Incredibly Successful Authors Who Were Rejected Over And Over Before Fame Struck!

How easily we scoff at Alexander Sinclair for rejecting U2 in their early years of production. In hindsight it was a clearly terrible mistake that was made for not signing the group, but just like U2 you would be amazed at home many hugely successful people were told to kick rocks as they chased after their dreams!

How many times have you been rejected lately? I hope many a time as of late because that you are just that much closer to sealing the deal on your dreams. If you have that steadfastness and tenacity to be relentless on achieving your goals there will won’t be a barrier big enough to hold you back. This theory has been validated over and over throughout history by people who are no more intelligent than you and I.

We drool at the idea of becoming one of these ‘overnight celebrities’, but the reality big time success never ever takes place overnight.

Here is a list of hugely successful authors who were once told to put down their pens and walk away from their dreams!

“You have no business being a writer and should give up.” Zane Grey ignores the advice. There are believed to be over 250 million copies of his books in print.

 

140 rejections stating “Anthologies don’t sell” until the Chicken Soup for the Soul series by Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen sells 125 million copies.

 

“Too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling.” A rejection letter sent to Dr Seuss. 300 million sales and the 9th best-selling fiction author of all time.

 

The years of rejection do not break his spirit. He only becomes more determined to succeed. When he eventually lands a publishing deal, such is the demand for his fiction that it is translated into over 47 languages, as The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis goes on to sell over 100 million copies.

 

“It is so badly written.” The author tries Doubleday instead and his little book makes an impression. The Da Vinci Code sells 80 million.

 

Having sold only 800 copies on its limited first release, the author finds a new publisher and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho sells 75 million.

 

5 publishers reject L.M. Montgomery‘s debut novel. Two years after this rejection, she removes it from a hat box and resubmits. L.C. Page & Company agree to publish Anne of Green Gables and it goes on to sell 50 million copies.

 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter was rejected so many times she decided to self-publish 250 copies. It has now sold 45 million.

 

Margaret Mitchell gets 38 rejections from publishers before finding one to publish her novel Gone With The Wind. It sells 30 million copies.

 

Despite 14 consecutive agency rejections Stephenie Meyer‘s Twilight goes on to sell 17 million copies and spends 91 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list.

 

“An absurd and uninteresting fantasy which was rubbish and dull.” Rejection letter sent to William Golding for The Lord Of The Flies. 15 million sales

 

Robert M. Pirsig‘s Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is in the Guinness Book Of Records for 121 rejections, more than any other best-seller.

 

“Too radical of a departure from traditional juvenile literature.”L. Frank Baum persists and The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz sells 15 million.

 

5 London publishers turn it down. The little book finally finds a home: Life of Pi by Yann Martel, winning The Man Booker Prize in 2002.

 

“An absurd story as romance, melodrama or record of New York high life.” Yet publication sees The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgeraldbecome a best-selling classic.

 

“We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.”Stephen King’s Carrie sells 1 million in the first year alone.

 

24 literary agencies turned down The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. The 25th did not and sold it to Time Warner one week later for $1 million dollars.

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