Thank you so much for your query, and for your patience as I’ve considered it. Unfortunately, your manuscript isn’t the right fit for me at this time, but I truly appreciate the chance to consider your work. Should you find yourself with a new manuscript to query, I hope you’ll keep me in mind. (Anonymous Literary Agency)
Yes, I have also endured the trial and tribulations of submitting to many literary agency in search of an agent to represent my children’s book series Merilla City. The majority of rejections followed the same format : expression of thanks for submission, kind rejection and encouragement to continue my submission journey. Of course, it was disappointing each time I received a rejection, but it also provided me with valuable information related to various ways in which my manuscript could be enhanced. Many well-known authors such as Stephen King (It, Carrie), Rudyard Kipling (The Jungle Book), J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter Series) were rejected numerous times before they acquired representation. In order to avoid the wearisome process of being rejected or sometimes even ignored, other authors decided to choose the adventure of self-publishing. Both traditional and self-publishing require a combination of careful effort, planning and persistence. This article will briefly examine five (5) strategies for overcoming rejection and steering your writing journey back on track.
1) Do not dwell on the rejection
You’ve patiently waited for a response for a few weeks, maybe even months. Finally you receive the long awaited response, but it is not what you expected. You believe your manuscript is great and deserves to be read by millions worldwide. Why were you rejected? Where did you go wrong? Are you a bad writer? STOP! Dwelling on the negative aspects of why your book was rejected will take away valuable time from you which could be use to revise and build a plan to enhance your manuscript. Additionally, over worrying about your rejection can have a negative influence on your mental and emotional faculties. It is best to step away from the rejection and step into rebuilding your strategy.
2) Focus on rebuilding your publishing strategy
If you have experienced your first, fifth, twentieth or a thousandth rejection you can start thinking about rebuilding your publish strategy. Take everything one step at a time and try not to overburden yourself. Some authors choose to step away from their manuscript for a while to restructure or realign their intentions. It may be effective at this point to reexamine not only your manuscript but also your publishing goals and journey. After this period you may have discovered new paths to publishing, a development in your manuscript or even stepped away completely from your publishing journey; whichever step you choose, always remember the ball is completely in your court!
3) Continue your publishing journey
As mentioned before, some authors choose to direct themselves towards self-publishing in order to publicize their work. Self-publishing does not automatically mean success. It simply means that you have decided to take authority for your work and will ensure it is appropriately published. If you feel confident that the self-publishing route will yield positive results, ensure you do proper research and strategize.
4) Network
Networking is the driving force behind all business development. Use networking to your advantage by building relationships with other writers; this can be writers who have faced rejection or who are still searching for a publisher, self-published and traditionally published authors.
5) Trust your process
Writing is a creative art which requires attention to detail and precision. Publishing is a business and aspiring writers should recognize the difference between writing and publishing. Writers put a huge amount of effort into creating and producing their best work. Journeying towards the next step in publishing no matter which route is taken or how many obstacles are encountered, writers must establish and trust the process. Both writing and publishing demand a combination of time and effort.
by Tatiana Handfield
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Author and Life Coach
Hello and Welcome! I’m the founder and editor of GEEMS Everyday Women’s Lifestyle Magazine - a trendy, refreshing, and feel good read made with the everyday woman in mind. Think real life, real style and real conversations. And if you love the magazine, you’ll love the website too. We bring that same vibe digitally, with articles that are stimulating, informative, and easy to enjoy - covering the things that matter to you, in a way that feels relatable and right on time.
