Submissions, Book Publishers, And Painful Rejections

By Author: Brian Stephens
Total Articles: 8
Comment this article

Four ways to cope with 'the shock' of rejection.

My top tip for ensuring your work won't be rejected by publishers? Don't send it. Works a treat every time, and your dreams remain intact. Sadly, authors in their thousands never drum up the courage to pop their baby into the publishing chute, and I understand their caution. Rejection is never pleasant, especially when it comes without explanation or apparent reason.

Many try to write and publish a book and most give up at the first sign of trouble. Persevere, but do it with professional support from a disinterested book editing service.

Without resorting to psychobabble, here is one strategy for submitting books to publishers and literary agents that may help you through the period when these agencies and the post man appear to be playing ping-pong with your book manuscript.

1. Ensure the submission material for publishers and agents is in pristine condition, directed only at those who handle your type of work, and is in the format they require. You have now beaten off 50% of the competition before a word is read.

2. Have a minimum of three ...
... submissions 'in play' at any one time, and three publishers next in line to receive a draft the moment a rejection is received. Approaching three or even four publishers simultaneously is acceptable - they take an age getting round to new work - but approach literary agents singly; they don't take kindly to getting excited about a prospect only to find a competitor is getting similarly enthusiastic as he or she tours the publishing parlours.

3. Expect to get rejected. If your submissions campaign is directed at three agents and ten publishers, don't blow a gasket until all have had a chance to study your proposal. Appreciate that no two submissions editors have the same tastes or are under identical pressure to see your work as a good commercial risk.

4. Expect nine months to elapse before your campaign is completed - and that's being conservative. This thought should stimulate you, as a creative soul, to get cracking on another writing project whilst all this is going on in the background. Too much time pondering on the unfairness of life and the myopia of publishers who fail to gawk at the splendour of your output will get you nowhere. Indeed, it will drive you nuts. Get on with life.

The four steps above are easier to advise than take, but I assure you they have value. I would add one further stage to be considered before you embark on the campaign.

Take independent, disinterested advice on your completed draft and on the elements of the package you intend sending to publishers and agents. Your book's synopsis and introductory letter must both be businesslike and literate. And ensure the extracts from the book itself are professionally edited. Minor adjustments recommended by book editors and professionals who have been through this mill themselves many times over will make all the difference. They will ensure that your book is at least considered, and extracts read. Then you will know that you have given your writing project its best chance of success.

Writeaway provides help and advice on how to write and publish a book. You will also have access to a dedicated team of people who can provide a comprehensive book editing service having had personal experience of the book publishing process.