Rejection: A Normal Part of a Writer’s Life

In traditional publishing, the rejection rate usually runs around ninety-eight percent. That’s one reason so many writers go the self-publishing route. For that, and other reasons, I was set once to self-publish – as soon as I had the extra cash to do it. What I didn’t realize then was that, once the book was produced, all the promotion and marketing would be up to me. Most writers can’t afford that. Most writers aren’t sales hustlers, anyway.

Thus, I started looking for a good agent. I didn’t want to try to sell my novel to a publisher when I had no idea what I was doing. And I have yet to find one that wants to work with me. Through my research, I’ve seen testimonies of writers who go this route and end up calling it quits, out of despair. They’re left feeling like their stuff isn’t any good, or that it’s not interesting enough, among other things.

Disappointment is a friend of mine, and it isn’t a fun friendship. But I need it; I’ve learned a few things through my disappointment.

One thing I’ve learned is that, if you retain the bitterness that comes with rejection, your work – indeed, your life – will suffer. Also – and this is very important – I’ve learned to see publishing for what it is: a business.

Agents, for one, are busy people. They have little time to do anything other than send a standard rejection slip. They already have authors that need their attention; and though they want fresh talent, they need to see something they can sell. Then again, the agent you submit to simply might not be interested in your writing. So keep looking; find one who is.

Run a search; type “literary agents” and then your genre. Check out the agency’s web site and pay close attention to their guidelines, once you find one that seems suitable. Many writers get rejected simply because they don’t follow the submission guidelines. You should follow them to the letter.

Publishers, as well, are busy. Not only that, it takes time and money – on their part – to produce your book. And like any good investor, they want to know they’ll get a good return on it. Most first novels don’t do well, but they (and the agents) want to see something with growth potential. So a first-time run is expected to be on the low side, though, of course, with hopes for future runs. For novelists, the breakout nowadays doesn’t usually happen with the first or second book, but the third or fourth.

In this instance, the book is no longer a piece of literature – it’s product. As I said, publishing is a business, and it needs to be treated as such.

When I feel the despair creeping in, I look to my heroes. One is Stephen King. It’s hard to imagine, but he was rejected time and time again before he finally made his first sale.

And there’s the late, great Frank Herbert, who always tried to find a way to laugh in any situation. “Dune” almost never made it to publication; when it did, the publisher was one best known for publishing auto manuals. Now, it’s one of the bestselling science fiction stories of all time.

Don’t listen to doubters. Defiance can be your friend here, if you use it right. A writer must be thick-skinned, even though we’re some of the most sensitive people in the world. We also tend to be insecure (whether we realize it or not), and yet we must have strong egos. It takes persistence, both in developing one’s craft and in succeeding in the business. Self-doubt is a writer’s greatest enemy. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.

Rejection is part of the business. Even if you sell your first piece, that’s no guarantee that you’ll sell the next one. Just keep writing, and keep submitting.

That’s what I tell myself every time the doubts try to crowd around me, which is around nearly every corner of this rollercoaster we call writing. Never give up on your dreams. I once heard of a woman who published her first novel at the age of ninety-three. And remember: “The Lord of the Rings” tumbled through the underground for a decade before it became known for the masterpiece it is.

I hear three little words ringing through all that: Never give up.