Successful Writers Persevering Through Initial Criticism and Disapproval

Successful Writers Persevering Through Initial Criticism and Disapproval

Who hasn't experienced the dejected feeling of rejection, especially when it comes to one's creative writing? Famous authors like you may be surprised to learn that their masterpieces faced a similar fate.

Take, for instance, the literary giants below, who grappled with rejection after rejection before their books hit the big time. Consider their stories as you navigate through your own writing journey and remember that perseverance is key.

1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding Before Golding penned the iconic Lord of the Flies in 1954, the book faced harsh rejection from no less than 21 publishers. Since then, it has been adapted into multiple films and translated into over 30 languages.
2. And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) Geisel's initial writing and illustration combination was a tough sell, with 27 rejections before landing his first book with Vanguard Press. A little-known fact: he added the "Dr." to his pen name in honor of his father, who always wished him to become a doctor.
3. Animal Farm by George Orwell According to The Telegraph, T.S. Eliot himself, who worked for Faber & Faber at the time, rejected Orwell's book due to concerns about the political climate. Eliot also criticized the book's narrative. Three other publishers followed his lead, but Secker & Warburg eventually took the chance in 1945.
4. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville Often called the great American novel, Moby-Dick was initially rejected by Richard Bentley publishing house. The company even questioned whether the main struggle had to be with a whale. Eventually, a different acquisition employee at Richard Bentley saw the potential and accepted the manuscript.
5. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Although Twilight may divide critics, it remains a bestseller. The saga's first novel faced 14 consecutive rejections before Little, Brown & Co. picked it up.
6. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter Potter's original submissions met with interest from publishers but only when they demanded significant alterations in both content and art. Frustrated, Potter self-published 250 copies in 1901. Fortunately for us, she persisted, and the rest is history.
7. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Ironic, isn't it? This Canadian author found success fairly quickly, but her first Anne book was rejected by five publishers before L.C. Page & Co. took a chance and published it in 1908. Since then, it has sold over 50 million copies.

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1. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway A publisher named Moberley Luger wasn't impressed by Hemingway's novel, going as far as to write a whole rejection letter stating that she didn't see the need for "treatises about bullfights and underemployed men who drink too much." How times have changed.
2. Sanctuary by William Faulkner Faulkner described his sixth novel as sensationalist tripe written for money, leading some publishers to believe him when they rejected it. Jonathan Cape-Harrison Smith later published it.
3. Dune by Frank Herbert Although Dune has a large following in both fantasy and science fiction communities, 23 publishers initially turned down the fascinating world of Arrakis. Chilton Book Co. eventually agreed to publish it, launching Herbert's career.
4. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle L'Engle's classic, which blends science fiction and quantum physics, faced rejections from over two dozen publishers before Farrar, Straus, and Giroux took a chance on it.
5. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling Kipling's magnum opus was rejected countless times. Publishers raised concerns about Kipling's language skills and saw no real talent in his writing. Fortunately, Macmillan Publishers had better instincts.
6. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Mitchell's epic southern classic was met with a chorus of rejections from 38 publishers. However, Macmillan secured it in 1936, and it went on to win a Pulitzer Prize and sell millions of copies worldwide.
7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling Initially rejected by all 12 publishing houses Rowling approached, Harry Potter wouldn't have become the global phenomenon it is today if not for the persistence of an eight-year-old girl. She convinced her father, an editor at Bloomsbury, to publish the book.
8. Carrie by Stephen King King's first published novel wasn't just rejected by publishers at first; he himself disliked it so much that he threw away the manuscript. Fortunately, King's wife salvaged the discarded pages, and Doubleday editor William Thompson saw its potential, eventually publishing it.

Can you imagine where these authors might be if they had given up after these rejections? Remember this thought the next time you feel like throwing in the towel on your writing. The first few dozen publishers may not share your vision, but eventually, someone will. And that one "yes" could be all it takes to launch your writing career.

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