An odd thought struck me this morning: what if people actually like my books? Over the past few years, I've racked up hundreds of rejections. I told myself the agents and editors were only rejecting my query letters, because what else could they be rejecting? None of the agents and editors I sent letters to had ever heard of me, so they could not be rejecting me personally. Nor did most request any part of a manuscript, so they could not be rejecting my novels. But others did request parts of the manuscripts, and found them wanting. Some did not like my characters, my setting, my matter-of-fact style, my inability to sweep them away. Some did not like that the books could not be easily slotted into a genre. The rest simply said the books did not fit with their list. I had a great attitude through all those rejections, and I didn't think they affected me, but they must have, because I've been steeling myself against weak sales and less-than-stellar reviews.
Ever since More Deaths Than One and A Spark of Heavenly Fire were accepted by Second Wind Publishing, I've been so focused on figuring out how to sell my books (I even started a new blog, Book Marketing Floozy, to share what I learned and will continue to learn) that it never occurred to me people might read my books. Of course, one-fourth to one-half of all purchased books are never read, so perhaps those who buy won't read, but what if they do?
Now that my publication date is nearing (actually, it's not a date, more like a time -- end of November), and my novels are about to be made available, I'm getting nervous. Only one person (a freelance editor I met in a writing group) read all four of my manuscripts, and she absolutely loved them. And an author I met through my blog read one of my manuscripts, and she thought it was brilliant. Although many people have read excerpts of my novels, no one else has ever read one all the way through. Soon my novels will be published.
And what if people like them?
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Comments: 36
As far as the "what if?" question, I don't think it''s odd to wonder. All of the reasons you were given in your rejection letters are realities of publishing. Niche markets, genre fit, personal taste... the odds of being accepted are so overwhelmingly against a new author. And yet, you managed to be victorious. Be proud, and expect people will like your work. I guess I would be thinking "when" instead of "what if".
Congratulations on your accomplishment!
Deep breath, here we go.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child
of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to
make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
I thought your question was cute, sweet and funny!!!
But in actuality, it's a good question, for the better side of anything can be as intimidating as the rejections we've known. Your question reminds me of something I read from a book entitled Peace of Mind written by Joshua Liebman, a Jewish Rabbi, where he discussed people's fear of success. I thought it odd at the time, but after some pondering, I saw his point. It is as though the novelty of success poses a threat to what we've become accustomed... rejection.
I think you're in for a wonderful transition, and I'm very excited for you. It's really grand of you to share both sides of your experiences. Thank you!
There is a lot of truth in the quote that justme posted.
I think you will find that people WILL like your writing and your way will be clear. When that happens enjoy the feelings. When you start feeling fearful just visit with us Wombats and we will be there for you.
Please let us know when your books come out. I am gonna be first in line. ;o)
I like this site :
Authonomy
Congratulations
Wait. Maybe not. :-)
I reAAAlly like what you wrote about taking rejection letters in stride -- it has been a puzzle to me how anyone gets an agent since the actual writing is seldom the reason an agent turns a writer down.
I'm looking forward to your books.
A truly thoughtful question. After tons of rejections, it is a question worth asking. I love Gretchen and Nancy L.'s responses (I just skimmed the shorter answers; it's 3 a.m. here and I am winding down; my apologies).
I think I am most intrigued by the question because it is one I never considered. I have been most puzzled by the folks who have liked my book; they are so radically different.
Here I am, an African American woman from South Central writing memoir and poetry, and my five biggest fans are two African American women who also write; my bestest girlfriend who is Italian from a rich suburb near Chicago; a good friend and editor who is a self-defined hillbilly (Celtic-Cherokee) from Tennessee; and his mother, who until my book thought the Bible the only book that merited publication.
Now how does one define a "niche" or demographic when that is one's wide swath?
I confess that I have been tearing my hair out trying to figure out why these books (I've written nine) are not selling.
I have two free downloads available on my site, one for the first novel and one for the first book of poetry, and I would love any feedback or perspectives that folks here would like to offer. I am really becoming puzzled at how to sell these titles ........
http://www.blowingupbarriers.com
Love and blessings,
Dr. Ni, who will happily sign and mail to you a copy of the book you download if you are able to offer suggestions and/or advice after reading it!
Pat, I visited your new blog, Book Marketing Floozy, that you linked above, and it is astounding! What fabulous information you have there. Thank you so very much!!
--Joe Breunig
http://www.squidoo.com/book-isbn-1419650513/
If not purchaced don't take it too hard. There are so many writers these days. Are there as many readers? The key is appealing to them. I'll check out your blog, thanks.
As a new up coming writer coming up to the starting line of the many others who are preparing to enter the race to get published, many will not finish, some will quit, and some will never show up. I showed up because of my spirit to write. It is my driving force and needs no acceptance to start or to end, just to begin. By accepting this and understanding why I'm in this race, I know it's not about winning, it's about finishing what I started, then start again, chapter after chapter.
Sure, who wouldn't want to be a Best Seller. To receive the accolades of world acceptance is almost overwhelming. But I believe, when I'm least expecting it, I will get the call to go to the front of the line. The flow of my spirit when I write is because I love the genre that I write in (Romance), I write to that and nothing else.
I'm not waiting to be judged, I'm not waiting to be accepted, I'm not standing with just a pile of papers in my hands, I'm a writer and I write from my spirit and from my heart first. I have readers from all over the world that read my work daily because my short stories are free and open to all that want to read them on the internet. Everyday when I get emails saying "that was beautiful, excellent ending, great love story", this becomes the fuel that I use to keep the lantern lit that I write by.
So Pat, I share my lantern with you and applaud your success of being published and being moved to the head of the line...
~Jonathan~
www.johnmarionfrancis.com