Why Will No-One Publish My Novel?: A Handbook for the Rejected Writer

by Fay Weldon

You've written a book, triumphantly typed "The End," but now, it seems, no one wants to publish it. What do you do next? Don't give ask yourself what went wrong, then do something about it. Author of more than 30 novels, stories, and screenplays, and tutor on the prestigious creative writing course at Bath Spa, Fay Weldon has a lifetime of wisdom to impart on the art of writing. Why Will No-One Publish My Novel? will delight and amuse, but it isn't just another how-to-write it shows you how not to write if you want to get published.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Collections, Books About Books

192 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2019

About the author

Fay Weldon CBE was an English author, essayist and playwright, whose work has been associated with feminism. In her fiction, Weldon typically portrayed contemporary women who find themselves trapped in oppressive situations caused by the patriarchal structure of British society.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fay_Weldon

Reviews

[evangeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite being a quick and easy read, with a few useful tips and pieces of advice, I found that the writing style of this book really gets in the way of the information being conveyed. To me, it felt like babble, and because of that, by the time I'd finished the sentence/paragraph, I had forgotten what that particular part was even discussing in the first place.
I was hoping to finish the book feeling motivated and inspired but honestly, I finished and sort of just felt...well...nothing. Unlike other non-fiction books on writing when I have finished reading and felt inspired to put what I have learnt into practice, this one was nothing like that. I just sort of finished it, and that was that. Onto the next book.
Shame, but oh well.

[Erik Fazekas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vtipná kniha o písaní, celá prvá časť je vlastne nepoužiteľná pre nás, keďže tu nemáme literárne agentúry. Ale mňa to pobavilo. Škoda, že nemáme niečo podobné aj v slovenčine.

[Owen Townend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was both brutally honest and craftily cheeky. Weldon, a much-published author, goes at length to explain just why certain manuscripts are never picked up by agents or publishers. Normally this subject is barely broached in writing guides, let alone used for a whole book.

Though opting for 'how-not-to' over 'how-to' can often seem downright discouraging, in this rare case it works. This is largely due to Weldon's wry sense of humour. Her hypothetical examples of novels are amusingly stream of consciousness and she goes on to paint vivid human pictures of what might be going on behind the scenes of a small press the day your book is considered.

My main takeaway from this book is the importance of the 'cosmic sentence', the hypothesis that prompts a fiction writing project. For example, the cosmic sentence of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl might be 'there is no such thing as a perfect marriage'. It's a simple concept in theory but one often neglected in practice. If you've ever started but failed to finish a novel, chances are it was because you lost sight of the cosmic sentence that you initially set out to prove.

While it's subtitle markets itself as for 'rejected' writers, I cannot wholly recommend Why Will No-One Publish My Novel? to the genuinely disheartened among them. Weldon's central argument to buck up and just get on with it may well seem abrasive to such a person. Instead, if you're mildly fed up of mainstream rejection but are ready and keen to get to work, this handbook may well help you get back on track.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I am not a rejected novelist. Not yet. Maybe not ever, depending on if/how I choose to continue my publishing journey. But this has a lot of good things to say about everything from writing a novel to working with a publisher. And it’s so FUN while doing it. The author knows how to make the reader smile and groan and feel all the things while reading about the art of making a novel. It’s a pleasant guide that I recommend to anyone who likes to write (or those that want to want to write)

[cleo-queen-of-pirates · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Review to come :)

[Becki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a brief fun read. Although if you are struggling to place your novel it would be galling to see the title page juxtaposed with the ‘Also by Fay Weldon’ page which lists a vast array of novels, children’s books, short story collections and non-fiction! Of course, this does suggest she knows what she’s talking about!

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I have never submitted fiction work for formal publication (bar one unsuccessful short story), this particular title didn’t resonate for me, but I know of the author’s reputation (rather than knowing the author’s work other than on TV), so I gave this short book (currently available on Kindle Unlimited) a tentative go. And I’m pleased I did.

This book focuses on traditional publishing rather than self publishing because it focuses on selling a work to sceptical, demanding audiences who have other choices than investing time in any given novel: agents, editors, and the public of course. There are a great many nuggets of practical wisdom here that address a wide range of issues that even a good book may suffer from. These nuggets are delivered with a wry, wise, don’t-mess-with-me deadpan that speaks of extensive experience and is a joy to read in itself. It’s revealing that the author’s first background is not creative writing, but academic analysis, then advertising. For her, readers want novels that have a point to make and make it clearly without fuss.

These nuggets of wisdom aren’t anything to do with marketing or promotion, but are all about ensuring a book is saleable in itself. No amount of hype can save a product that can’t stand on its own. These nuggets should be born in mind at all times when writing, but are at their most useful in the rewriting and editing phases. It’s all about spit and polish turning a book into a quality product, and the author demolishes a good number of “writing rules” along the way by calling bullshit on them. She tells writers how to grow into repeat authors in a direct, to the point way that demands more than one read to get all the points.

Overall, this is a great resource and it’s also a pleasant read.

[Annabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An honest, direct and succinct summary of how writers may be holding themselves back from getting their work published and what they should consider next. Weldon covers:
- Common pitfalls getting you rejected - what's your pigeon-hole(s)?
- Understanding how publishing works - it's not just about your prose, what is the USP/who is this being marketed to? What's the point of the book?
- Past publishing, how are you making your readers happy?
- An overview of how to structure your novel
- Take-aways from Weldon's personal experience getting published as someone with no creative writing training, only a background in economics and eventually copywriting.

Overall, I found this helpful. Some of the advice went more specific and some parts could have been grouped differently vs being spread (eg: lots about character development spread across sections), however I took digital notes so had the luxury to do this myself.

I've also not actually tried to get my writing published outside of smaller competitions so I'm approaching from a place of curiosity rather than experience :)

Key takeaways for me:
- Have a "cosmic message" you relate back to ('what's the point?), take breaks to see if you're on track
- Understand who you're intending to engage with this (agent, marketing, publisher, reader), how and why
-"Make sentences work for their existence" with no boring dialogue
- Suspense ('what's happening next in the book?) = good, puzzling readers ('what's happening on this page?') = bad
- Balance inspiration with reason

[M. Apple · Rating 2 out of 5]

If the endless snarky language isn't off-putting, the advice certainly will be. I made it all the way to end before realizing, "Ah, this person is a baby boomer who started writing ads in the 1960s." Not that there's anything wrong per se with being a baby boomer or being an ad writer. But comments like "its the digital age" etc (in 2018, when the book was published) and publishers' turning away of "middle age women" clearly show who she thinks the book is being read by. She claims here and there that writers should avoid stereotypes, and then admits in the last chapter to have basically relied on stereotypes in her own writing. She claims (without proof) that most fiction is read by women and most non-fiction read by men (no stereotypes there). The telling comment about how writers should keep their female characters "young and sexy" is not exactly great literary advice.

I'm not interested in writing a bodice-ripper yarn of high seas adventure. Neither will I "apologize for bringing in human emotion" in my science fiction stories. While a bit of her advice about discarding the first few pages are sound, I have heard that simple advice elsewhere for free. Finally, her utter dismissal of writing character profiles because she feels that (1) characters exist to further the plot line and (2) character profiles prevent character development show how out of touch she is with the 21st century novel.

Thanks but no thanks. Waste of time and money, this.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only instructive and interesting but fun and quite wickedly hilarious in places. It's all obvious really but that doesn't take away from its importance. Weldon also discusses why people write, why people read, and what both are looking for.
p.133. "Readers interpret novels as confession and absolution rolled into one. Why else do any of us go round with this rectangle of printed paper, this potted alternative universe... 'I'm reading such a good book!' Can it be because increasingly, in a world without religion, when virtue must be its own reward, and we must live without a sense of divine retribution or heavenly compensation, when all experience is happenchance, and chaos and entropy rule, we look for certainties, for shape, for structure, for beginning, middle and some conclusion, however small, however brief - and this is the satisfaction the good novel brings us." Indeed.
A personal revelation, I will keep writing my novels, like the Soviet writers, for the 'bottom drawer'. Getting published is not relevant for me but I really enjoy the process of writing.

[Rebecca Fung · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and easy read. It is about some possible reasons your book might not be getting published, not how to write, so it may jar with some people who think "but a publisher SHOULD'T CARE" about these things - certainly for things like saying what age your protagonist is and this differs as to whether the protagonist is female or male.

Naturally, also, some of the advice may not apply as things keep changing in the marketing world.

But it was a good reminder that writing and getting your published are two very different things and in getting things published - reader and publisher/marketing tastes need to be accounted for.

The exact details of how to account for them is ever-changing, which is why it's probably not a bad idea that the book is short and doesn't try to go into lots of detail. The details are always shifting anyway.

I did like the FAQ part and the part about Latin tags. I don't agree with everything Fay says but I still liked reading the book.

[Rahmah Mokhtar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviu |

Banyak poin penting pasal menilai karya sendiri. The importance of stick to your idea and story, instead of falling for your own writing. To stop self-claim that you are writing the best story ever.

Bacaan yang bagus untuk kita memahami sebab sesebuah karya ditolak, dan belajar cara yang betul untuk mengkritik karya sendiri. Banyak kali jugalah saya mengangguk sebelum menampar diri, dan kemudian mengangguk lagi.

Saya kongsikan beberapa quote daripada buku ini:
1. Keep your synopsis brief, positive and businesses-like (for pitching purpose).

2. Be positive about what you've written but avoid boasting (no hype, please).

3. Be as simple as you can. And don't hide the names of your characters.

Apa yang boleh dibuat apabila karya ditolak? Pilihan di tangan kita, sama ada nak:
1. Bersedih dan kecewa berlama-lama, menyalahkan takdir dan dunia.
2. Bertenang. Kita boleh belajar sesuatu daripada hasil kali ini. It might be a great life lesson, the beginning of all wisdom.
3. Tulis karya baharu.
4. Tulis semula karya yang ditolak, baiki kelemahan yang ada dan hantar semula.

Kata Tere Liye, "Menjadi penulis itu, harus tahan banting."

Nota: Saya beli buku ini Book Excess The Mines.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're in Canada, Indigo has had this book in the bargain section, where it costs about $3. After a lifetime of writing, and of reading books upon books upon books about writing, I can say this is worth picking up, and certainly worth $3. It introduced some actual new ideas to me, including stopping at intermittent times in the writing process and writing a "the story so far" summary. She also laid out some outdated things people do, like using words other than "said" for dialogue tags, which people need to hear. She also emphasizes getting interesting fast and only using the interesting parts, and lifts back the curtain of how literary agencies work. Of the millions of books about writing out there, this is one of the most useful I've encountered.

[Jon Kenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's some invaluable stuff in here. It's not a how-to manual as such; it is very much based on the personality and individual experiences of Fay Weldon. In my book (see what I did there?) that makes it twenty times more valuable. There are a hundred clinical text books on novel writing out there that are generic lists of dos and don'ts. This gives us something unique. There will never be another Fay Weldon so what she has to say really matters. Stephen King's On Writing takes a similar approach and is also an essential read for any would-be writer. Not everything suggested in here works for me but that's the point.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A humorous little book, and good for those who are struggling to write, get published or just even wondering what writing professionally is all about. A little about the author, Fay Weldon and how she got into the writing world, and has a number of simple good tips on writing, getting published and what it is that publishers are now doing and why, in this day and age of so many literate people, it is so dam hard to get published. Remember, JK Rowling apparently got 70 rejections before being taken on. How bummed they must be all now!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

As writing books go, pretty casual. That's not to say there's no help in here - there are a few things that are plugged several times over - but in general this is a book that encourages you to write, but doesn't give you a lot of practical details. Or maybe, having read a lot of writing books over the years, I found this more interesting because the author comes across so winningly, rather than because it told me anything much that was new.
It's always worth reading books about writing if you're a writer. Even if you're not.

[ElsieAgnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little craft book written with engaging wit and charm. Easy to read, with practical advice that is simple to put into practice.

This is not so much a paint by numbers of how to write a novel but more of a checklist of sorts to go through when you think your novel is complete and ready for the world or as the title suggests, have been rejected.

It’s about the reader not the writer, how to convince a reader your book is worth their time and then make sure your deliver on your promise.

[Paul Hopwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gem of a book on writing fiction. Small and compact but full of useful tips, most of which I'm aware of but this reinforced them. But also some that I hadn't considered before, like take care with strong verbs – often you're told to avoid weak verbs. There's also an enlightening and comic take on the day in the life of a literary agency. And then at the end, a little reminder to writers to appreciate what they're giving – after all they're the creator – rather than being grateful to all the non-writers that benefit from their work.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pues me lo he leído en una tarde. Ligero, facilito.

Esta mujer se me ha hecho bastante cruda, no por ello menos realista, teniendo en consideración su trayectoria profesional y los años en que ésta transcurrió.

Hay varios consejos con los que no estoy de acuerdo. El libro se publicó en 2019 y SE NOTA. Las cosas en este mundo moderno e inestable han cambiado considerablemente en casi siete años.

A pesar de lo señalado, ha sido entretenido y me llevo algún consejo útil.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book delivers what the title says in a humorous, easy-to-read manner from an extensively published writer (note a published writer, not just a writer). Just highlights that you need to know the rules first before knowing how and when to break them. One tip about the (young) age of your main character was depressing.

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fiction writer, but have found a lot of fiction advice useful for non-fiction and academic writing as well. Besides, it is always interesting to read personal views on the craft and business of writing. Weldon's might not be the most comprehensive guide, but it is helpful, easy to digest, and a good read as well. As good as any guide and short enough to remember the main points.

[Sue Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful advice written by a master. The style is informal, almost conversational – like listening to a podcast. It was easy to read and crammed with common-sense tips. A recommended read for any writer, whether published or not.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A discussion (plus analysis) is presented of why some novels get rejected by agents / publishers.

This book made some interesting points.

Overall rating 3.5

[Maryanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK, quick to read with a couple of good suggestions here and there.

[LeAnn L Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fay Weldon has written over thirty novels, stories and screenplays. This book gives a stark truth in a humorous way.

[Susanne (Pages of Crime) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I needed - a short, sharp jolt back into thinking about my writing.

[S. Willett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small but mighty.

[Sophie Venz · Rating 2 out of 5]

A funny and informative short book for aspiring writers, but nothing groundbreaking

[Isabela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Algunos consejos interesantes. Pero en general, meh.

[Leda Frost · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Easy enough to be read in one sitting, but as Weldon was going on she made it apparent that the "rules" or what's supposed to be done nowadays are not things that she ever really did, but because the market was different back then she was successful anyway, which kind of makes me not trust her very much. Her advice was pretty threadbare—for example, exactly how does one realize their novel is "boring," aside from feedback?—and the idea of a synopsis boiled down to one sentence or elevator pitch is already pretty much done to death. If you're looking for a similar but superior book, I recommend Mike Nappa's 77 Reasons Your Book Was Rejected.