Rejected (again) by publisher

[Dontrocktheboat]

Just received news that publisher who had been interested in my novel but suggested a revise and resubmit has now rejected it. It was submitted last year, received various rejections and a couple who were interested but ultimately not wanting to commit without redrafting, so have been reworking it over the past 6 months - it really was better, but apparently still not good enough.

This is the first time I have been properly gutted by a rejection as it seemed so close, and a lot of eggs were in one basket I guess. Still some possibilities, but probably looking down the hierarchy more at independent publishers.

I don't know if I can stand being in submission hell any longer! It took me so long to write this novel (with young children), I want to write something else but this experience has shown not only does it take ages to get it written it then takes even longer to get it (even close to) right. Also, what happens if your agent can't get s publisher? Guess there is nothing in it for them to keep you on.

Feeling at a particularly low ebb in a lonely process so any advice appreciated!

You are on the right track though if publishers are considering it. Just keep trying. Don't forget how much you have learned through this process. I am sure that your writing has massively improved. Keep at it.

Thanks, it just feels at the moment that I could spend my life being 'on the right track' without actually getting anywhere.

This happened to me, and I lost my agent. It's really tough. I have no advice but I feel your pain.

OMD OP I could write a long boring essay in reply to this

I'll try to summarise

my second career put me in touch with a lot of writers and publishers. I'm not one of them, but I prefer not to out myself saying what I do, you'll understand.

What I have seen is that the process is not only endless, but prone to change for tiny reasons.

for example, a publishing house changes strategy, your type of book doesn't fit, they got something similar from a big name that's easier to promote...

One contact wrote a sinister mystery and was genuinely asked to do a structural edit that would give it a bit of chick lit, simply to fit their lists. The time between "acceptance" and publication is huge and their % targets etc will change in that time.

I have some fiction work I'm polishing but have decided to go to a small press or self publish.

also, I would add, the big names are not necessarily treating authors any better than the smaller ones. One publisher has bluntly said to me "we've got so much to choose from and so many people willing to do all the stuff we request".

If it matters to you to say - "my book is published by Mahousive Global Brand Publishing and available in all branches of Waterstones" then it is worth the route you are going, I guess.

but for me, that's not what I want. If I am going to finish my work, I want a fair share on any profit and there are smaller presses who will do that. I also know how to do the marketing etc - but interestingly I see more and more large publishers expecting their writer to do their own publishing.

all this for 7% of the cover price.

I am surprised that authors and the Society of Authors haven't yet managed to push for better conditions, but I think it's because there's a massive glut of people who just want their book published by a big publisher, no matter what. As long as that goes on, the endless hoop jumping will go on.

what does your agent think? I'm afraid I can see the possibility, with trad publishing, of being on the right track for a long time, and presumably it's all part of life with a bunch of other commitments too?

I've given myself a deadline. I must either finish the work and submit to small press or self publish (not yet decided) by Xmas. If not, then I will accept it's just a hobby and not something that's ever going to be part of my career - however small a part it might be. Priority always has to be bills paid really.

sorry - that was a long boring essay!

it's just having seen the "inside" of publishing, I like to talk about it!

Hi Viewofhedges, thanks, not really what I wanted to hear but it's probably helpful! I presume you parted ways with agent after all publishing options were exhausted? What happened subsequently? Have you kept writing?

Lighthouse south, your post is really interesting, thank you. I was utterly naive about the publishing industry prior to all this, the problem is it just draws you in and when you've already invested so much time in something and almost succeeded it is hard to face having to give up on it.

I don't have any problem with small, independent presses (would obviously be nice to get a massive advance from big company and be able to give up my job etc.....joking) I just really want to have something to show for all my work. I wouldn't be keen on self publishing (part of me, rightly or wrongly, I think does need the validation of a 'proper publisher', but mainly I do not have the time, money or experience necessary to manage to do this well myself). I would be very happy to be published by a smaller press, it's more that I can just see the possibilities diminishing, which is not pleasant! My agent has been so supportive and lovely - and has really given me useful insights into trying to write with the reader/ market in mind, but obviously if this doesn't go anywhere there seems to me to be no reason for her to keep me on.

I realise I am not quite at the end point yet, there are a few options but like you say the ground seems to keep shifting and there are probably many factors at play over which I have no control!

OP I completely understand if you don't want to answer this but I'm wondering what you mean when you say you see the possibilities diminishing? Do you mean just with that one publisher? Is your agent willing to put your book forward to others or is their potential profit not worth it?

If I keep going, I will prob go for small press too for the validation. However, recent things like the Eyewear publishing saga have made me think that's another advantage of self publishing- you don't have to worry about anyone else in any way.

I see publishing as a business and would want to learn about contract law etc before even trying to get an agent, I wouldn't be willing to just assume everyone was doing a great job. I'm sure most are but it's like if you manage staff....you can't know if they are doing their job well unless you understand their job as well.

Did anyone see Jonny Geller's recent list of "what agents are looking for"? At the end of that "perfect writer" list, for all that, the % the writer would get is pretty poor.

I've also spoken to authors who have had their books in a window display in chain bookstores, but their publisher still won't pay travel costs for events etc.

And the maths of loss if your book goes in a 3 for 2 made my head explode.

I know I'm not JK Rowling so for me it would be an achievement - but not one I'm willing to price at 20 pence per hour. So if I enjoy writing, get the work I've done properly edited and polished, I don't want to then have the mammoth task of maybe finding an agent who maybe wants to make changes who maybe will find a publisher who will make further changes and then maybe still won't publish it.

In fact just reading what I've typed makes me need a cup of tea!!

There seems to be a strong cultural thing about never giving up. I'm more
Bernard Black. "of course I'm a quitter...I come from a long line of quitters....it's amazing I'm here at all". Somewhat paraphrased..

Hi, I meant as more publishers reject it the pool of possibilities diminishes! So eventually presumably there comes a point when you've tried all avenues and reached a dead end.

Agent is talking about submitting to independent publishers (there are still a couple of mainstream options I think though they seem like pretty outside chances.... And I'm wary of making changes again based on advice without any commitment!) I know they will pay less, this isn't such an issue for me, but obviously the agents need to make their commission so presumably want to sell for as much as possible. While I would obviously like to make money from my writing I don't really see it as being that realistic a possibility so any I do make would be a bonus.

Oh, sorry, I should have realised that's what you meant.

I would def try out the indies.

Good luck

You can self publish on Amazon, some have been extremely successful with this route.
.
Also Google how many times J.k Rowling got rejected before Harry potter got popular.

Hi yes I know you can self publish on Amazon, but I don't want to do that - that was the point of having a good, reputable agent (what I originally thought was the main barrier on the road to publication only to be met with the murky and lesser known world of submission to editors).

Also have seen the (numerous!) articles of how many times jk Rowling (and various others) were rejected. Though the converse of that is to think of how many potential jk Rowljngs were also (and remain ) rejected, which is probably the more common scenario (not comparing myself to jk, just that there was probably a glut of similar Harry Potter esque stuff around at the time that just never got anywhere....!)

Okay, first of all, WELL DONE YOU for getting so close to a deal. That shows you can write. You really can. That's critical.

Second, I'm with a small(ish) press and I love it. I get decent distribution in Waterstones and WHSmith Travel as well as Amazon, and some nice extra cash from rights sales. I'm not buying a private island yet, but I doubt I'd get that with a big publisher either.

Thirdly, you'll probably feel a million times better if you start work on another project. You'll be amazed by how much you've learned from the first one. Writing it will be quicker and easier, and you'll have something new to think about.

Best of luck and don't give up. You really can write, or you wouldn't be so close with your first novel. If you keep trying it will happen.

Oh and one last thought that got me through a few bleak moments...it's better to die trying than to die wondering. Keep going

Thanks outrageous, that's made me feel a little bit better! Just to clarify, I would be ecstatic to be in your position and to be picked up by a small press - it's not that I'm disappointed about that prospect, it's fear of exhausting options and not finding a publisher willing to take it on with or without extra work.

And yes, I know I need to get on with the next project - I don't want to die wondering as you say, but I also don't want to kill myself keeping on trying (and making my family suffer in the process - as previous poster said this is all done with the other commitments of busy job and family life which is v hard to keep juggling with the odds of success seeming so long).

But I am clearly just having a self pitying day! I guess I just need to get on, be hopeful there are still options and start on another project.

Thanks lighthouse, only just noticed your last post

Can I ask what you mean by submit to small press?
Thanks

Hi, just that there is a hierarchy of publishers, so the really big publishing houses (eg Penguin, Faber) will have lots of subsidiaries or 'imprints'. Beyond that, there are then the smaller indie presses, of which there are a lot, doing different things - not vanity publishers, but they would typically have smaller capacity and less money for marketing etc.

Ah, dontrock, I’m really sorry to hear this.

Please remind yourself that the quality of your writing is not in doubt by the time you reach this stage. I know you know that, but sometimes you need to say it out loud to yourself!

I would say, (1) trust your agent - ask them what they think you should do next, and be guided by them. And (2) start writing something totally new - something you want to write, that will make you happy, with no deadlines, just for the love of it.

If your agent is happy to submit to smaller presses etc while you concentrate on starting something else (or just take a break) you might be able to feel as though you’ve handed the stress of it over a bit, maybe? It’s a hundred times harder when you’re squeezing it in between work and children, so be kind to yourself! Hang on in there.

Hi, mumbles, good to hear from you, sorry for slow response.
I get what you are saying though inevitably doubting my writing (and wondering if my agent is just deluded...) following all the rejection...Anyway, I have made some minor revisions based on discussion following the most recent rejection (and each time I do this it is better, which makes me wonder if we submitted too soon in the first place). Sent it back to her yesterday, so she can get on and submit it to the next tier of publishers (and one who was willing to 'offer an edit' but not commit last time, so not holding out much hope for that!)

I guess I am free in the meantime to get on with something else - slightly worried about how long that will take me, although I think this experience has given me the ability to write much more quickly and to deadline - on the other hand worried about chasing an impossible dream forever.

Hope all good with you, and you are getting on well with your next book

I am sure that your writing has massively improved.

I would echo this. We all know the stories of famous authors who got multiple rejections before getting their big break.

Rejection's tough. I got to the final round of a good indie publisher's open call once (Angry Robot books) - the editor who wrote to me said he was in favour of buying it but others weren't. That was quite hard to get over.

In the end I decided that book wasn't going to be my breakout hit (naturally I did try a bunch of agents as well and did get some full requests but nothing more) and ultimately have just moved onto the next book.

Sometimes it's the publisher, not you - and you can find a winner elsewhere.

Sometimes it is the book and that's harder.

You just don't know until you try them all. Good luck!