If you’re an aspiring author, the dream of seeing your manuscript published into a book can be both exciting and daunting. You’ve poured so much time and energy into writing and polishing your draft, you want to do everything you can to ensure it’s published. In this blog post, we discuss the most common reasons that manuscripts are rejected by agents and publishers. To help you better evaluate your own work, refine your writing, and increase the appeal of your manuscript to prospective publishers.

I’ll share tips and practical advice to improve your chances of securing a book deal. From refining your writing skills and honing your storytelling craft, to researching publishers and understanding their preferences, I'll equip you with the tools needed to increase your book's appeal and stand out from the crowd.

Rejection doesn't have to be the end of your journey. It can be a stepping stone towards growth and improvement. Let’s talk about the common pitfalls and strategies that will elevate your manuscript and captivate publishers.

Planning on self publishing?

5 common reasons manuscripts are rejected

It’s not the right fit

If a book doesn't align with a publisher's target market or doesn't fit into a specific genre or category they publish, it may be rejected. There are many reasons a book might not be the best fit for an agent or publisher. Maybe they:

• Don’t publish that kind of book
• Have just acquired something similar
• Don’t understand the topic

This type of rejection has nothing to do with the story itself, it comes down to a lack of research by the author.

The solution:
Be thorough in researching before you query. Make sure you choose an agent or publisher that represents the category or genre you’re writing.

The writing is full of errors

If a query letter or manuscript is poorly written, with grammatical errors, awkward sentence structures, or weak storytelling, it is likely to be rejected.

The publishing industry is highly competitive, and publishers strive to maintain a high standard of quality in the books they publish. A manuscript riddled with errors, reflects poorly on the overall quality of the work. Publishers assess manuscripts not only for their storytelling potential but also for the author's professionalism and credibility. A manuscript with errors may suggest a lack of attention to detail or insufficient editing and revision.


If your manuscript is already polished, you can improve your chances that the publisher will see its potential. You can have a great story but if your manuscript is filled with poor sentences and bad spelling, it may automatically get rejected.

The solution:
Make sure your query letter and writing sample or manuscript are polished before sending them. Edit your draft to the best of your ability and then get someone else to take a look at it as well. This is one reason why many authors choose to work with an editor. A good editor will make sure that your work is up to scratch before you send it out to an agent.

The author hasn’t identified a target audience

One of the most common mistakes I see authors make is saying their story is for everyone. I have yet to come across a book that appealed to men, women and children of all ages and interests. It’s not realistic to expect this from your book.

It’s more appealing to agents and publishers when an author has a target audience that their book will be perfect for. They are in the business of selling books. If you can show that you know exactly who you’re targeting with your book and you’ve crafted the story especially for them, you're more likely to be successful.

Having an ideal reader in mind means your book will make sense in the context of the marketplace, and a publisher will be able to support you in getting your book into your target audience’s hands.

The solution:
Identify exactly what kind of reader you are targeting with your story. Answer these two questions: WHO is this book for? WHAT do you hope the reader will get out of it?

They don’t see a way to sell enough books

Publishers will always consider the commercial potential of a book. If they don't believe a book will sell well or find its target audience, it may be rejected.

This type of rejection can be because:

• your book will be too expensive to produce
• there’s too much competition
• it’s too niche and the market is too small
• it’s already been done
• this type of book doesn’t sell
  

Often what it comes down to is how well you position and explain the concept of your book. It’s your job to convince an agent/publisher that your book differs enough from what’s already out there. That there’s an unfilled niche ready for your book. And that they can actually make a profit by publishing your book.

If an author lacks a substantial platform or expertise in their field, it may also impact the book's chances of being accepted.

Unless you are royal, famous, or have millions of followers on Instagram or Booktok, getting a book deal won't be easy. The advice I always give to clients is this: get people talking about your book.

Without excellent marketing, nobody will know you've written a book. You have to learn how to market yourself and you have to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

The solution:
Start marketing yourself and building platforms where readers can find you. Work on growing your visibility online with a website, social media presence, a podcast and a blog. Show the agent/publisher how you intend to promote the book yourself.

Your proposal or manuscript didn’t wow them

A book with a weak or poorly developed plot, lack of conflict, or inconsistent pacing may be rejected. The same goes for books that rely on tired or overused themes and tropes. Publishers often receive numerous submissions on similar topics or genres. If a book fails to offer a unique or fresh perspective, it’s unlikely to be successful.

Publishers tend to be interested in books that bring something new to the table or have a unique voice. They are often seeking fresh and original ideas, so if a book feels too familiar or unoriginal, it might not capture their interest.

If an agent or publisher can’t see the value or importance of a book, they won’t invest in it.

The solution:
Take your time to refine your manuscript so it’s the best it can be. Wow publishers with an excellent, edited, compelling proposal.

Get your book published:

It's important to remember that rejection is subjective, and what one publisher rejects, another may accept. Persistence, revising your work, and finding the right publisher who appreciates your book's strengths are key to getting your book published.

As you can see from this blog post, there are a lot of reasons why an agent or publisher may reject a story. In many cases, you can take proactive steps to figure out what's wrong with your draft and fix it before re-submitting your work.

As always, if you are looking for support to figure out what's working/not working in your draft, I’m here to help. I highly recommend getting a manuscript assessment.

The goal of a manuscript assessment is to help authors improve their work before submitting it to agents or publishers.

A manuscript assessment will provide:

• An objective perspective that can be difficult for you to see yourself.
• Feedback on areas that require further development to make the story more compelling.
• Advice on how to polish your manuscript, making it more attractive to publishing professionals.
• A learning opportunity to improve your skills and future writing.
  

While it's not a replacement for a more comprehensive developmental edit, it does provide essential feedback for a price that will fit your budget.
If that sounds like something that might be helpful, I would love to talk more with you. Send me an email today.