Dealing with Rejection in the Publishing World

By: Carla Trueheart 

Whether you’re a new writer or an established writer, sooner or later, you are going to have to deal with rejection in the publishing world. Unfortunately, it’s part of the process, but that knowledge does little to ease the pain of rejection. As writers, we often read stories about famous authors who have been rejected in the past, like Stephen King and J.K. Rowling, but when it comes down to receiving that dreaded email in our inbox, we are still hit with the punch of rejection on a personal level. We wonder if we’re any good as a writer, what could possibly have been wrong with our work, and why the intended agent or publisher did not connect with our project. If we thought we were sending to a sure-thing, or worse, we sent in a full manuscript after a request from an agent or publisher, we might even shed a tear or two.

It’s important to remember that most agents and publishers don’t want us to take the rejection personally. There are many, many reasons why your work might have been rejected, and since the publishing industry is a business, it might not come down to your writing or even your idea. At the time, the plot or theme might not be what is selling, or the market might be flooded with works similar to your own. An agent might have too many projects on their list and not need your additional project at the time. The publisher might not know what genre would best suit your work, and therefore, pass on the manuscript. If you’re sending out shorter works or poetry, it could come down to limited space in a journal, an abundance of submittals, or even the editor being in a bad mood when they read your story or poem. Basically, we have to remember that there are many other factors to consider.

So then, what to do when you receive a rejection? First of all, take a breath. Remember that there are many other opportunities, and that you are NOT a bad writer. You came this far, completed a project, and have a dream you’re attempting to fulfill. For all of those reasons, you need to keep going. Toss the rejection aside, wipe away the bruise, and send your project elsewhere. The best and most famous writers are the ones who not only kept learning about their craft, but also were persistent even when the odds were against them. Keep in mind that someone will eventually connect with your work and that you will eventually get where you’d like to be. And besides, you don’t really want to work with an agent or publisher who does not champion your work. Finding the right fit takes time, but it will happen.

 One last thing to remember is that publishing, at this stage of the game, is not a quick business. Some authors get lucky and publish after a year or two, but for others, it could take up to ten years or more. While waiting for your golden moment, keep working on new projects, perfecting the project you’re trying to sell, and revising your query/cover letter as needed. Keep reading books and learning about writing. Stay positive and assured. And when you finally get that “yes” reply, wherever you land, it will feel like it was meant to be all along. 

By: Carla Trueheart