very successful and popular. His poem Venus and Adonis which hardly anyone reads any more, went through a number of editions at the time because it was so popular.

Answer 2

Before achieving success as a playwright, William Shakespeare faced financial difficulties, including bankruptcy and being sued for debt. He also experienced personal tragedies, such as the death of his son and the failure of his business ventures in the theater industry.