You have just finished your first draft of your novel, and you are feeling optimistic about its prospects. You have a completed draft with you; you are eagerly awaiting feedback from your beta readers. You are feeling confident about the story you have set out to tell, and you want to stick to the original concept you had in mind when you began writing.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, a lot can go wrong. Even if you have followed all the instructions you were given and adhered to the advice of seasoned authors, there is no guarantee that your novel will be published or, if it is, that it will be accepted by the industry gatekeepers. (If they even exist any more.) So, as you sit back and await the judgment of the publishing world, here is a list of things you might encounter and the best ways to deal with them.
The First Rejection Letter
No matter how enthusiastic you are about the quality of your writing or how much you believe in your plotline, you will no doubt experience a crushing blow when your work is rejected by a publisher. Even so-called “agented” writers have to go through this and come to terms with the fact that their manuscript may not be accepted by the house that holds the contract. Perhaps you have chosen a subject that is not yet well-known in the industry or that the publisher does not deem to be commercially viable. Sometimes there is no simple explanation for a rejection other than “not our sort of book”.
It is very demoralizing to receive your first rejection letter. If you are a bit of a perfectionist, the sting will be even more acute. You worked hard on that novel, and it tasted especially good because you had held back on publishing it until you were absolutely sure it was ready. Now that you have submitted it to a publisher, you begin to realize that there might be something wrong with it.
If you are to be successful as a published author, you must learn to deal with rejection. To that end, here are some tips on how to cope with disappointment:
Keep Going
The fact is that a lot of unpublished novels never get published. Even some of the best-selling novels were rejected by a publisher several times before being accepted. So, it is a great idea to continue writing even after you have been rejected. Improve your craft, experiment with new subject matter, and try out new ways of telling your story. The key is to keep going and not to let your self-esteem get in the way of your artistic growth. Remember that no one can judge your work until you have published at least one book, so do not let anyone, particularly not your friends or family members, discourage you. If they do, it’s likely that they do not understand how inspiration and creativity can be combined to yield something as beautiful as art.
Change The Way You Look At It
If you have followed all the instructions you were given and your manuscript has been well-written and adheres to the agreed-upon format, you must still acknowledge that there is perhaps something missing. What is missing depends on the feedback you have been given. Bear in mind that although your work may be flawless, it may still be lacking in certain areas. This brings us to our next point.
The Second Rejection Letter
When your manuscript is rejected for the second time, you may begin to feel a sense of deja vu. The feedback you have been given will either point out specific areas of improvement or suggest new techniques for rendering your scenes more effective. Either way, this is a further step in the right direction. You are bound to come across numerous trial and error moments as you continue to develop as a writer, so this too is a necessary evil. Sometimes you will write an entire scene only to find out that it does not ring true in the moment, and you will have to start all over again. This is both frustrating and time-consuming, so it is important to learn to be humble enough to admit when you are wrong.
The Third Rejection Letter
When your work is rejected for the third time, it is perhaps time to give up. Sometimes the feedback you have been given will be so detailed that there is little room for error. Other times it may simply point out that the story is heading in the wrong direction, or perhaps suggest a reworking of the entire plot.
Since you were given fair warning with each stage of the editorial process, from receiving the first rejection letter all the way through to the last line of the final manuscript, you must acknowledge that there is a limit to how many times a manuscript can be rejected. If you are lucky enough to have an agent, they will be able to provide you with some much-needed career guidance at this point. If not, it might be a good idea to take a step back, consider what you have learnt, and begin to look for a different route to publication. This could be in the form of a self-help book, a blog post, or a TV talk show appearance. Whatever it may be, make sure that you find a way to channel your creativity and keep writing.
Takeaway
Writing a novel is a daunting task, and not one that should be taken lightly. Even if you have diligently followed all the instructions and performed all the necessary tasks, there is no guarantee that your novel will be accepted by publishers or, if it is, that it will be published. In the event of rejection, you must continue to look at the positive side of the situation and remember that you are working toward a goal- something that you, as an individual, believe in- and that is what will keep you motivated to write. In the meantime, try to remain optimistic and continue to develop as a writer. Make sure to read and learn from the experiences of others in the industry so that you do not have to endure the same trials and errors yourself. Lastly, be sure to keep your agents and lawyers abreast of your progress, as this is a major step toward becoming a published author.