Publisher’s Nightmare

A heard something at a recent holiday party that baffled me: The manuscript for the Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowlings, was turned down by 12 publishers before the 13^th took on the project.

Are you kidding me?

Twelve alleged “experts” in the field were that wrong? Twelve publishers passed on the most popular book/movie series of the last two decades?

Really?

I don’t know how to feel as a writer.

I suppose I could be relieved that rejection reflects nothing of the quality of the work.

I don’t know.

I guess it goes to show that at the end of the day, writing is still subjective, despite what the New York Times would have you believe.

Maybe I’ll just stay focused on being an individual – writing every single word for myself and no one else – and have a quick chuckle at the expense of those twelve publishers that passed up early retirement.