Selectively Juggling

Learning to selectively juggle to avoid the chaos and struggle

The sting of rejection

What’s something most people don’t understand?

I have just recently finished my 85k word hybrid literary memoir. I’ve written through a dual perspective lens. I took the courageous step of submitting to a small elite publishing house (here in Australia) After almost 4 weeks I received a reply, where they stated that they were “very impressed with the quality” of my work, and that they hope I “find a home” for my work. Ultimately they could not take on my work as they are a small house which only publish 10 books annually.

I don’t know if many people understand the intensity, the drive, passion, courage and energy needed to sustain the writing process (whilst also working and being a parent to a child with complex health and disability needs) Additionally, the conviction and self-belief needed to step out of one’s comfort zone and submit for others to critique, accept or reject.

So now I need to decide if I pursue other traditional publishing houses, or conversely go the self-publishing route. Do I take comfort in their warm top-tier rejection? Or simply see it as a stock-standard case of “regardless- a no is still a No!”

I believe that many non-writers don’t truly comprehend, understand or appreciate the physical, emotional, financial and mental costs of writing. I hope they appreciate the art form in all its various shades of brilliance.

IntuitiveCounsellor

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2 responses to “The sting of rejection”

  1. Elderberry Creations Avatar
    Elderberry Creations

    Well done! Just finishing a book is already something many can’t boast. Don’t give up. It does not sound like rejection at all. Publishing houses decide on a publishing plan which includes the type of books and the number of books they will publish well in advance of a financial year. Few people understand the costs involved in getting a well-written manuscript from manuscript to finished book on the shelf. So, for an author to send an unsolicited manuscript is often a hit or miss situation of being in the right place at the right time. So, do try to send your manuscript to more publishing houses. You don’t have to wait for one to answer before sending it to more. While you wait, you can do some research on self-publishing. That is the harder way to do it, if you plan on a print publication. A digital route e.g. publishing via Amazon sounds a bit easier. But don’t give up. You worked hard on it. Good luck!

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    1. IntuitiveCounsellor Avatar
      IntuitiveCounsellor

      Thank you for your kind and sensible encouragement. I’ll try my luck and send it to a few indie publishing houses that work with hybrid non-fiction. In the meantime I’ll tighten it and start looking at self-publishing options. Have a great weekend.

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