How Modern Authors Deal with Rejection
I recently read an article published in 1000 Libraries magazine by Millie Ramm titled, Rejection Letters Sent to Authors who Became Legends. You can click the link to read it. Here is a brief breakdown of some of the authors Millie mentioned:
Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women was advised by a publisher to “stick to teaching.”
Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) had his first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, turned down by 27 publishers.
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies was rejected 20 times before finally being accepted.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm was turned down by multiple publishers.
When The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was published, it did not sell well.
Frank Herbert’s epic novel Dune was rejected 23 times.
Others that didn’t make Millie’s list were rejected up to 200 times! One that I recall was Chicken Soup for the Soul, written by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. It was rejected 144 times before finally being accepted for publication—selling hundreds of millions of copies worldwide.
Why Are Books Rejected?
It’s important to remember that a publisher’s rejection is usually a business decision—not necessarily because a writer lacks talent. Unless, of course, you submit sloppy work that has not been professionally edited, is full of spelling and grammatical errors, and, to put it bluntly, the story sucks. Publishers try to ascertain what is trending in the reader market before investing in publishing a book that may result in a financial loss—as the majority do.
Myth—Traditionally Published Authors Make Millions
The truth about publishing is that only a small percentage of books published by traditional publishers earn back their publishing costs, and an even smaller percentage become bestsellers. So, you may be thinking, what’s the point of publishing a book?
Firstly, true-blue writers write because they have a burning desire to write. It’s in their blood. Most are not thinking in business terms—they are creatives, energised by a spiritual energy that is channelled through them. When you ask them why they write, they usually say something like, ‘Because I have to—it’s who I am.’
Keep Writing
The next point is that you can’t base a writing career on the success or failure of one book. As you build a body of work, the averages will sustain you—that’s how publishers survive.
When you write a book, you create a product that you can sell for years to come. When I mentioned that only a small percentage of books published by traditional publishers earn money, this refers to newly launched books. Publishers have limited marketing budgets, with the larger budgets reserved for well-known authors or celebrities. If your book fails to sell well in the first few months, the focus is then moved to the next batch of new releases.
A writer who works with a publisher in proactively promoting their book will do better than one who relies solely on the publisher to sell copies. A book that is competing with millions of other books doesn’t magically sell itself—it needs all the publicity it can get.
Memoirs or Autobiographies
What about people who only have one book in them and don’t want to keep writing more books? Memoirs or autobiographies fit into this category. These are special because they are true stories about real people sharing their life experiences, knowledge and wisdom.
The drawcard with memoirs is authenticity and raw honesty aimed at connecting with people who can relate and be helped by these true stories of adversities, overcoming obstacles, rags to riches stories, amazing journeys that prompt readers into action to change their lives. Truth sells. Emotional connection sells. Overcoming hardship sells.
Memoirs or autobiographies are far more than entertainment. They leave a legacy for your loved ones and generations to come. However, it’s imperative that they are written with a compelling narrative rather than a chronological record of events. This is achieved through skilled storytelling. Professional guidance will give your memoir structure, a narrative arc, clarity of the message you’re trying to convey, and the emotional impact readers are looking for.
Unknown Authors Who Became Famous After Writing Their Memoirs
You don’t have to be famous for your life to be ‘worth’ writing a memoir about. Some examples of ordinary Australians who became famous after publishing their memoirs are:
A.B. Facey who wrote A Fortunate Life (adapted into a highly successful four-part television miniseries.
Sally Morgan wrote My Place, which uncovered her Aboriginal heritage. It sold over half a million copies, won the 1987 Human Rights Award for Literature; the 1990 Order of Australia Book Prize, and has been adapted into editions for younger readers and is widely studied in schools.
Bri Lee, author of Eggshell Skull, was an unknown young law graduate. Her memoir about her sexual assault and the legal system made her a nationally recognised writer and advocate.
Alice Pung’s memoir, Unpolished Gem was about growing up in a Cambodian‑Chinese migrant family. It was selected for school and university reading lists.
Sara Henderson—From Strength to Strength won her the 1991 Australian Businesswoman of the Year award. A memoir can also be an excellent business tool.
How Modern Authors Deal with Rejection
Having a book traditionally published, as demonstrated, can take years. Multiple rejections can be demoralising. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those who take writing seriously and won’t give up without a fight.
Times have changed thanks to Print on Demand self-publishing options. The top two being Amazon KDP (offering worldwide distribution) and IngramSpark (offering the largest worldwide distribution including bookstores and libraries). These are not the only options. There are others worth looking into.
Print on Demand means your book can be published as soon as it’s been professionally edited and has a professionally created book cover to entice readers. Please note the emphasis on the word professional. There’s a reason slush piles are massive.
The downside to Print on Demand options is that the market is now flooded. So now, among the literary gems or well-written and professionally produced books, you’ll need to sift through the gazillion poorly written books, or worse still, books written by AI. This makes it even harder for your book to be discovered among the millions published every year.
Poorly Written Books Don’t Sell
Selling books is just as much work as writing them. A poorly presented, unpolished book will not sell, except to family and friends. If you want to be taken seriously as an author, do yourself a favour and invest in professionals, especially editors and cover designers, who will ensure your book is at the high standard expected by traditional publishers. You have a much better chance of at least getting a return on your investment—which is tax deductible if you’re in the writing business or are writing a book as a business product. Since you can continue to make sales for years to come, if you continue to market it or write more books, sooner or later you’ll be generating passive income.
While your happy place may be the creative process of writing, it is a business after all. Without a business model, you can’t sell what you’ve created. Whether you decide to go down the traditional publishing or the self-publishing route, make it your business to understand the business of publishing—because in this day and age you need to, or you’ll get left behind wondering why all your hard work is going nowhere. Don’t you be the one rejecting your own work simply because you’ve got your head in the sand when it comes to the business side of publishing.
Break a finger!
Jacqx
Related Topics:
Writing a Memoir as a Legacy Online 4 Week Course with Writing NSW
How to Write and Sell Your Memoir Even if You’re Not Famous Online Workshop
Everyone Has a Story: A Guide to Writing Your Memoir
Who Are You? A Guide to Writing Your Memoir
The Legacy of a Memoir – Aldwyn Altuney’s exclusive interview with Jacqx Melilli
How to Research and Write Your Memoir
Mastering the Art of Storytelling: A Creative Writing Workshop
Creative Writing For Young Writers Online Workshop