A full-service literary agency that focuses on books for the Christian market.

9 Reasons to Give Up on Publishing

Blogger: Rachelle Gardner

The publication journey isn’t easy, no matter how you approach it. I’m always encouraging people to be patient, persevere through the obstacles, and doggedly pursue their dream. For some people, this means persistence through years or decades.

But… is there a time when you should give up? Maybe so. I could be wrong but I think there are a few signs the publishing journey is not for you.

 

You may want to stop pursuing publication if…

 

1. You’re only doing it for the money.

In the majority of cases, the money’s not that great.

Destroying laptop2. You expect the publication journey to be anything other than difficult.

The ups and downs alone can drive you crazy.

3. You have an aversion to hearing bad news.

The path always seems to be strewn with little firebombs.

4. The thought of using social media to promote your book still gives you hives.

It’s a reality for writers these days.

5. You think Tweeting “Check out my book!” constitutes a good social media strategy.

That’s so 2010.

6. You expect to receive only four- and five-star reviews on Amazon.

Even “War and Peace” has 1-star reviews.

7. You believe selling one book to a publisher means you’re a shoo-in for selling more.

This is only true if your sales on that first book are through the roof.

8. You truly believe your book is better than all the others out there.

You may be a tad unrealistic.

9. You think anything else—anything—might make you as happy as writing does.

Because if so, you should go for it!

 

What are some obstacles you’ve overcome—and still didn’t quit?

 

Tweetables

Is there a time when you should give up on publishing? Maybe so. Click to Tweet.

9 Reasons to Give Up on Publishing. Click to Tweet.

What are some obstacles to publishing you’ve overcome—and still didn’t quit? Click to Tweet.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  2. Thank you so much for these tips. I find them particularly helpful because my own unrealistic expectations are my greatest obstacle. I worry that everyone in the world (and throughout time) must love my writing or it is worthless. My first year of teaching my mentor warned me that perfectionism paralyzes teachers. Once I got that, teaching became a joy, not a stress. I believe the same must be true in writing.

    Reply

    • How did you work past it? Yes I too want everything to be perfect and I often beat myself up when things don’t work out. I have written a book and I have not handled rejection well. My reaction is driving me to not try again.

      Reply

      • @Rachelle Gardener…that is such good advice. Thank you again. @Sally As I reflect upon it, I think that a supportive community is really what helped me overcome my fear of failure. When I did teach lessons which were met with only blank stares, I could debrief the experience with other teachers and close friends. The people around me, telling me that one bad day didn’t make me a bad teacher were inspirational. Having a supportive writing community seems to be equally important.

        Does anyone have thoughts on whether a community is more beneficial in person or via social media?

  3. Obstacle 1. Having been told by the top five crime publishers that my books really deserved to be published, but were “…only mid-list.”

    Obstacle 2. Ageism – Being told in public by a highly regarded crime fiction agent [not my own who was very supportive] that she would not consider taking on a writer even ten years my junior because of the need to nurture a long term relationship.

    So I self-published, and have never regretted it, emotionally, or financially!

    Reply

    • Bill, that ageist agent could not have been more wrong. One thing that encourages me about the writing life is how ageless it is, as long as one’s mind is still clear and active enough to tell a good story. There is no mandatory retirement age. I figure that even if my hands become too arthritic to type, I can dictate my stories to some young whippersnapper! 🙂

      Reply

  4. There are many things that make me as happy as writing. They’re the things that inspire my writing

    Win win 🙂

    Reply

  5. My publisher asked me to resubmit a YA novel they had rejected then rejected it again, telling me that it was so bleak nobody would read it till the end.

    For six weeks I couldn’t pick up a pen. Then my teen boys told me, “That’s crap Mum. We read it to the end and so would heaps of other kids.” I picked up my pen and started working on it again. I’ve just been awarded a mentorship to work with Ellen Hopkins on this same novel – and received arts funding for it. Although I was temporarily unable to write, it didn’t stop me for long. Being a writer is who I am and there is nothing else I would rather be doing.

    Thanks for this post and for reminding me that I made the right decision to keep writing:)

    Reply

  6. Hahahaha looools i laughed throughout this read because its soooo true. I just got off the back of the horse going to publishers everyday…its tedious and disappointing. The thing is, when your motivation is anything but money, its more fun. Plus there are so many other ways of publishing nowadays and getting the satisfaction that your message is being received. I just wrote a blog post called “A writer writes: read all about it.” Do read up on it as follow up to Rachelle’s blog
    loveonpoint.blogspot.be

    Reply

  7. 10. Your life took an unexpected turn and you aren’t able to devote much time to your writing.

    -A friend had to take a year off to care for her ailing mother-in-law.
    -Another friend took time to finish her degree.
    -I was widowed, then discovered my preschooler has autism and needed much more time than any of my other children did.

    Each of us considered the cost, then continued writing because no other career would make us as happy.

    Reply

    • Roxanne, that happened to me.

      Several years ago I suffered a rather big “plot twist” in my life, that nearly killed me. I had to step back from a lot of things, including writing, for a while until everything could be resolved.

      But through it all, in the back of my head, was that driving urge to write once more.

      Reply

  8. Such great points, Rachelle. The one that made me laugh was your Twitter comment—”That’s so 2010.”

    I haven’t submitted anything to an agent or editor yet. Most of the obstacles I’ve overcome are the ones within myself. I’ve had to make sure my perspective is right, not beating myself up if I didn’t do well in a contest or if I’ve gotten stuck in my story, or had negative comments made.

    I know. The obstacles get bigger once I put my work out there. I’m gearing up for that time in this “pre-season.”

    Reply

  9. I was talking with a best selling author yesterday about the realism in writing and publishing. You can look at all the points made here and wonder if you have chosen the right path to be a writer, but the bottom line is that as long as there are ideas for books, there will be someone out there writing them. I love this list, it’s what I try to explain to many writers I come in contact with. All of what you mentioned here can help us see how the force of passion for the written word jumps over all these points when we are doing what we are supposed to do – but also understanding the realities of our choice to pursue publication. Thank you for your honesty. We need to hear this so we can evaluate our goals and attitudes.

    Reply

  10. Obstacles are nothing if you just push them out of the way.

    The only one I can’t seem to overcome is finding an agent.Because of all the rejections from agents I almost gave up thinking I was writing crap.

    I skipped the agent part and found a publisher, now three books in and another one to come I’m feeling pretty good about finally seeing it can happen, you just can’t quit.

    I still query but I have a back-up plan when they say no. 🙂

    Reply

  11. You may want to stop pursuing publication if…

    You really want to believe what others (mainly family, mother especially)that it is too difficult to find an agent, or to have anything published, or to make a living as a writer (last one really makes me smile because in my case it is not true). You should give up before you even try.

    So glad I stopped listening to what others say (mainly Mom and Dad when he was alive) a long time ago.

    Reply

  14. My reason for “giving up” on publishing wasn’t any of the above. Instead, I looked at the dwindling number of publishers and openings for books before noting the number of great writers trying to get their books published. Why would I want to take away a slot from one of these great folks when I could self-publish? So perhaps I do fit into one of those reasons. It just wasn’t important enough, but I love knowing all the great folks along the way and I’ll be the first in line to promote their books. I’ll keep writing, because that’s what I do. 🙂

    Reply

  15. I’m on my 12 year of working on my memoir. I’ve had two agents who loved my book, and many rejections from agents and editors. After many different titles and revisions, I am now trying a new approach to my story. I can’t quit. My story won’t let me, and believe me, I have tried. The journey of rejections helps by good and kind agents who reject my book but tell me not to give up because I have a powerful story. This time, I’m going small, but all the way.

    Reply

  16. I’m on my 12th year of working on my memoir. I’ve had two agents who loved my book, and many rejections from agents and editors. After many different titles and revisions, I am now trying a new approach to my story. I can’t quit. My story won’t let me, and believe me, I have tried. The journey of rejections helps by good and kind agents who reject my book but tell me not to give up because I have a powerful story. This time, I’m going small, but all the way.

    Reply

  17. You shouldn’t pursue publishing if you don’t believe God is guiding you every step of the way, published or not. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to have someone say, “I loved your article in the church magazine.” So what if it’s only seen by about 1,500 people? God has something to say, and any old bush will do.

    Reply

    • Jane Daley hit that one out of the park.
      I’ve had my “burning bush moment”. I even pulled a Moses at his most ignorant – BUT I CAN’T write about that, LORD –
      God’s persistence – that gentle nudging that wouldn’t let me go – my surrender(finally) several months later netted me the most amazing thing I’ve ever encountered. The PEACE that passeth human comprehension hit as soon as I TRUSTED and OBEYED. That obedience gave me an entire trilogy.

      Reply

  18. I was completely off the mark when I read the title of this blog. I expected to see something like the number of rejections one get. But this is so true! Most of them seem to obstacles we make ourselves. I was against doing any social media because I figured, who has the time? But I overcame that obstacle by taking a brief course at a writer workshop this summer. Now I enjoy it. Thanks for the tips, Rachelle. You made me take to good hard look at my own expectations in publishing.

    Reply

  19. You’ve also said this earlier, Rachelle: You think everyone who is published had an “inside connection” or “just got lucky,” or anything else that has nothing to do with writing and the legitimate publishing process.
    Thanks for this very thoughtful piece.

    Reply

    • > You think everyone who is published had an
      > “inside connection” or “just got lucky” …

      It’s true.

      Show me the writer and with enough googling, I can find you the connection that got them in the door. It wasn’t the excellence of their manuscript. Same with anything else in the arts. I know classical pianists who can play rings around the headliners at Carnegie Hall. They play at community centers for free. Most people can’t tell the difference by ear anyway. They just think they can.

      Reply

  20. > 4. The thought of using social media to
    > promote your book still gives you hives.
    > It’s a reality for writers these days.

    What malarkey. Most of the best writers today (the ones NOT doing it for money or fame) do not have websites nor do social media. The best advertising for a book is still word of mouth. Is anyone not going to recommend an author because their writing is wonderful, but they don’t have a Twitter account?

    On the other hand, I can show you literally thousands who have not been able to penetrate due to the blandness of their writing, who are social media whores. Just go to any blog site and look them up.

    Meanwhile Deborah Eisenberg is amazing us with the best-written fiction today. But don’t look for *any* web presence.

    Reply

    • Even though no one seems to agree with you about the “social media whores”, I do.

      Certain people who really know how to market a book so that it sells 100,000 copies in a year seldom use Facebook or Twitter. A good example is Brendon Burchard and his book “The Charge” which now has sold around 100,000 copies. Brendon uses e-mail marketing campaigns along with many other marketing techniques that most “social media whores” are totally ignorant about.

      As for me, I use several techniques that entail doing just the opposite of what “book experts” advocate. That is what has helped me sell over 800,000 copies of my books worldwide.

      Ernie J. Zelinski
      International Best-Selling Author
      “Helping Adventurous Souls Live Prosperous and Free”
      Author of the Bestseller “How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free”
      (Over 190,000 copies sold and published in 9 languages)
      and the International Bestseller “The Joy of Not Working’
      (Over 250,000 copies sold and published in 17 languages)

      Reply

  22. I’d highly HIGHLY recommend NOT writing historical fiction unless you’re basically nuts about research.

    Have I ever wanted to quit? Sure.
    But the story still went on in my head and got so LONG I had to write it down before they all got mad at me.

    Reply

  23. I’ve haven’t been published yet, either, and have always been doubtful that anyone will pay for a manuscript with my name on it, but what I want to do is write a good story. I’ve actually shut away writing that I KNOW is terrible, but I come back to the laptop anyway and go at it again and again. I want to give someone a good story to read. Sure, I want to be paid for it, but the story is important. I especially love reading a book that will keep me up until 4 a.m. That probably sounds crazy, but there it is. Thanks for all the tips. They are very encouraging.

    Reply

  24. I’d add you should give up on publishing if you’ve never thought about giving up on publishing 🙂 It’s part of the journey.

    Reply

  25. Not knowing WHY my story keeps getting rejected is the hardest obstacle for me. Does my story just stink, or does it just not “fit” at that moment with that agency? If only agents had the time to explain why it was rejected. Thanks for the encouraging tips, though!

    Reply

  27. I LIKE the publishing world. There are so many opportunities now, and one meets so many interesting people along the way.

    The disadvantages? Well, sure, but at least I have a pretty good idea that I’ll be alive at the end of the day to complain about them. Having been shot, stabbed, and IED’d in another line of work, that’s kind of a big plus.

    I love writing. I’ll never quit.

    Reply

  28. Hmm, you might consider dropping the notion of publication, if you’ve already wallpapered one wall with rejection slips, and are now working on the rest of the den. 🙂 How’s that?

    Reply

  29. Love number 4. Putting your writing out there for the world to see seems easier than putting it out there for friends and family to see at times. Slowly getting over that hive-inducing issue. Especially now that I have recruited a few as beta readers. Yay for feedback!

    Other hurdles? The fear that I won’t finish. Every season of life brings challenges and time constraints. Priorities change. Things happen. I guess I cling to, “slow and steady wins the race.”

    Reply

  30. I’ve come to really enjoy writing in the last couple of years. Some encouragement and nice reviews have come from friends as well as from professionals at Christian Writing conferences. That pesky “platform” is really bringing me down, though. They tell me that what I’ve produced is publishable, but I’m not well known enough yet. My blog, where I posted my first chapter, is doing well, but no where near 5,000 visits a day that would get a publisher’s attention.

    I’ve written a few articles and devotionals but that’s coming along very slowly. It’s been over a year since I last submitted my manuscript because I’m pretty sure it will be rejected since I’m not famous or part of a mega church.

    I’m not ready to give up, but I’ve come pretty close at times. I love to write, but I’m thankful that I love being a pastor and planting churches as well.

    Reply

  33. I remember the writing workshops I took at University (I *don’t* recommend it).

    The other students were an eclectic bunch. The one thing they had in common was picking on the Genre Fiction author (ie me). Oh, the abuse was terrible, from the snide little insults in class to the screaming at me down the hallways, telling me how useless I was, why did I bother, and I would never get published. One fellow student even threatened me with “blacklisting”. Did he honestly think he could tarnish my reputation with every editor and publisher out there?

    Yet I persevered to graduate level. To this day, I have far more publishing credits than any of them.

    Still, I’m terribly unimpressed with my uni experience. Anyone have a good experience studying writing at university?

    Reply

  34. Sometimes a discouraging comment can go a long way.

    Last April I complained to my mom about how grueling the editing process was going with my recent book (I have 2 published books). She asked me why I didn’t write books that someone would want to read! I write Christian non-fiction. After I licked my wounds for a couple weeks, I sat down and wrote my first fiction novel, completing it last week ! Will I submit it? Not sure, but I took the comment by my mom as a challenge. I’ll give her the completed book for Christmas.

    I’m still a non-fiction writer and will continue to write non-fiction, but the negative comment actually stretched my creativity.

    Give up writing? Never!

    Reply

  38. I’m sorry, but I simply must ask this: What is the difference between “writing for the money” and “writing for a living”? How “little” can I expect to earn if my team and I can write and publish a novel per year?

    Reply