How Rejection (and Taylor Swift) Inspired My Publishing Success Story

[Writers Digest]

In this issue, an author shares how repeated rejections led to her success story; plus, much more!

In this issue, an author shares how repeated rejection inspired her publishing success story; plus, how not to measure success against others, and much more!  Writer's Digest Online | Writer's Digest Shop | Online Education How Rejection (and Taylor Swift) Inspired My Publishing Success Story The path to publication is rarely a tidy, linear story, and I’m no exception. I entered the query trenches with my first project full of the kind of optimism that comes with a heaping dose of naiveté, and sent it out to agents confident that I’d be getting an offer of representation within six months. (I Got 8 Agent Offers; Then, My Book Died on Sub.) There were no offers. Not for that first book, and not for the second one either. At the risk of being annoyingly woo woo, with the benefit of hindsight, I’m glad those projects didn’t make it. I was still figuring out my voice as an author, and though I’d been writing my entire life, I still had a lot to learn about craft to tell the kind of story I wanted to tell. By the time I queried Christina Miller at Nancy Yost Literary with my third project, a storm chaser romance, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Read more... Craft & Business of Writing Measuring Your Success Against the Highlight Reel Will Get You Nowhere What are the milestones that matter in an author’s career?  Is it success that comes in the form of a book deal that earns out, which lands you on a list? That list placement then sails you into a career of celebrity book club picks and author stardom?  Or is it dedicating yourself to your craft so you can finally understand what “show, don’t tell” means? Maybe it’s building a vibrant author community both online and in-person. Or it’s learning the exquisite nuance of dialogue and being so thrilled when your character’s exchanges practically leap off the page. Read more... Jessica M. Goldstein: On Writing Workplace Fiction "Don’t wait until you think you know what you’re writing about to start writing. Writing is the best way to find out." Read more... Successful Queries: "All the Little Ways," by Laura Lekkos Welcome back to the Successful Queries series. In this installment, find a query letter from agent Joe Veltre (The Gersh Agency) to editor Hannah Braaten (Gallery Books) for Laura Lekkos' debut novel, All the Little Ways. Read more... Write Like a Pro In this issue, we aim to demystify aspects of the publishing business for writers who hope to publish both traditionally and independently. Likewise, we cover how to write carefully and considerately about real people and jobs who inspire dramatic fiction. And of course, no May/June issue would be complete without the official Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers.   Click here to learn more >> Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 787 Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and example poem to get things started for poets. This week, write a summer poem.  Read more... From Your Writer's Digest Editor: Robert Lee Brewer Robert Lee Brewer is a senior editor for Writer’s Digest and former editor of the Writer's Market book series. He is also the author of Smash Poetry Journal and Solving the World's Problems. He enjoyed his editorial brainstorm meetings this week. Active Interest Media 2143 Grand Ave Des Moines, IA 50312 USA View online You received this email because you are subscribed to newsletters from Writer's Digest Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive.