Avoiding Publisher Rejections

Almost every published writer has had to deal with rejection. Writers' novels, stories, articles and poems are like children and rejection can feel very personal. But it's all part of the writing life. Harry Potter author J K Rowling was told by several publishers that the stories would never catch on. Who is laughing now? Here are five reasons writers' work may get rejected.

1. Too Similar To Other Content

Rejection does not always mean that the writing was bad. Publishing is a business. If an article on moving house has already been accepted by a magazine, a second one is likely to be rejected because it's too similar. This does not mean that the second article was badly written. Writers can avoid being rejected for this reason by researching the publication they are submitting to. Good research means that writers will know whether a magazine is likely to be interested in their article.

2. The Publisher Does Not Publish In This Genre

Writers need to research their target market properly. Take the time to find out what genres publishers are interested in and what types of writing they publish. This can be done by using directories such as Writer's Market and Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. However, using these directories is only a first step for writers. Writers should take the time to contact publishers to get specific guidelines on the areas they are interested in.

Example: If a writer has written a children's picture book, the writer should not send it to a publisher who specializes in teenage fiction. Look in the children's section of the library. Who publishes those picture books? That's a good way for writers to find a suitable publisher for their stories.

3. The Reader Is Having A Bad Day

Editors, publishers and agents have off-days too. Writers feel differently about their own writing each day, depending on their mood. That is also true of editors, publishers and agents. Don't be dejected. Try submitting the writing to another editor, publisher or agent. Like J K Rowling, some writers have to submit multiple times before being accepted.

4. The Genre Is Not Popular Or Too Popular

Publishers need to make money from your writing. They need to know that your writing will sell. Look at the books that are selling in a local bookstore. Read the bestseller lists in the Sunday paper. This will give a guide to which types of writing are most popular and are selling well. However, if a genre is very popular, publishers may be flooded with submissions from writers who claim they are the next John Grisham or Patricia Cornwell. This claim is rarely supported and will only annoy potential publishers.

5. Mistakes In The Submission

The query letter or submission is publishers' and editors' first chance to assess a writer's style. Avoid spelling and grammatical errors and make it readable. This will give writers the best chance of getting published.