"Rejection can simply mean redirection."
Women writers who refused to stop writing
Welcome to A Narrative of Their Own, where I discuss the work of 20th century women writers and their relevance to contemporary culture.
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Through writing both this newsletter and my previous incarnation as a writer submitting to journals for publication, I have met and worked with lots of writers- both online and in person. Through many conversations, I have gleaned the fact that many people are afraid to call themselves ‘real writers’ because they have not yet been published.
I get this. I have struggled with it myself in the past. Despite the many writing tutors and others who tell you “you’re a real writer if you write regularly”, or similar advice, it can feel a little bit icky to own the title, not to mention the struggle with impostor syndrome.
But this brings us back to the idea of ‘success’, and what we might claim this to be.
For some, success might come in the daily practice of journalling, allowing them to empty their thoughts onto the page and allow their mind to feel unburdened. For others, it might mean regular publication in journals or glossy magazines, or winning writing competitions, or even committing to putting out a regular weekly newsletter on a platform such as Substack.
I remember getting my first ever short story published in an online journal, and thinking: now I can call myself a writer. This quickly faded however, and was replaced by a wish to be paid for my writing. When that happened - for an article in an online magazine - I again thought I would feel different.
But often, real success to many writers comes in the idea of publishing their first book.
I know many people who are writing books and even submitting manuscripts and proposals to both agents and publishing houses. I am in awe of those people who have managed to amalgamate pages and pages of a manuscript, pouring out their words day after day. It is not an easy task. As someone who has been working on this recently, I acknowledge that it is not for the faint-hearted.
In fact, I have begun to question myself whether or not it is for me at all.
I love the journalistic, essay-feel of my writing here. I enjoy being able to skip between writing a bio of a brilliant author from the twentieth century, to considering my thoughts on more contemporary women’s art and my own reading life. I love that I can reach so many readers this way, with pretty instant responses from them, interacting in real-time and sparking conversation and reader/writer friendships.
It’s all a process, I guess. But today, just for a little bit of inspiration as thoughts turn to new terms and new writing projects, I thought I would take a lighthearted look at some of the women writers I most admire and their early attempts at publishing.
First up…
Jane Austen (1775-1817)
Most people, whether they claim to be readers or not, will be aware of the huge success of Jane Austen’s novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park.
Austen actually completed a total of six official novels during her lifetime; four of which were published whilst the author was still alive and two more (Persuasion and Northanger Abbey) which were published posthumously. One further novel, (Sanditon), was left unfinished at her death. There were also several stories listed in her Juvenilia, including Lady Susan, which was also an unfinished title.
Whilst novels such as Pride and Prejudice have become ingrained in our culture - not least due to the proliferation of film and television productions - Austen’s novel was first rejected in 1797, a whole sixteen years before it became published. Austen’s father actually sent the original manuscript of the book to publishers Cadell and Davies, one of only a handful of publishers who were willing to print works by women at the time.
Somewhat offensively, the publishers rejected the book, providing no feedback whatsoever, instead just five terse words: ‘Declined by return of post’. (Ouch!)
However, as we know, Austen continued to write, and years later she attempted to submit the book for publication once again. This followed the successful publication of her first novel in 1811, Sense and Sensibility. Pride and Prejudice, eventually published in 1813, was closely followed by Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1815), with Persuasion and Northanger Abbey both being published in 1817 following Austen’s death of the same year.
Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
Arguably the most popular and prolific crime and detective fiction writer of all time, Christie’s first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, appeared in 1920.
The creator of infamous detectives Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot penned her first complete manuscript at the tender age of 22, however after submitting for publication, this book received many rejection letters. The novel, Snow Upon the Desert, written in 1911/1912, did the publishing rounds for four years but never gained publication.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles was written in 1919 after Christie bet her sister Madge that she could write a detective novel where the reader would be unable to identify the killer. Again, the book was initially rejected by six publishers, finally finding success with The Bodley Head in 1920.
But even this did not mean plain sailing for the writer; her second novel The Secret Adversary was also rejected several times before finally being published after Christie agreed to alter the ending.
Christie went on to publish a total of 83 books, including 66 books of detective fiction, 14 short story collections, and books written under her pseudonym of Mary Westmactott, as well as the hugely successful play, The Mousetrap, which still runs today in London’s West End. She remains widely recognised as the bestselling author of all time, only being outsold by Shakespeare and the Bible.
Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
Civil rights activist, poet, and author Maya Angelou stated prior to her death in 2014 that one editor claimed that her writing was ‘too fanciful, or too plain, too abstract, or too concrete’.
Angelou went on to receive many rejections for various submitted manuscripts before her first book of memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was finally accepted for publication in 1969, bringing her worldwide recognition, and opening the floodgates for more of her published work.
Publication of her poetry followed. The first collection, Just Give Me a Drink of Water, ‘fore I Diiie, was published in 1971 and became nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Some of her recorded poetry, including On the Pulse of the Morning, written and performed for the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993, won her a Grammy Award for the Best Spoken Word Album. Further Grammy Awards followed for her spoken albums of poetry in 1995 and 2002.
She went on to write essay collections, more poetry and a total of seven biographies following the success of Caged Bird, including her final one in 2013, Mom & Me & Mom, as well as becoming a writer for stage and screen.
Her words taken from a Time magazine interview should be imprinted on the brain of all writers:
“In the end, though, only one attitude enabled me to move ahead. That attitude said that ‘Rejection can simply mean redirection’.”
Angelou’s ‘redirection’ afforded her myriad opportunities throughout her life. Something we could all take courage from.
Octavia Butler (1947-2006)
Octavia Butler faced a significant amount of prejudice as a Black woman writer attempting to publish the writing that she loved: science fiction. Despite this, she went on to become a pioneer of the genre, becoming one of the first African American and female science fiction writers.
Her novels contained themes of injustice, African American and women’s rights, early thoughts on global warming, and politics.
As a child, she claims that she found school books boring, and begged her mother for her own library ticket, which her mother obliged. After that, she recalled the library becoming her ‘second home’, discovering a love and aptitude for science fiction after watching a 1954 B-movie entitled Devil Girl From Mars. She recalled thinking: “Somebody got paid for writing that story! Geez, I can write a better story than that!"
And so she did. Persisting at her craft and passion, she submitted her first science fiction story at the age of 13, finally getting a couple of short stories published after attending the Science Fiction Writers’ Workshop at the encouragement of her mentor, science fiction writer Harlan Ellison.
“I don't recall ever having wanted desperately to be a black woman fiction writer . . . I wanted to be a writer."
Despite her success at publishing short stories, she struggled to get her longer work published. However, she continued to rise at 2am every morning in order to work on her writing, before attending various odd jobs.
The rejections continued to pile up, but despite this, Butler began working on her first novel manuscript. This became Patternmaster and was eventually bought by Doubleday and published in 1976. It went on to form the Patternist trilogy.
Butler continued to write, publishing another 12 books, with her 1979 Kindred often seen as a modern-day classic. She eventually became one of the most celebrated authors of science fiction, winning both a Hugo and Nebula Award for her writing.
This is, of course, a totally non-extensive list of authors who have faced rejection. In fact, I would wager that most if not all writers face repeated rejection if they are seeking to see their work published in any format at all.
What I think is clear from these wise women writers (and the plethora of authors throughout time) is their capacity to continue to write, and to submit their work, in an effort to be read.
I hope that this short snapshot into their stories of publishing success inspires you in your own writing ventures this coming autumn!
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If you enjoyed this essay, you might also like my other essays in this series:
My therapist told me about “arrival fallacies” during my last year of grad school. An arrival fallacy is this idea that “once X happens, then I will be real/legitimate/settled/enough/etc…”
It helped me reframe my writing & research so much! Just like this post does! :) excellent reminders here.
“Declined by return of post”… harsh! Thanks for this great post, Kate. Over the years my writing life has taken many forms, but I’m so happy to be right here right now.