How To Write A Novel

I have been rejected - again. Well, I haven't been rejected. It is just that the publishing company states that if they want your book, you'll hear back in three weeks.

It has been four weeks.

Novel Rejection Letter
I sucked in my gut and started looking at books from publisher #2 on my list. That is when I realized that I should be writing a blog about rejection letters - even the ones you do not receive.

It is easy to say to writers:

just get over it
just start writing again
send it out to another publisher
ignore rejection letters
do not take it personally
it has no reflection on your writing ability
a rejection letter does not define your talent.

Or, the myriad of other 'off the cuff' - slaps in the face - that authors give new writers.

Instead of that, I am going to tell you whey published authors do not worry about rejection letters. "They have learned the difference between a novel and a marketable novel."

Publishers want a marketable novel. I sent them a great novel. It was accepted by a publisher before, but hasn't been in print for two years.

I know exactly why this book was rejected - it lacked tease. That does not mean sexual, but it means emotional. This publisher wants stories that hit reader's emotional, hard, and on page one.

Research Publishers
I had researched this publisher. I had read their books - I just happened to overlook this one thing.

It was on their author's forum that I found the answer.

Many publishers take extra steps to connect with authors. They have forums, chats, their authors promote, - there is a dozen ways to connect with a publishing company.

Promote
One new feature that I see on submission pages is 'we are looking for established writers who will bring an audience with them.'

This is why it is important to grow a fan base.

However, there are times when a novel will just receive a rejection letter because the publisher doesn't need it.

Authors
Authors do not fear rejection letters. Most of the authors I know have 5 - 10 favorite publishers. If a publisher rejects their current book, they send it to a new publisher and then keep researching.

They know that they will get a book accepted sooner or later, by someone. I have four books currently in circulation and another three on my desk.

If you receive rejection letters then do the following:

Join author groups
Join publisher's groups
Learn from authors
Take courses
Read books
and then read more books.

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