Persistence and Publishing

I often remind my writing students of the power of persistence. “Publishing is a game of percentages,” I tell them, “and the more times you swing, the more likely you are to get a hit.”

I’ve seen lots of good material go unpublished because writers took rejection too seriously and gave up too soon. I’ve also seen lots of good work get published, change lives, and change the world, because writers doggedly kept showing their work to editors. In the face of repeated rejection, lost and ignored manuscripts, personal difficulties, and editors who insisted their work was uninteresting, irrelevant, or unmarketable, they continued to pursue publication until the right piece reached the right editor at the right time.

I have three books coming out in the next two years—one with Hazelden, two with Wisdom Publications. One of these books received over 60 rejections before finding the right home. If I’d thrown in the towel after 50 or even 60 turndowns, I would have missed my chance to change the world with it.

Do you have a story to tell about how persistence paid off for you as a writer? If so, would you share it here?

Comments

One Response to “Persistence and Publishing”

1. Latham says:

   August 20, 2009 at 9:19 am

   Scott:

   I couldn’t agree with you more. Rejection can be a bear, but it’s a bear you have to find a way around. For a couple of years I tried to find a home for a novel I wrote. I received 295 written rejections from an assortment of agents, editors, and seasoned naysayers. (These are only the rejections I received in the mail. Who knows how many folks said no but didn’t bother to respond.)

   I continued with other writing projects and now ghostwrite memoirs full-time, likely earning more than I ever would from my novels. I’m fortunate in that I work at a job I love, transforming people’s adventures into marketable and compelling memoirs.

   Never give up sounds like a cliché, but, well, it works.

   Latham
   http://www.lathamshinder.com