The publishing industry can be a discouraging place at times. For both new and seasoned writers, rejection is the norm. The reality is that the publishing industry is very subjective. This means that sometimes a rejection isn’t about your writing. Your manuscript simply didn’t resonate with or hit what that particular editor likes. So is there any way to win in a game of preferences? Well, that’s not really the right question because it’s not a game. It’s easy to think that if you play by all the rules and jump through all the publishing hoops, you’ll be guaranteed to get a book deal. I think the writing journey loses a lot of its joy when you look at it as a game. It’s a journey with ups and downs, straight shots and detours. There’s no one way from point A to point B. It’s a twisting, curving path that takes you places you never imagined. Bear this in mind as you look for those silver linings. 1.“Failure is not fatal.” A good Winston Churchill quote. Failure is not going to destroy you. A “no” does not translate to “never.” Being a writer is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of courage, stamina, and optimism to keep going. Failure only has as much power as you give it. It’s a learning experience that provides a stepping stone on the river to success. Too many writers put a limit on themselves saying that 100, 500, or 1,000 rejections is enough. Do we ever limit success? No! So why do we put a number on failings when we’ve actually figured out one more method that doesn’t work? 2.“There’s no expiration date on your talent.” I love this piece of advice, and it comes from an interview one of my favorite authors, Leigh Bardugo, did. She didn’t publish her first book until she was 37. Many other authors didn’t find success until their 40s or 50s. The wonderful thing about being a writer is that there’s not a timeline on our dreams like maybe a dancer or football player. Over time, athletes’ bodies can’t handle the strain of their sport anymore, and they have to do something else. As writers, this isn’t the case. Our stories live in our minds, and so long as we have sound minds, we can write. Some stories take years to develop. Maybe we need more life experience, or maybe we need to travel to a place that sparks just the right setting. You never know. Stories come. Stories are found. Stories can’t be forced or rushed. Being a young writer who finds success is wonderful. Being an older writer who finds success is wonderful too. It’s not a competition. That’s not why you started, and it’s not why you’ll finish. 3.“You date to marry.” You’ve probably heard this adage in regards to relationships, but have you ever been told that searching for an agent/editor/publisher is like looking for a spouse? Slightly creepy, yes. But the truth is that a book deal is an investment. You’re putting your “baby” out there into the world, and wouldn’t you want to do that with someone who is passionate about your project, is willing to fight for it, and believes in its message? Sounds like marriage material to me. But you may have to shop your projects around for a while and suffer through some “bad dates” before you find the right fit. Not everyone will be kind in rejecting your projects. You never let one bad date keep you from going out again, do you? This industry is all about relationships and who you know. And please don’t be creepy and send “love” letters to agents/editors/publishers. The marriage thing is a metaphor only!! 4.“Authors are works-in-progress.” Ah, yes. Perhaps a better metaphor. This quote comes from one of my other favorite authors, Victoria Schwab. I went to one of her author events recently, and she said during the Q&A, “Books can be done, but authors are works-in-progress.” She went on to talk about her writing career and how her books are each a version of her from a different stage in her life. She’s grown over the years, both personally and as a writer, and it shows in her books. We’re all growing and learning during the writing process. We get better because practice makes progress, not perfection. Don’t let any one of your works define you or your career. You still have more stories to tell and more growing to do. Feeling encouraged yet? I hope so. Writing is beyond rewarding when you stick with it. You won’t always be able to please everyone or have them love your stories, and that’s okay. It’s a subjective industry, and preferences shift just like the market does. What you can do is keep writing what you’re passionate about. You can keep honing your talent, trying and failing at times, but becoming better through it. You can refuse to give up because your dream has no limits. You can and must keep telling stories. Have any other encouragements for writers? I’d love to see them in the comments below! Until next time,
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May 2019
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