I’m always interested in hearing authors’ success stories. Whether they queried 100 agents or two, whether they wrote for ten years before publication or just a few, I find it incredibly helpful to look at their paths. Especially when I’m feeling a little defeated about my own submissions.

Did you know, for instance, that The Help, a book that went on to The New York Times bestseller list and eventually movie success, was rejected 60 times? 60. Author Kathryn Stockett even talks about what might have happened if she had given up sooner.

Stephen King’s Carrie is another great example. The now prolific author received 30 rejections before getting a yes. Can you imagine if Stephen King gave up at rejection number 29? How sad would we all be without his works out in the world? I’d be particularly lost if he had never written the book On Writing.

So, you see, I look at a rejection as one more no on the road to a yes. It’s highly unlikely that every agent and publisher will gush over your manuscript. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll garner publication without at least a handful of rejections. Some authors do and kudos to them. But don’t feel like you’re in the minority if you’re receiving rejections. It’s part of the process.

Put another way, the story I tell myself is this: it’s not a question of if but when; you will get published. Maybe that’s wishful thinking. Maybe it’s a story and only that. I’m good at making up stories, by the way, as most fiction writers are. Either way, that story and the fact that many wonderful authors received rejection after rejection keep me going.

What has helped you accept rejection as a part of the publication process?

For a more detailed look into some famous books and their rejection numbers, check out Emily Temple’s LitHub article.