Looking for the top reasons why editors and agents keep declining your book? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s a lot of straight dope in here. Mike Nappa cuts through a lot of how-to fluff to give writers some inside info on what makes editors says no, and what makes then say yes.
Editor at Writer’s Market &
Guide to Literary Agents
Guide to Literary Agents
This is a great, practical book for those seeking publication in today’s market. 77 Reasons Why Your Book was Rejected is jammed with good, workable ideas to help every potential author.
Founder of MacGregor Literary
Former VP/Publisher at Hachette Book Group USA
Former VP/Publisher at Hachette Book Group USA
In this book, Mike Nappa lists every conceivable reason why a publisher would reject your book, as well as sage advice on what to do about it. Invaluable for both novice and experienced authors alike.
“America’s Top Copywriter”
Author of 80 Money-Making Writing Jobs
Author of 80 Money-Making Writing Jobs
For many years, Mike Nappa taught at writers’ conferences, revealing all the random reasons why publishers reject your books. The response was very heartening, so Mikey finally wrote it all down.
77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected was published by Sourcebooks and became a handbook of insider knowledge about how books actually get selected for publication. (Spoiler alert: some reasons are actually petty and discouraging.)
The book went out of print a few years ago, so Mikey decided to share it all, for free, here on NappalandLiterary.com. That’s what this blog is: Literally, dozens of real-world reasons why publishers reject your books…
And what you can do about them.
All right writers.
Put on your big-kid pants and let’s get started.
- Read This First (77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected)
It Takes Less Than A Minute To Reject Your Work.… Read more: Read This First (77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected) - Reason #01: Your Writing Is CrapAn Editorial Team reason for rejection All right yes, it’s… Read more: Reason #01: Your Writing Is Crap
- Reason #02: You Lied To Me (The Honesty Problem)An Editorial Team reason for rejection Dear Mr. Nappa, I’m… Read more: Reason #02: You Lied To Me (The Honesty Problem)
- Reason #03: You Insulted Me Or My CompanyAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Imagine that I come… Read more: Reason #03: You Insulted Me Or My Company
- Reason #04: We’re Already Publishing A Similar BookAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Honestly, this reason for… Read more: Reason #04: We’re Already Publishing A Similar Book
- Reason #05: Your Target Audience Is Too BigAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Here’s something you must… Read more: Reason #05: Your Target Audience Is Too Big
- Reason #06: Your Target Audience Is Too SmallAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Now, if you’ve just… Read more: Reason #06: Your Target Audience Is Too Small
- Reason #07: Your Target Audience Isn’t My Target AudienceAn Editorial Team reason for rejection If you look at… Read more: Reason #07: Your Target Audience Isn’t My Target Audience
- Reason #08: Your Book Is Too ExtremeAn Editorial Team reason for rejection OK, I’m not making… Read more: Reason #08: Your Book Is Too Extreme
- Reason #09: Your Ideas Conflict With My Values / Our Company ValuesAn Editorial Team reason for rejection It’s a free country,… Read more: Reason #09: Your Ideas Conflict With My Values / Our Company Values
- Reason #10: Your Book Tries To Do Too MuchAn Editorial Team reason for rejection This is another mistake… Read more: Reason #10: Your Book Tries To Do Too Much
- Reason #11: Your Word Count Is Too Long Or Too ShortAn Editorial Team reason for rejection As the story goes,… Read more: Reason #11: Your Word Count Is Too Long Or Too Short
- Reason #12: You Are Not Credible On The Topic You Want To Write AboutAn Editorial Team reason for rejection I remember once I… Read more: Reason #12: You Are Not Credible On The Topic You Want To Write About
- Reason #13: You Didn’t Do Your HomeworkAn Editorial Team reason for rejection I’m looking at a… Read more: Reason #13: You Didn’t Do Your Homework
- Reason #14: You Are LazyAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Want to hear about… Read more: Reason #14: You Are Lazy
- Reason #15: You Didn’t Pass The “First Line Test”An Editorial Team reason for rejection “My grandfather, the knife… Read more: Reason #15: You Didn’t Pass The “First Line Test”
- Reason #16: My Publishing List Is Packed For The Next 18 MonthsAn Editorial Team reason for rejection If you have to… Read more: Reason #16: My Publishing List Is Packed For The Next 18 Months
- Reason #17: I Had A Fight With My Spouse And/Or Children Just Before I Read Your ProposalAn Editorial Team reason for rejection I know. This seems… Read more: Reason #17: I Had A Fight With My Spouse And/Or Children Just Before I Read Your Proposal
- Reason #18: You Didn’t Eschew ObfuscationAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Reading, in my view,… Read more: Reason #18: You Didn’t Eschew Obfuscation
- Reason #19: You Pitched Me Two Awful Ideas In A Row (Bad Reputation)An Editorial Team reason for rejection Dear Mike, Look at… Read more: Reason #19: You Pitched Me Two Awful Ideas In A Row (Bad Reputation)
- Reason #20: Your Agent Pitched Me Two Awful Ideas In A RowAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Honestly, this reason for… Read more: Reason #20: Your Agent Pitched Me Two Awful Ideas In A Row
- Reason #21: You Don’t Have an AgentAn Editorial Team reason for rejection I know I should… Read more: Reason #21: You Don’t Have an Agent
- Reason #22: You Didn’t Give Me Enough Writing SamplesAn Editorial Team reason for rejection When I’m shooting for… Read more: Reason #22: You Didn’t Give Me Enough Writing Samples
- Reason #23: I Already Rejected This Book BeforeAn Editorial Team reason for rejection A few years ago… Read more: Reason #23: I Already Rejected This Book Before
- Reason #24: You Are Clueless about Copyright LawAn Editorial Team reason for rejection In 1951, J.D. Salinger… Read more: Reason #24: You Are Clueless about Copyright Law
- Reason #25: Your Book is BoringAn Editorial Team reason for rejection There’s no law against… Read more: Reason #25: Your Book is Boring
- Reason #26: You Took the D-TrainAn Editorial Team reason for rejection D-Train writing is a… Read more: Reason #26: You Took the D-Train
- Reason #27: Your Project Is UnoriginalAn Editorial Team reason for rejection As I write this… Read more: Reason #27: Your Project Is Unoriginal
- Reason #28: Your Cover Letter/Email Was Too LongAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Yes, I know, this… Read more: Reason #28: Your Cover Letter/Email Was Too Long
- Reason #29: You Stink At Grammar And SpellingAn Editorial Team reason for rejection In 1631 Robert Barker… Read more: Reason #29: You Stink At Grammar And Spelling
- Reason #30: You Didn’t Give Me A Complete ProposalAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Imagine that you and… Read more: Reason #30: You Didn’t Give Me A Complete Proposal
- Reason #31: Bottom Line—You Didn’t Do Enough Of My Job For MeAn Editorial Team reason for rejection Yes, this is a… Read more: Reason #31: Bottom Line—You Didn’t Do Enough Of My Job For Me
- Reason #32: You Have No Idea What It Means to Market a BookA Marketing Team reason for rejection In this context I’m… Read more: Reason #32: You Have No Idea What It Means to Market a Book
- Reason #33: You Have No Legitimate Platform to Promote a BookA Marketing Team reason for rejection What we’re talking about… Read more: Reason #33: You Have No Legitimate Platform to Promote a Book
- Reason #34: You Don’t Understand The Difference Between Features And BenefitsA Marketing Team reason for rejection Let’s suppose you’ve got… Read more: Reason #34: You Don’t Understand The Difference Between Features And Benefits
- Reason #35: You Have No PR-Worthy AccomplishmentsA Marketing Team reason for rejection On May 12, 2010,… Read more: Reason #35: You Have No PR-Worthy Accomplishments
- Reason #36: You Are Not Able To Run A Grassroots Publicity Campaign For YourselfA Marketing Team reason for rejection In the movie, Bowfinger,… Read more: Reason #36: You Are Not Able To Run A Grassroots Publicity Campaign For Yourself
- Reason #37: Amazon.com Reviewers Don’t Like YouA Marketing Team reason for rejection Here’s a dirty little… Read more: Reason #37: Amazon.com Reviewers Don’t Like You
- Reason #38: You Have No Online PresenceA Marketing Team reason for rejection OK, let’s look at… Read more: Reason #38: You Have No Online Presence
- Reason #39: Your Internet Presence Is Shoddy and UnprofessionalA Marketing Team reason for rejection Now that I’ve badgered… Read more: Reason #39: Your Internet Presence Is Shoddy and Unprofessional
- Reason #40: You Are Not Engaged / Poorly Engaged In Social MediaA Marketing Team reason for rejection In 2008, barely one… Read more: Reason #40: You Are Not Engaged / Poorly Engaged In Social Media
- Reason #41: Your Title StinksA Marketing Team reason for rejection If you bought this… Read more: Reason #41: Your Title Stinks
- Reason #42: Your Introduction Is UselessA Marketing Team reason for rejection I’m going to tell… Read more: Reason #42: Your Introduction Is Useless
- Reason #43: Your Personal Image Looks UnprofessionalA Marketing Team reason for rejection This reason for rejection… Read more: Reason #43: Your Personal Image Looks Unprofessional
- Reason #44: You Are An Uninspiring SpokespersonA Marketing Team reason for rejection Let’s start by calling… Read more: Reason #44: You Are An Uninspiring Spokesperson
- Reason #45: You Demonstrate No Knowledge / Faulty Knowledge Of Your CompetitionA Marketing Team reason for rejection Here’s a tip: If… Read more: Reason #45: You Demonstrate No Knowledge / Faulty Knowledge Of Your Competition
- Reason #46: There’s Too Much Competition For Your BookA Marketing Team reason for rejection Back in Reason #45… Read more: Reason #46: There’s Too Much Competition For Your Book
- Reason #47: You Aren’t Able To Significantly Differentiate Your Book From The CompetitionA Marketing Team reason for rejection I learned this lesson… Read more: Reason #47: You Aren’t Able To Significantly Differentiate Your Book From The Competition
- Reason #48: You Can’t Quickly Evoke The Right Emotions When Talking About Your BookA Marketing Team reason for rejection “For sale: baby shoes,… Read more: Reason #48: You Can’t Quickly Evoke The Right Emotions When Talking About Your Book
- Reason #49: You Can’t Provide Impactful Endorsements For Your WorkA Marketing Team reason for rejection All right, first I’m… Read more: Reason #49: You Can’t Provide Impactful Endorsements For Your Work
- Reason #50: My Marketing Team Tried To Promote A Similar Book In The Past, And It FailedA Marketing Team reason for rejection One of the hard… Read more: Reason #50: My Marketing Team Tried To Promote A Similar Book In The Past, And It Failed
- Reason #51: My Marketing VP Is Unfairly Prejudiced Against YouA Marketing Team reason for rejection Let’s see…for this one… Read more: Reason #51: My Marketing VP Is Unfairly Prejudiced Against You
- Reason #52: My Marketing VP Doesn’t Care About Your Topic—And Doesn’t Think Anyone Else Will EitherA Marketing Team reason for rejection Elizabeth Gilbert has made… Read more: Reason #52: My Marketing VP Doesn’t Care About Your Topic—And Doesn’t Think Anyone Else Will Either
- Reason #53: Bottom Line—You Weren’t Good to MamaA Marketing Team reason for rejection In the hit movie… Read more: Reason #53: Bottom Line—You Weren’t Good to Mama
- Reason #54: You Are Not A CelebrityA Sales Team reason for rejection Wow, this reason for… Read more: Reason #54: You Are Not A Celebrity
- Reason #55: There Is No “Brandwagon” Trend You Can Latch OntoA Sales Team reason for rejection Were you around back… Read more: Reason #55: There Is No “Brandwagon” Trend You Can Latch Onto
- Reason #56: You Have No Sales History To Speak OfA Sales Team reason for rejection Every time my Sales… Read more: Reason #56: You Have No Sales History To Speak Of
- Reason #57: You Have A Sales History, And It SucksA Sales Team reason for rejection It’s tempting, sometimes, to… Read more: Reason #57: You Have A Sales History, And It Sucks
- Reason #58: You Self-Published Yourself Into OblivionA Sales Team reason for rejection These words of noted… Read more: Reason #58: You Self-Published Yourself Into Oblivion
- Reason #59: Women Just Aren’t That Into YouA Sales Team reason for rejection A few years ago,… Read more: Reason #59: Women Just Aren’t That Into You
- Reason #60: My Sales VP Thinks Of You As An Unknown (The “No-Froofies” Rule)A Sales Team reason for rejection Ah, the curse of… Read more: Reason #60: My Sales VP Thinks Of You As An Unknown (The “No-Froofies” Rule)
- Reason #61: My Sales VP Feels Hostile Toward Me Or My Editorial VP, And Is Sabotaging Our Careers By Undervaluing The Proposals We Bring To Publishing BoardA Sales Team reason for rejection I’d love to tell… Read more: Reason #61: My Sales VP Feels Hostile Toward Me Or My Editorial VP, And Is Sabotaging Our Careers By Undervaluing The Proposals We Bring To Publishing Board
- Reason #62: My Sales VP Can’t (Or Won’t) See The FutureA Sales Team reason for rejection The publishing business would… Read more: Reason #62: My Sales VP Can’t (Or Won’t) See The Future
- Reason #63: You Are The Wrong GenderA Sales Team reason for rejection I know an author—let’s… Read more: Reason #63: You Are The Wrong Gender
- Reason #64: You Have Unrealistic Expectations About Your Publishing PotentialA Sales Team reason for rejection I always laugh when… Read more: Reason #64: You Have Unrealistic Expectations About Your Publishing Potential
- Reason #65: You Don’t Know Why People Buy BooksA Sales Team reason for rejection Here’s a pop quiz… Read more: Reason #65: You Don’t Know Why People Buy Books
- Reason #66: Other Books We’ve Done Similar To Yours Didn’t Sell According To ExpectationsA Sales Team reason for rejection In my first acquisitions… Read more: Reason #66: Other Books We’ve Done Similar To Yours Didn’t Sell According To Expectations
- Reason #67: You Can’t Identify Specific Sales Channels Through Which Your Book Will SellA Sales Team reason for rejection Let me ask you… Read more: Reason #67: You Can’t Identify Specific Sales Channels Through Which Your Book Will Sell
- Reason #68: Your Book Costs Too Much To MakeA Sales Team reason for rejection Try this little experiment.… Read more: Reason #68: Your Book Costs Too Much To Make
- Reason #69: You Want Too Much MoneyA Sales Team reason for rejection Looking back on it… Read more: Reason #69: You Want Too Much Money
- Reason #70: Your Novel is not “Romance”A Sales Team reason for rejection Look, it’s not that… Read more: Reason #70: Your Novel is not “Romance”
- Reason #71: My Sales Team is Struggling to Sell Our Current Line of BooksA Sales Team reason for rejection Imagine that you and… Read more: Reason #71: My Sales Team is Struggling to Sell Our Current Line of Books
- Reason #72: There’s No Real Sequel Potential for Your BookA Sales Team reason for rejection Megan Tingley, senior vice-president… Read more: Reason #72: There’s No Real Sequel Potential for Your Book
- Reason #73: My Sales VP asked a Spouse / Friend / Babysitter if They Would Buy Your Book, and the Response Was UnenthusiasticA Sales Team reason for rejection Think about the last… Read more: Reason #73: My Sales VP asked a Spouse / Friend / Babysitter if They Would Buy Your Book, and the Response Was Unenthusiastic
- Reason #74: My Sales Team Asked a Few Key Book Buyers if They Would Stock Your Book, and Their Response Was UnenthusiasticA Sales Team reason for rejection This is actually a… Read more: Reason #74: My Sales Team Asked a Few Key Book Buyers if They Would Stock Your Book, and Their Response Was Unenthusiastic
- Reason #75: Nothing Similar to Your Book Shows Up on Industry Bestseller ListsA Sales Team reason for rejection Here’s an acronym that’s… Read more: Reason #75: Nothing Similar to Your Book Shows Up on Industry Bestseller Lists
- Reason #76: Your Book Failed a Focus GroupA Sales Team reason for rejection In the summer of… Read more: Reason #76: Your Book Failed a Focus Group
- Reason #77: Bottom Line–Not Enough Profit PotentialA Sales Team reason for rejection People who write books… Read more: Reason #77: Bottom Line–Not Enough Profit Potential
- 77 Reasons: AfterwordCongratulations. If you made it to the end of this… Read more: 77 Reasons: Afterword
- Recommended Resources for WritersNote: These resources for writers were current at the time… Read more: Recommended Resources for Writers
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