How to Fix an 80% Good Book Getting Rejections
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I'm Mary Adkins, author of When You Read This, Privilege, and Palm Beach. If you're working on a novel or memoir, you're in the right place.
Previously on the blog, I mentioned that a 90% great book will get rejected 100% of the time. In the post, we’re going to dig into what that means and how to bridge the gap between a good book and a publishable one.
Whether you're at 60%, 95%, or somewhere in between, there are ways to close that gap if you don’t want to give up.
And I really hope you don’t want to give up.
Different Writers, Different Strengths
We all bring different skill sets to the task of writing fiction. Some of us write beautiful, original sentences effortlessly. Other people sit down and just naturally know how to plot a gripping story. Maybe you’re witty, maybe you’re poetic — but most of us aren’t everything. That’s just being human.
Because of that, we need to work on the areas where we’re weaker so we can address any gaps that are keeping our book from being 100%. If you’re a brilliant prose stylist writing a thriller, plot might be your challenge. If you’re a natural storyteller, maybe it’s the writing itself that needs refining.
I know writers who craft stunning sentences but struggle with plotting. They have to actively work on the story structure, experiment, and get it wrong before they get it right. I know others who are plot masters but need to work on making their prose more compelling.
It’s all part of the process, and recognizing your specific challenges is crucial.
Why Even Great Books Get Rejected
Great books are rejected because there’s a gap between what a publisher thinks will sell and where your book is right now. The good news is that having a gap is super normal… and super fixable.
You need to figure out where your book’s specific gaps are, then fix them.
Identifying Your Book’s Gaps
The first step to closing the gap is diagnosing the problem. Think of your book like a puzzle—what’s missing? Here are some common culprits:
Plot weaknesses: Is your story engaging from start to finish? Does it have enough twists, tension, and momentum? Thrillers, for example, live and die by their plots. If you can write a beautiful sentence but the pacing in your story drags, this could be the gap.
Underdeveloped characters: Are your characters complex and layered? Readers should feel like they know your main character like a best friend. If agents mention they “didn’t connect” with the story, this might be your area to work on.
Flat prose: Are your sentences dynamic, varied, and vivid? If your writing feels monotonous or lacks polish, consider revisiting the micro-level craft of sentence construction. Improving your prose is hard work, but it’s a skill that will elevate every book you write moving forward.
Needs a stronger logline: Does your book’s concept grab attention? A strong premise with a compelling logline can make your story more marketable, even if other elements still need work.
Building Your Writing Skills
It might seem exhausting to have to fix something like your plotting skills or how you craft sentences but the effort you put into closing your book’s gaps isn’t wasted—it’s an investment in your long-term growth as a writer.
Once you improve your plotting, prose, or character development, those skills become part of your toolkit for future projects. Growth as a writer is cumulative, and every improvement snowballs into your next work.
When It’s Time to Put a Project on the Shelf
If you do decide to set a project aside, that’s okay. I’ve done it too. But I don’t think of those projects as dead. They’re like boots on a shelf — waiting for the right moment to come back in style.
Maybe the world isn’t ready for them yet, or they aren’t ready for the world. And maybe one day, you’ll pick them back up and close that gap.
Reframing Rejections
Rejections don’t have to mean the end. If you’re feeling stuck, step away if you need to — but know that you can come back. Figure out where your gap is, decide if you want to close it, and remember that progress builds on itself. Your future self will thank you for the work you do now.
Happy writing, and remember: your project isn’t dead. It’s just waiting.
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