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