Hi
Not really a question and I don't normally post about anything but thought I would share this to encourage anyone else who has been rejected a gazillion times and wonders what that's all about. I am in the process of submitting a novel to UK agents. One agent says 'It's written well but I wouldn't be able to find a publisher for it', another says 'it's a commercially attractive idea but the writing isn't strong enough' I guess I need to keep on taking the crazy pills then.
Re: rejections from agents and/or publishers, those of you you haven't read it already might be interested in this thread: "EVERY writer should read this!" https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/question/view/2271
It includes the following links:
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/14-best-selling-books-repeatedly-rejected-by-publishers.htm
http://www.literaryrejections.com/best-sellers-initially-rejected/
Although that last web-site calls itself "an extenstive collection of the some of the biggest errors of judgement in publishing history", it includes items where an agent or publisher rejects a ms and the writer rewrites it and is then accepted. That doesn't seem to me an "error of judgement in publishing history": it means that the version first submitted was - in someone's opinion - not good enough. That could have been an excellent decision: it's the rewritten version that deserved to be read by thousands.
[Personally speaking, I'm of the opinion that all those who rejected Harry Potter were absolutely right to do so. I am definitely NOT a fan. We all know of other authors who write the most dreadful tripe... and sell millions. Popular appeal is not a true measuring stick of quality.]
It's true, however, that there are many examples in those 2 lists of first-class books that were rejected when they WERE first-class: no rewriting necessary. Dr. Seuss was rejected for being too different. Exactly the reason for his appeal. "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" is in the Guiness Book Of Records as the best-seller with the most rejections: an astounding 122! I'm sure that Pirsig didn't rewrite his book 122 times. It's just that 122 "gods of quality arbitration" were incapable of recognising a jewel when they were presented with one.
Perhaps my favourite story is that of Jerzy Kosinski. I've never read anything by him [YET], but I already love him for what he did. To demonstrate how hard it is for unknown writers (e.g. most of us on this site) to break into the market, he took one of his best-sellers, turned it back into a manuscript and (without changing a word of it), submitted it to 13 agents and 14 publishers under an assumed name.(unknown writer looking for a break). They all rejected it... INCLUDING the publishers that had already published it and made a huge profit on it.
So, if a dozen agents reject your book, you actually should consider improving it. It might, indeed, need rewriting. But it's also just possible that those dozen don't know beans...
Hello,
Like me, you might have submitted your work too early. I sent my first novel to a few agents before trialling it on friends who enjoy the genre. The honest feedback I am getting is priceless and free.
David,
'it's a commercially attractive idea but THE WRITING ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH'