Writerly Setbacks: Navigating the Path to Publication
In a guest post, Monique Hall, a small-town contemporary romance author, shares her journey to publication. Known for her love of feel-good movies and soppy romance novels with "happily-ever-afters," Monique has taken a step towards realising her dream.
Monique's path to publication began with a Twitter pitch contest. She submitted her manuscript for A Place to Belong and was grateful for the detailed feedback she received from the first editor. Unfortunately, she received a rejection, citing issues with point of view, exposition, and character development.
Undeterred, Monique continued her quest for publication. Following the RWA Conference in August, she submitted her manuscript to three publishers. In the meantime, she has written a novella and two short stories, demonstrating her commitment to her craft.
The second editor praised Monique's writing style but rejected the manuscript due to a saturated rural romance list. Yet, Monique remains optimistic. "You can't become a brilliant writer overnight," she says, "It takes time to hone one's craft and become a good writer."
Monique emphasises the importance of taking responsibility for one's own learning as a writer. She credits her teacher for instilling this mindset, encouraging her to be proactive in learning, such as taking courses, networking with other authors, and asking questions.
Professional editors' advice should be taken on board and used to learn to be objective about one's work, Monique believes. She plans to revisit and ruthlessly rework her manuscript, applying the lessons she has learned.
Monique also acknowledges the hard work involved in improving one's writing skills. "Hard work will pay off in the end," she assures. Although she apologises to readers for the delay in the release of A Place to Belong, she remains hopeful that her persistence will lead to publication.
For those aspiring writers out there, Monique encourages you to keep going. The submission process may be hard, but with dedication, learning, and a bit of luck, your dream could become a reality. Read more about querying authors, staying uplifted while querying, and the submission process here. Discover more tips on improving your writing here.
As for the third publisher to whom Monique submitted her manuscripts and has not yet received a response, she remains patient, knowing that good things come to those who wait. Fingers crossed for Monique and the release of A Place to Belong! If a publisher "favourites" a pitch, the author can submit their manuscript directly to them, so keep an eye out for any updates.
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