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I stopped counting after twenty rejections.
I had used up all digits on my hands and feet, you see. https://twitter.com/sanjeevsanyal/status/1275633192536625152
I had used up all digits on my hands and feet, you see. https://twitter.com/sanjeevsanyal/status/1275633192536625152
Thread on my experiences.
Cliques & coteries exist in almost all professions.
To pretend otherwise is to ignore the first rule of societies & how the mechanics of power work.
They've existed & they will continue to exist for as long as these professions exist.
1/n
Cliques & coteries exist in almost all professions.
To pretend otherwise is to ignore the first rule of societies & how the mechanics of power work.
They've existed & they will continue to exist for as long as these professions exist.
1/n
Please go ahead and get all idealistic and moralistic.
It won't change reality.
A start-up, new company, new production house, new publishing house, whatever, may improve things, but only marginally. It will, if it becomes successful, have its own clique or coterie.
2/n
It won't change reality.
A start-up, new company, new production house, new publishing house, whatever, may improve things, but only marginally. It will, if it becomes successful, have its own clique or coterie.
2/n
Some new ventures seem to be more interested in building their own little cabals than anything else, but that is a story for a different day.
3/n
3/n
Professions where talent and performance are difficult to measure objectively are worse.
Professions where employment opportunities are limited, either geographically or numerically, are worse.
Professions where barriers to entry are high are worse.
4/n
Professions where employment opportunities are limited, either geographically or numerically, are worse.
Professions where barriers to entry are high are worse.
4/n
The technology industry is better, for precisely these two reasons.
It does NOT mean that coteries do not exist in the tech industry either.
Other things being equal, senior executives prefer working with people they have worked with before. Nothing wrong with it.
5/n
It does NOT mean that coteries do not exist in the tech industry either.
Other things being equal, senior executives prefer working with people they have worked with before. Nothing wrong with it.
5/n
However, in many cases, senior executives prefer mediocre players on their team, provided they are loyal.
Such people are non-threatening and make it known to their boss that they will do their boss' bidding as and when needed.
Sound familiar? I hope it does, for your sake.
6/n
Such people are non-threatening and make it known to their boss that they will do their boss' bidding as and when needed.
Sound familiar? I hope it does, for your sake.
6/n
Now look at the movie or publishing industry, where gatekeepers wield a huge amount of discretionary power.
Who determines talent?
No, seriously, who determines talent?
I will leave that as an open question.
7/n
Who determines talent?
No, seriously, who determines talent?
I will leave that as an open question.
7/n
If a star author walks out, it can destroy both the top-line and bottom line of a publishing house.
A publisher will therefore take great care not to publish a new author who is in a very similar genre as their star author.
More so if the new author is good.
8/n
A publisher will therefore take great care not to publish a new author who is in a very similar genre as their star author.
More so if the new author is good.
8/n
5000 copies is a bestseller in India.
Most new authors sell far, far less than that.
Do the maths.
Most books never make money for the publisher - plain truth, whether you like it or not.
You, the aspiring new author, are in no position to bargain.
9/n
Most new authors sell far, far less than that.
Do the maths.
Most books never make money for the publisher - plain truth, whether you like it or not.
You, the aspiring new author, are in no position to bargain.
9/n
Large publishers have little budget to spare for marketing your book.
Budgets are reserved disproportionately for the marque & the politically/ideologically correct writers.
And for lit-fests.
You will have to spend you own money to market your own book.
10/n
Budgets are reserved disproportionately for the marque & the politically/ideologically correct writers.
And for lit-fests.
You will have to spend you own money to market your own book.
10/n
Acquisition editors are the gatekeepers to the publishing castle.
They're tasked with ensuring that new authors are ideologically 'pure'.
Some slip by, but then again, no system is perfect.
11/n
They're tasked with ensuring that new authors are ideologically 'pure'.
Some slip by, but then again, no system is perfect.
11/n
If you have tweeted or reviewed a book by one of their stars with less than gushing praise, you’ve written your publishing epitaph.
If there’s any life remaining, your social media profile will kill your chances of getting published.
12/n
If there’s any life remaining, your social media profile will kill your chances of getting published.
12/n
Rejections in the publishing industry come in many forms:
- 'doesn't fit our catalog'
- 'too long'
- 'subject already covered many times', etc...
That is, if you ever hear back from the publisher in the first place.
But they will all wish you “the best” in your endeavors.
13/n
- 'doesn't fit our catalog'
- 'too long'
- 'subject already covered many times', etc...
That is, if you ever hear back from the publisher in the first place.
But they will all wish you “the best” in your endeavors.
13/n
Similarly, in interviews in the professional word, you're more likely to be rejected in a peer interview if you come across as a threat, or if the i/v-er feels you could promote above him/her.
People will often put their personal preservation above the company's interests.
14/n
People will often put their personal preservation above the company's interests.
14/n
Rejections are couched in familiar phrases:
"no cultural fitment"
"too junior”
“too senior"
"technology experience is dated"
“changed too many jobs”
“worked too long at one company”
15/n
"no cultural fitment"
"too junior”
“too senior"
"technology experience is dated"
“changed too many jobs”
“worked too long at one company”
15/n
In closing, here's a depressing truth - most authors are terrible writers.
They suck at one or more of the following - plot, structure, grammar, narrative, dialog, pacing, originality, and more.
16/n
They suck at one or more of the following - plot, structure, grammar, narrative, dialog, pacing, originality, and more.
16/n
But they don’t know, or they don’t care.
The ones who don’t care are more likely to be the successful authors, since they will also suffer from confirmation bias. 17/n
The ones who don’t care are more likely to be the successful authors, since they will also suffer from confirmation bias. 17/n
Many writers believe that if they have the passion for writing, the craft and process do not matter.
Well, if you have a passion for healing the sick, you wouldn't take a knife and start stabbing the heck out of people, would you?
Then why treat writing with such disdain?
18/n
Well, if you have a passion for healing the sick, you wouldn't take a knife and start stabbing the heck out of people, would you?
Then why treat writing with such disdain?
18/n
You write because you are a masochist.
You don't mind facing failure, rejection, loss of confidence & self-esteem.
You write because you have stories you want to tell & you know only you can tell.
You do it because that is the one thing in your control.
Learn the craft.
19/19
You don't mind facing failure, rejection, loss of confidence & self-esteem.
You write because you have stories you want to tell & you know only you can tell.
You do it because that is the one thing in your control.
Learn the craft.
19/19
