“Do what you feel in your heart to be right — for you’ll be criticized anyway.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)

Keep the above in mind as I opine here. I just read an editorial from someone who’d been attempting to traditionally publish for a handful of years. Dozens of queries. They got a nibble from a smaller traditional press but even that went silent. Total frustration. Not quite despair but disappointment woven in there for sure. So they were going to self-publish.

When this happens, when you can’t land an agent or entice a publisher to look at you, take a serious look in the mirror. Without a doubt the competition is fierce, but other issues might be at play here.

1) It isn’t just about good writing. It has to be rather great. Hearing crickets after several dozen queries might merit a rewrite.

2) When that agent or publisher pulls up your name in Google, what will they find? Look up your own name and see. How professional do you look?

3) Are you opinionated online? If pulling up your name turns up rather strong religious or political comments, remarks, even rants, you might be sabotaging your chances. Unless your book is about those stances, and you are considered somewhat of an expert, the fact you draw hard lines in the sand might lower your chances. Be about writing or you distract them.

We tend to think none of that should matter. It should be just about the writing. No. That is not reality. Are you a pleasant person to deal with? Are you professional in nature? Are you able to promote yourself? Are you diligent in your writing efforts? All of those matter. You won’t get calls asking about this stuff, either. You will get Googled.

So, when you receive lots of rejections or nothing at all, consider two main things:

1) Is the writing good enough?
2) Are you palatable to an agent or publisher?

Whatever is wrong when you try to traditionally publish is still wrong when you self-publish.

You have the right to say anything, and like Mrs. Roosevelt said above, you’ll be criticized anyway. But which matters to you more?

Getting published or speaking your mind?
Getting published or looking in the mirror and accepting your work still needs work?

It’s not always “their” fault.