Writing: Rejection and Starting Late

 

Contributed by Margot Conor

A writer should not be disheartened if success doesn’t come immediately, or when facing rejection from an editor, agent, or publisher.

 Being dropped by a publisher or having a book that doesn’t meet sales expectations is not a definitive end—it can actually be an opportunity to pivot, regain creative freedom, and rediscover why you started writing in the first place. History has shown that many authors have faced similar setbacks, only to later thrive after taking a different approach to their work.

For example, Stephen King initially faced numerous rejections before finally selling Carrie. Even after achieving early success, he dealt with setbacks when his pseudonym, Richard Bachman, failed to perform as well. Yet King continued to write freely, and his resilience led to one of the most iconic careers in publishing.

Margaret Atwood, now a highly celebrated author, struggled with early rejection and low sales of her debut novels. It wasn’t until later, when she had more freedom to experiment, that she wrote The Handmaid’s Tale, the book that catapulted her into literary fame.

Another example is Agatha Christie, whose first few novels didn’t sell well. After being dropped by her first publisher, she didn't give up and went on to write The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, a groundbreaking success that established her as the queen of mystery fiction.
These writers demonstrate that setbacks can liberate you from external pressures, allowing you to take creative risks, explore new ideas, and ultimately succeed by writing from a place of passion and authenticity.

Many authors found success later in their careers after facing numerous setbacks, rejections, or simply taking time to hone their craft. Demonstrating that success doesn’t always come quickly or early in a writer’s life. Whether due to rejections, life circumstances, or simply taking time to find their true voice, they each found lasting success through persistence, passion, and the willingness to keep going despite the odds.

Toni Morrison: Morrison published her first novel, The Bluest Eye, at age 39 while working as an editor. Although the book initially didn’t gain much attention, she continued to write and refine her voice. It wasn’t until her third novel, Song of Solomon, that she gained widespread recognition, eventually winning the Nobel Prize in Literature. Her perseverance and willingness to explore complex, deeply personal themes led to her eventual success.

Frank McCourt: McCourt didn’t publish his first book, Angela’s Ashes, until he was 66 years old. Prior to that, he spent decades as a teacher, all the while writing about his impoverished childhood in Ireland. The memoir became an international bestseller, earning him the Pulitzer Prize. His story is a testament to the idea that success doesn’t always come early, but writing from lived experience and persistence can create something extraordinary later in life.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Famous for her Little House on the Prairie series, Wilder didn’t start writing until her 40s, and her first book was published when she was 65. Drawing from her childhood experiences on the American frontier, she brought a fresh, authentic voice to her work. Her books went on to become beloved classics, showing that starting later in life can lead to timeless success.

Raymond Chandler: Chandler started writing at 44, after losing his job during the Great Depression. His first novel, The Big Sleep, was published when he was 51, introducing the world to his famous detective, Philip Marlowe. Though he came to writing later, Chandler became a defining figure in crime fiction and noir literature, proving that age is not a barrier to creative reinvention.

Anna Sewell: Sewell wrote Black Beauty at 51, in poor health and bedridden. She never lived to see the book's immense success, but it became a classic, beloved for its empathy toward animals and humanity. Her late success underscores the idea that a single work, written from the heart, can make a lasting impact.

The point I am making here is that when you face rejection or find that your book isn’t getting the accolades you hoped it would, or performing as well as you would like financially, it does not mean you have failed. The idea of failure is something many writers grapple with, especially when their book doesn’t catch the attention of an agent or meet sales expectations.

It’s easy to internalize these setbacks as personal shortcomings, feeling as though they simply aren’t good enough. But the reality is that failure is often a natural and necessary part of the creative process. Many well-known authors faced rejection, low sales, or critical indifference early in their careers, only to later achieve great success.

Perseverance is key to overcoming these setbacks. Writing is not a one-time effort; it’s an evolving craft. Every "failure" is an opportunity to learn, improve, and refine your voice. Sometimes, the right story, market, or timing hasn’t aligned yet. The ability to keep going, to write another book, or revise the current one with fresh insight is what separates successful writers from those who give up too soon.

All the authors mentioned in this article faced numerous rejections before their breakthrough moments. If they had quit after their first setback, the world would never have experienced those great novels. Each setback is part of the larger journey, not a final verdict on a writer’s ability. With perseverance, the next story might be the one that resonates, not just because it’s better crafted, but because the writer has grown stronger, more resilient, and more attuned to their creative potential.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Margot Conor has been writing for as long as she can remember, but it wasn't until the COVID lock-down that she had enough time to dedicate to the craft and bring something to completion. Having finished her first novel, she went through the grueling two-year process of editing. Now she has jumped into the author's world with both feet. She's preparing to debut her first novel, which means learning how to promote it. The last year has been spent attending many writing retreats, seminars, and writers' events. She also listened to presentations specifically on the topic of publishing and book marketing. She will be sharing what she learns with the reader.
Learn more about Margot at https://margotconor.com/