The 3rd circle of writer’s hell — The death of two novels

Lessons in resilience. The art of gritting your teeth and carrying on regardless. Remember why you write.

So, every writer who has ever been on submission knows it is the 2nd circle of writer’s hell (the first, of course, being ‘#AmQuerying’). Did you know, it turns out, there is a 3rd. Wait for it… dying on submission.

Wait, you can die? Yes — your book can diiiieeeee. And, you can die more than once. I died twice.

Okay, it’s a little dramatic but your book can literally be liked and admired by every publisher around, they can tell you the most flattering things:

“I haven’t read such a rich and vividly detailed portrayal for a long time and loved the sense of atmosphere throughout.”

“The story feels refreshingly different from other submissions I’ve seen recently, the setting comes to life, and Kerry’s writing feels very natural.”

“I am impressed with Kerry Ann Burnett’s research and her evocation of Covent Garden during this gritty period. She writes well and evocatively. It was too gritty for me.” Ah — that I cannot change. Gritty is what I do.

But, sadly this is what you will hear from your agent: “ they’ve sent very nice passes but it’s not quite the right fit.” Over and Over.

Or — you get this one: (genuine quote) “a reluctant pass as ultimately felt too much of a piece with another historical novel they have on their 2025 list.” You might get that one — a lot.

You may, like me, even get to the ‘AQUISITIONS MEETING’ — where the publisher has all but told you they are going to publish — to find the marketing peeps crush your dreams. You book, it seems, just does not fit the pattern they are looking for — they don’t know how to market your book. In other words, they don’t know where it would sit on the shelves in Waterstones, or who they are marketing it to.

They will love it, they will heap praise, but they STILL WILL NOT PUBLISH. Yee Gads!

So — there you have it — I have, in fact, now officially died on submission TWICE.

So — what do you do?

Cry a lot.

Scream into a pillow.

Drink a lot of wine.

Have an existential crisis.

Question your purpose in life.

Stop writing.

All the above — except the last.

Reader, I confess, I did in fact pause my writing (but I have excuses — caring for two sick relative, one death, the death of a beloved pet and the loss of spouse’s job, necessitating us now having to sell house.) Breathe.

But I am back, baby!

Book 3 is OOOOONNNNN. Yeah — ‘Mudlark’ is happening.