A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Why publishers do not share with authors the reason for turning down their manuscripts
It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.
This week's conversation addresses the reason(s) that publishers almost never tell authors why a book was rejected. Typical, instead, authors whose works have been rejected will simply receive a short note that the book does not fit the publisher's needs without expressing how it does not fit or what those needs are.
There are a few reasons why a publisher will not elucidate a rationale.
(1) The book really does not fit the publishing lines. Nuff said there. Sending a book about sports to a religious publisher -- it does happen (a lot) -- is a clear lack of fit and additional explanation is not needed.
(2) The publisher does not have time to respond in any way except formulaically. When a publisher receives dozens of submissions in a week, there really is not time to provide feedback to each of them.
(3) A publisher has been burned by one or more authors who have not only spurned the feedback but have gone on to abuse the publisher for daring to think that the author's book is anything other than a great work that should have created awe from the publisher. This is especially typical for a first-time book author, looking for traditional publication.
I was reminded of #3 this past week, but it is far from the first time I have encountered unwarranted first-time book-author ego. Since it takes a lot of time to try to help an author with clear talent but not quite ready for prime time, being rebuffed is disappointing, not only because the effort/time was unproductive but also because it is pretty clear that the author will have to learn the hard way that all work needs refinement. Here are a couple of quite different negative responses and a couple of quite different positive responses (it is the positive responses that keep me providing feedback, when time permits).
Negative response #1
One of the big mistakes that first-timers make is the overuse of linking verbs. Verbs like "is," "was," and "seems" add no action or information to a text. Further, they often turn what is touted as a memoir into a summary that sounds more like a report or article than a compelling narrative.
When I pointed that out to one author, suggesting that a different approach to verb choice might make a big difference in the marketability of his book, he sent back two paragraphs of venom in which he made sure to use a linking verb in every sentence. Okay, note deleted. It has been several years; I have not seen that author or book published anywhere. Perhaps it has been self-published and not reached the light of day (typical for those self-published books where authors do not do their homework or the hard work or the hard work of refinement -- and/or do not accept feedback).
Another typical first-timer mistake in memoir writing is to want to "tell all," thus ending up with 300-400 pages, with many details that are likely only of emotional significance to the author. Multiple themes and leitmotifs make reading such a book difficult. Just what is the message?
In the case of the second responder, ego and arrogance colored the response. Instead of asking for some help or, at least, saying thanks for the amount of time that went into trying to help her, she responded that she had shared the manuscript with a dozen friends who could not put it down, that I was wrong and condescending, and please do not contact her again. Well, sure, they are her friends; it is exciting to learn things about her they had never known. As a reader who did not know her, I found it pretty easy to put the book down. And why on earth would I want to contact her again??
The book had a lot of potential, but with the author's attitude, it is not likely to achieve it. She said she had another traditional publisher who asked to review it. The author's assumption seemed to be that a review was the same as an agreement to publish. Having read the manuscript, I would be surprised if a traditional publisher would want to publish it without the kinds of changes I suggested. The cost of producing a 400-page memory of someone unknown and the likelihood of recovering investment would not be attractive to any publisher, in my opinion, but perhaps she has lucked out. As for me, with her as with other similar situations, I feel lucky to have avoided a bullet. Working with authors with oversized egos can create miserable days.
Positive response #1
Alternatively, some authors are grateful for feedback. In one case, I had actually met the author on a trip and encouraged her to send the book. It was not up to publication standards, but having encouraged her to send the book, I felt committed to providing what I hoped would be useful feedback. So, I rewrote the first two pages, showing how to bring out the emotion in an otherwise "reported" scene and thus appeal to readers. (One of the problems that the previous author, negative response #2, had.)
This author reacted with gratitude. However, she did not feel that she could do the rewrite by herself and asked for a referral to a developmental editor. I provided a reference, and a year passed.
Suddenly, her revised book appeared in my in-box, and it was good! It has now won a couple of awards and has gathered a following -- a fan club of readers and universities wanting the author to lecture and sell copies of her book.
Check out Good Blood: A Journey of Healing (Schaffer).
Positive response #2
A manuscript that arrived unsolicited one day had so much potential because of the topic but was poorly written. As with the previous book, I rewrote the first two pages, pointing out why I made the changes I did. I suggested that the author could either pay for a developmental editor or learn to write. I gave some suggestions for either option.
More than a year went by without another word. I had actually forgotten the book and the author when a revised manuscript arrived. Oh, my! It dripped good! And he had incredible, high-resolution color photographs to accompany the text. I assumed he had found a great developmental editor. I asked. He said that he had chosen the second option -- and learned to write. I was impressed, and we published the book.
The book has been on the top 100 Amazon lists almost consistently and just a few months ago won the top prize for "new voices" in a highly respected book competition. Indeed, he did learn to write! Kevin Hines called the book, "one of the most well-written books of the past decade, maybe longer."
Check out A View through the Fog (McGee).
Bottom line: Authors who have received TLC, known as feedback, from publishers frustrate publishers when they respond negatively, hostilely. Why are publishers frustrated? They usually provide feedback only for books that have potential. They know how foolish the author is not to work to make the book of higher quality. Sure, the author may find a publisher willing to give the book a go as is, but what a loss! -- And for that reason, many, if not most publishers will not give more than one-line (it does not fit) feedback. I often find myself doing the same even though the result could be one of the two kinds of positive responses; sometimes, I do not have the energy, time, or emotional fortitude to take that additional step toward trying to help a new author. Yet, the possibility of helping a new author produce an award-winning book is a great counter-valance!
See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.
Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore. Also available as an e-book and an audiobook.
The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.
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Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.
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