As a self-published author and publisher for almost 4 years now, one of the most common questions I receive from writers goes something like this:
“My manuscript has been through several edits, and I’ve submitted it to countless publishers. I’ve either received a firm ‘no’ or no response at all.
Should I continue to work on it, or should I leave it as it is and just accept that it’s not worth publishing?
Does the lack of response from publishers mean it’s not good enough?
What do I do now?”
There is not one easy answer to these questions, but there are options that most writers have available to them. Many think that self-publishing as the only option, and while it certainly is one, it is not the only one. Here are my suggestions and a way forward from rejection or lack of interest for your manuscript…
Self-publish
I’ve worked with many writers who’ve decided to self-publishing independently and some have been successful in doing so and really enjoyed the freedom and sense of control that comes with self-publishing. Others, however, have not had such a great experience.
Like all authorship journeys, the secret to successful self-publishing is how willing you are to self-promote once the book is published. My best advice for self-published authors is to create a marketing plan with a six-month lead time to the sale of the book, so you really can put thought and effort into promoting it.
For those who decide to self-publish, I highly recommend this terrific talk by Nev March » Free Talk: Fun and Effective Book Promotion for Authors (authorspublish.com)
Nev March is the award-winning author of 3 books published by Macmillan. Her first book, Murder in Old Bombay, won the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel. Although published through a traditional publisher, a lot of her advice is still very helpful, and it can make the scope of marketing clearer.
Bonus tip: Make sure you have an excellent cover and get proof copies in advance to verify that the printer is doing a good job.
Write Another Book
I understand that this option is a little daunting, but the fact is most authors don’t get the first book they write published, or they don’t get it published first. There are many many successful authors who had their first manuscripts widely rejected. On writing their second however, they were able to either find an agent to represent it or got a publishing deal.
Writing another book can be a very positive experience as writers often take all that they learned writing and editing their first book into writing the second. So right from the start they have a much better first draft. Ever wondered why the second book or movie is often the best in a series?
Bonus tip: Change your genre if you feel overwhelmed by the task of writing a second book. Turn your hand at poetry or short stories for smaller writing projects and be sure to invest your time in workshops or writer’s groups to further develop your knowledge and skills as a writer.
Give the Project Space to Breathe
Often it can be tempting to just force another edit, even when you don’t think the manuscript needs it. In my experience, editing too soon after writing or after receiving critique, is generally counterproductive.
Writers in this situation tend to focus on surface level edits, making hasty decisions, which can lead to basic errors being missed. My advice is to give yourself time and create a plan for your next edit. Involve a beta reader or trusted friend who can conduct a proofread and provide constructive feedback so that you are focusing on what really needs attention.
Bonus tip: I always recommend writers to take between 2-4 weeks away from their manuscript once they have finished writing. That way, before they commence their final edit, they are looking at the manuscript with fresh and objective eyes, rather than from a fatigued and frustrated position.
And remember…
No matter which option you chose, it’s important to remember that most people who set out to write a novel never complete it, so you have already achieved a lot more than most!
(6) Facebook @Bowerbird Publishing – Crystal Leonardi
Crystal Leonardi is an award-winning author and publisher. Her titles include Boy of Steel: Little Sebastian's Big Miracle (2021), 6 Steps to Self-publishing with Crystal Leonardi (2022), My Brother Sebastian: Explaining Cancer to Kids (2022), My Friend Alice: Explaining Disability to Kids (2023) and My Mate Jed: Explaining Stroke to Kids (2024). You can buy her books here.
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