5 Reasons Why You Haven’t Found a Publisher for Your Book

You haven’t found a publisher for your book. And you really want one.

Sure, you could self-publish, but that doesn’t fit in with your publishing plan right now. You want a traditional publisher and you’ve been working toward that goal for a while. But it’s not happening.

What’s going on?

One or more of the following reasons are likely playing a role in your lack of progress. Address each of these and you’ll be more likely to reach your publishing goals.

A Personal Note on Finding a Publisher for Your Book

It took me years to find a publisher for my first book. It was frustrating. I worried I’d never get to where I wanted to be, but I did. It just took more time than I thought it should.

I’m glad I stuck with it and didn’t give up. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as reaching a goal you’ve set for yourself.

Plus, it’s undeniable that having your book traditionally published is a feather in your cap as a writer, no matter what else you may do with your career.

Yes, you can self-publish your book, but keep in mind that turning to self-publishing because you haven’t been able to find a traditional publisher can be a letdown, particularly if the truth is that your writing just isn’t ready yet.

If self-publishing is part of your goals in the first place, then you’ll probably be happy with the outcome. But if you want a traditional publisher and you turn to self-publishing as a backup plan, you may be disappointed.

I won’t go into the pros and cons of the different types of publishing here. (Read my thoughts about that in this post.) Suffice it to say that if you want a publishing contract, you owe it to yourself to give it your all. Following these tips will help.

Why You Haven’t Found a Publisher for Your Book

1. The Story Isn’t Ready

You may not want to hear this. You’ve been working on this book for a long time. But the level of your effort so far doesn’t naturally equate to a publishable story.

When it comes to traditional publishing, you have to consider the amazing level of competition you’re up against. There are a lot of really good writers out there—hundreds of thousands or more in the U.S. alone.

The point isn’t to let that discourage you, but to realize that your writing has to be the best you can possibly produce. And your best is always better than you think you can do because you can always improve.

I remember thinking my first published novel was my best work. I chuckle at that now!

So if you’re not getting results, instead of feeling down on yourself, take steps to improve your writing. Hire a mentor or editor (strongly recommended). Go to a conference. Take an online workshop.

Writers who get traditional publishing contracts typically spend years “paying their dues.” Don’t imagine you’re going to be the exception.

Put your nose back on the grindstone. Whatever happens in the future, you’ll never regret doing everything you can to make your writing the best it can be.

Reason You Haven’t Found a Publisher for Your Book 2. Your Writing Isn’t Ready

This goes hand-in-hand with #1, but it speaks not only to one particular story but your writing in general.

In my experience working with writers, this is more commonly the issue—they just haven’t learned enough yet about writing, particularly about story structure, pacing, plot, and characterization.

Writers often get “stuck” on one particular story and spend years submitting that story to publisher after publisher, convinced they just need to find the “right one.”

While it’s true that publishers differ in what they feel is worth their investment, it’s also true that most writers do not produce publishable work until they have written at least 3-5 novel-length manuscripts.

Yes. Three to five. Or more.

I liken this to learning to play the piano. Nobody would expect that a person could play in Carnegie Hall after 1-2 years of piano lessons. Yes, there are a few prodigies out there, but otherwise, it takes 10 years or more to reach the professional pianist level.

Yet many writers feel they should be able to find a traditional publisher for their first novel. Yes, it happens, but it’s really rare.

You need practice, education, more practice, and refinement. That means writing one story, finishing it, and writing another, then another. Think of your writing as a long apprenticeship.

Trying to rush the process will only discourage you. Give yourself the time you need to find your author’s voice and figure out what kind of stories you’re best suited to tell.

Only when you’re ready should you start querying your novel.

3. Your Query Letter Isn’t Attracting Their Attention

You’ve paid your dues and finally, your story is ready to submit.

But all you’re getting are rejections.

This is when you may need to take a second look at your query letter. This is usually the first thing an editor reads, so if it doesn’t grab her attention, she’s going to delete it. (Most submissions are emailed now.)

Take some time to learn about writing a good query letter. There are a lot of good resources out there to help you. (Simple search “How to write a good query letter.)

Then practice. Write one, let it sit overnight, then edit it. Try another approach. Write 2-3 and then choose your favorite to submit.

A good query letter can elevate your email enough that the editor takes a look at your pages.

Reason You Haven’t Found a Publisher for Your Book 4. You Need to Research More Publishers

When I first started thinking about publishing a book, I knew only a handful of book publishers. These were the ones most of us think about: Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, etc.

I’ve learned a lot since then, and one thing I now know is that big publishers like these are looking for a sure thing. They rarely take a chance on a new writer.

Fortunately, there are a lot of high-quality indie publishers out there who are devoted to good writing. They love finding new voices that deserve to be published and frequently invest in new writers, as well as in writers who haven’t yet found a huge audience.

Yes, publishers want to make money, but indie publishers are more likely to take a chance on someone if their story is good. You can get your publishing career off the ground with these publishers.

There are companies like Writer’s Digest that offer publishing databases, but I highly recommend simply Googling your genre and going from there. It can take hours of research to narrow it down to those publishers that you think would be a good fit for you, but I’ve found all of my publishers this way.

Be sure to check out their covers and book reviews. You want a publisher who’s putting out quality work.

Then submit away. If you get all rejections, check your query letter and story again, then go back to researching. You never know when the perfect publisher may pop up.

5. You’re Not Following the Submission Guidelines

My current publisher (CamCat Books) has an extensive submitting process that involves filling out a detailed form. It took me a long time to finish it, but it was worth it when I got the contract.

Every publisher is different, so don’t assume you can just blanket-submit your work. (Bad idea for several reasons.) Research eeach company carefully to determine if they’re a good fit for your story, then be sure to follow their guidelines. It will increase your odds of being accepted.

It can also save you some work if, for example, the publisher is not taking submissions at that time.

If you have other tips to help writers find a traditional publisher, please share them!