Guest Post: Writing, Rejection & Getting Published by Judy Penz Sheluk

Please welcome back frequent contributor Judy Penz Sheluk today to the blog. Earlier this month through her Superior Shores Press she released, Finding Your Path to Publication. She tells you about that book today as well as how it came to be.

 

 

Writing, Rejection & Getting Published by Judy Penz Sheluk

 

You’ve written the book. Maybe you don’t want to self-publish, having decided it’s too difficult or scary to go it alone. Maybe you want to self-publish, but need a partner, a hybrid publisher that does the heavy lifting, for which you are willing to pay. Or maybe you need the validation of someone saying, “I pick you for the team.” The bottom line is, you’ve written the book. Now what?

That’s the question most asked at the 2021 NaNoWriMo workshop I led at my then-local library. For those that don’t know, each November, regional writing chapters and libraries across North America set up workshops and events around National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)—an annual, worldwide challenge in which writers attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days.

By the nature of their questions, it was quickly apparent that those attending didn’t have a clue. One had been writing on Wattpad for about a year, trying to build a following, thinking that might be his golden ticket into the big time. So far, it hadn’t been.

Another author had written seven novels over the past 10 years but had never attempted to get any of them published. When I asked her why not, she said, “What if everyone says no?”

Well, here’s the thing. Rejection is just part of the game. I always use the example of Kathryn Stockett, who wrote The Help. It was rejected 61 times over three years. She never gave up, just kept on querying until she found a publisher who believed in her story.

Even if you self-publish, there will be some form of rejection, e.g., a one-star review that pans your plot or criticizes your characters. Not selling enough copies to cover for your expenses (editing, cover art, etc.) can also feel like rejection.

Of course, there are ways to reduce the odds of rejection. Writing 50,000 words in November and querying 10 agents on December 1^st isn’t one of them. Polishing your manuscript, hiring a professional editor, consulting with beta readers, and doing your due diligence when it comes to pitching agents or publishers, those are all ways to improve your chances.

My takeaway from that NaNoWriMo session was that there was a need for a book that took an honest and approachable look at the various publishing paths and how best to navigate each of those waters. And so, with the help of my research assistant, Emily Nakeff, beta readers, and final editor, Ti Locke, Finding Your Path to Publication came to be.

 

About the book: The road to publishing is paved with good intentions…and horror stories of authors who had to learn the hard way.

For the emerging author, the publishing world can be overwhelming. You’ve written the book, and you’re ready to share it with the world, but don’t know where to start. Traditional, independent press, hybrid, self-publishing, and online social platforms—all are valid publishing paths. The question is, which one is right for you?

Finding Your Path to Publication is an introduction to an industry that remains a mystery to those on the outside. Learn how each publishing option works, what to expect from the process start to finish, how to identify red flags, and avoid common pitfalls. With statistics, examples, and helpful resources compiled by an industry insider who’s been down a few of these paths, this is your roadmap to decide which path you’d like to explore, and where to begin your author journey.

 

Judy Penz Sheluk ©2023

A former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the bestselling author of two mystery series: The Glass Dolphin Mysteries and Marketville Mysteries, both of which have been published in multiple languages. Her short crime fiction appears in several collections, including the Superior Shores Anthologies, which she also edited. Judy is a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she served on the Board of Directors for five years, the final two as Chair. She lives in Northern Ontario. Find her at www.judypenzsheluk.com.