• Confusion. Emerging authors do not have a clear view of the entire book and mix format, construction, thesis, structure and points of view. Books have categories, or genres, and too often emerging authors do not study the genre that they’re targeting OR they change genres while writing. This doesn’t mean one needs to be a copycat, rather by reading the genre to be targeted one becomes familiar with length, structure and concept. Before offering a manuscript to an agent or publisher, clearly know the genre and where your book will be placed on the bookstore shelf.
   
• Lack of original insight. It’s been said, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” As that’s the case, smart authors discover ways to twist the “old stuff” and make it fresh. What’s your twist? Check the competition for your intended book. Make your book out of the ordinary. Be able to tell a publisher, agent or editor about your book in 25 words or less.
   
• Poor or ineffective research. If you’re in doubt about the authenticity of anything in your book, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, double check. Readers demand truth; publishers are leery of unsubstantiated claims.
   
• Insufficient self-editing. You really can do all or most of the editing yourself. Put your book away to cool and then keeping a copy, ruthlessly edit out anything that doesn’t strongly support your book. Hint: Look for redundancy or repetition. Readers, publishers and agents do not need to be told things twice. That last sentence was an example of sneaky redundancy. Not a native English speaker or want some insight? Hire a reputable editor.
   
• “Hookless” beginning or lackluster end. Every chapter of your book must hook the reader. This takes skill with nonfiction and fiction. The end must fulfill the promises you’ve proposed in the text and support thesis. It must be done in a creative, fresh way.
   
• Bad mechanics. If you need to brush up on grammar or the mechanics of manuscript preparation, do it before submitting your book project. You get one chance with an agent or publisher—they often receive more than 100 manuscripts a week. Submit the cleanest manuscript humanly possible. Messy presentation, unnumbered manuscript pages, and incomplete and lack-luster proposal without a marketing plan thoroughly researched and do-able by the author are a few of the reasons manuscripts are rejected even before they’re read.
   
• Lack of perseverance. To have your manuscript accepted, you must continue to pitch it in a query letter or as requested by the publisher or agent. Editors at publishing houses and agents do not read minds, nor do they, quite possibly, even know you have a book to market. Make contacts, present your ideas (in 25 words or less), and keep at it. Writing is not for wimps. If you’ve “bullet proofed” your book with the above recommendations and it is rejected, it probably has NOTHING to do with you. It simply means you have yet to find the right publisher to recognize the book’s worth.

The list of best-selling books that were rejected again and again is shocking.

1. Dubliners by James Joyce
2. Mash by Richard Hooker
3. Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison by Charles Shaw
4. Kon-Tiki : Across the Pacific by Raft by Thor Heyerdahl
5. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
6. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
7. Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Hansen and Canfield
8. Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
9. The Peter Principle by Laurence Peter
10. Dune by Frank Herbert
11. Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling
12. Peter Rabbit series, Beatrix Potter
13. 60-Second Shiatzu, Eva Shaw