From Rejection Letter to Bestseller:

Breaking Barriers to Publishing Success

Rejection plants a seed of doubt, even in confident writers. Authors know the road to publication is littered with rejection letters from agents and editors, but most people find it difficult to brush off rejection after rejection, bounce right back, and continue writing and submitting. The trick to getting your work out into the world is knowing when to persevere with confidence in the traditional publishing landscape and when to reroute.

Everybody Experiences Rejection

The main obstacle to publication is simple: it often takes years of querying literary agents and pitching publishers to get a book out into the world, and many writers give up too easily. Their fight is lonely, and the rejection feels personal. Realizing that even the most successful authors have experienced their share of rejection can give writers the perspective they need to keep going.

Stephen King, who has published 50 novels and sold more than 350 million copies of his books, struggled to get his first manuscript published. Thirty publishers turned down “Carrie” before Doubleday accepted it, but it sold over 1 million copies in its first year. It has since been adapted into several feature films and even a Broadway musical.

Kathryn Stockett experienced double the rejection for her novel, which was turned down by 60 literary agents. By August 2011, “The Help” had sold over 5 million copies and topped the New York Times bestseller list for more than 100 weeks. The film adaptation of her book has grossed over $200 million.

Rejection is not a recent phenomenon in the publishing world. Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” was rejected by 38 publishers before it was finally printed. The novel went on to win Mitchell a Pulitzer Prize in 1937, and the movie adaptation became one of the highest-grossing Hollywood films of all time.

Weighing Your Options as an Author

These famous authors share commonalities besides their many rejection letters. They tenaciously held on to the value of their work; no amount of rejection could convince them their writing sucked or their ideas were worthless. They stopped at nothing to bring their books to the world.

If this is you, you’ve got what it takes to see a book through to publication. But how? To determine the best route for getting published, ask yourself:

Have you exhausted traditional methods? If you believe in your book and know it will ultimately find success, but you’re facing rejection after rejection, it may be time to think about alternative routes. Self-publishing has never been an easier or more popular option.

Do I have the time and resources to self-publish? Self-publishing requires a lot of legwork and can be expensive.

Can I market myself as an author? If you choose to self-publish, you will need to become your own loudest cheerleader. However, marketing now falls largely on the shoulders of authors — even those who go through traditional publishers. No matter which route you choose, you must be able to build and connect with your audience.

What sets my book apart from other books? Take the time to identify and clearly express your book’s unique selling point. Hone a succinct description and be prepared to effectively market your book.

Removing Barriers to Self-Publishing Success

A prime concern for authors who choose to self-publish is the out-of-pocket expense. Crowdfunding is a relatively new way to lessen the burden of self-publishing while building an audience and gauging market viability for a book. Websites like Pubslush, which focuses solely on books, can help writers raise funds for publication expenses.

Authors must also work on building an audience before publishing anything. Self-promotion, social networks, creative marketing, and crowdfunding sites provide opportunities to generate enthusiasm for your project.

Finally, never underestimate the importance of finding the right editor. After the time and effort you put into raising funds and building an audience (not to mention writing the thing), you’re going to want a flawless book. Don’t let misspellings, misplaced commas, or an omitted word ruin the joy of finally holding your first book.

Believing in Your Work

If J.K. Rowling had taken her dozen rejection letters to heart, the world would not have witnessed eager children stationed outside bookstores for midnight releases, costume party movie premieres, a Harry Potter theme park, or the international popularity of the Potter series.

Authors need to remember that everyone, including J.K. Rowling, is rejected at some point. If you believe in your work, take advantage of options like self-publishing and crowdfunding, and seize the opportunity to share your writing with the world.

That way, one day, millions of enchanted readers can thank you.

Amanda L. Barbara is Vice President of Pubslush. Pubslush is a global crowdfunding publishing platform for authors to raise funds and gauge their audience’s interest in new book ideas and for trendsetting readers to pledge their financial support to bring books to life.