Image shows graffiti that reads "What now?" to illustrate the idea that writers aren't sure what to do after their manuscript is rejected by a publisher.

If your book gets rejected by a publisher, moving forward isn’t always easy. But it is necessary. After all, that’s the only way you’ll make your dream of publishing a reality.

Here’s how to keep moving forward.

Keep It in Perspective

Rejection is nothing new. Talk to enough writers, and you’ll find a lot of people who had manuscripts rejected by a publisher. It’s just part of the game.

According to a 2013 Huffington Post article, agents reject an overwhelming 96 percent of all submissions. That means only four out of 100 submissions get agent representation—and that was in 2013! In a more recent article, Literary Agent Undercover puts your odds of acceptance even lower.

Once you land an agent, your publishing journey doesn’t end. Your agent then has to sell your book to a publisher. Unfortunately, all books represented by agents don’t sell to publishing houses, so you may have more rejections in your future.

Just remember that rejection happens to most authors. Successful authors don’t sulk or drown in shame or stress. They learn from rejection, write a second book, and keep pushing ahead.

Pitch After Getting Rejected by a Publisher

When you get rejected by a publisher, find another publisher and pitch your book again. Otherwise, your book will never see the light of day.

If you’re having a hard time landing a traditional publishing deal, it may be time for a new approach. Today, you have options. For example, you can do one of the following:

  • Self-publish. This puts all the power in your hands. You put your book together, find a printer and distributor, and make sure everything is just right. It’s a great solution for those with the time and willingness to learn every aspect of the publishing process.
  • Find a publishing partner. That’s essentially what Argyle Fox Publishing is—your publishing partner. We help get your books off your computer and onto bookshelves. We handle all the editing and back-end work. Once we finish, we hand everything over to you, keeping you in control of your publishing destiny. You maintain all rights throughout the process and keep all profits from your book sales.

Ready to continue your publishing journey? Argyle Fox Publishing may be the publisher you’ve been seeking. Submit your book for consideration today to find out.