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“For your own good do not publish this book.”

In Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert recalls a rejection notice she received for her short story called “Elk Talk”.

The editor-in-chief of the magazine told Gilbert the ending of her story fell short, so they would not publish it.

Gilbert took the rejection in stride and moved on.

A few years later, Gilbert’s agent called her with some exciting news.

“Elk Talk” had been accepted into a magazine for publication!

Here’s the funny part:

It was accepted by the exact same magazine that had rejected her story only a few years earlier.

This time, that very same editor loved the story.

Especially the ending.

Just goes to show that even the most successful writers faced rejection until their work made its way to the right person at the right time.

Even if it took dozens of rejections to get there.

So whether you’re writing a book, applying for a new job, or just feeling demoralized lately, here are 7 famous rejections received by now famous authors to motivate you to keep going no matter what.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

“You’d have a decent book if you’d get rid of that Gatsby character.”

Well, thank goodness Fitzgerald didn’t get rid of that Gatsby character.

Instead, he found someone who understood Gatsby’s brilliance. And nearly 100 years later, Gatsby still lives on as one of the most memorable characters of all time.

Maybe Leonardo DiCaprio is partially to thank for that, but the point remains:

Don’t give up on yourself, or your characters.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

“It is impossible to sell animal stories in the USA.”

Orwell’s work was rejected by at least four publishers, including T.S. Eliot who was the director at Faber and Faber at the time, before finally getting published in 1945.

Once it was published, it went on to sell more than 50 million copies.

In other words, just because something hasn’t sold in the past, doesn’t mean it won’t be a hit in the present.

The Diary of Anne Frank, by Anne Frank

“The girl doesn’t, it seems to me, have a special perception
or feeling which would lift that book above the ‘curiosity’
level.”

Of course, it wasn’t Anne Frank receiving the rejection herself.

But it doesn’t make it any more surprising that one of history’s most beloved books was rejected by publishers… 15 times.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

This one is my personal favorite.

Hemingway was 26 when he received this rejection letter from Moberley Luger of Peacock & Peacock.

Here are a few memorable excerpts:

“I doubt it’s possible to create a three-dimensional character with such two dimensional language. Have you ever heard of crafted prose? Style? Complexity of diction?”

”A great story, Mr. Hemingway, is built on the foundation of great characters. I had trouble telling yours apart.”

“It’s hard to believe an entire novel’s worth of pages could be filled up with the sort of short, stunted sentences you employ here.”

Good thing Hemingway trusted his own style that went on to inspire millions of writers and become the defining feature of his work.

Way to go, Ernie!

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

“…overwhelmingly nauseating, even to an enlightened Freudian… I recommend that it be buried under a stone for a thousand years.”

Ouch, talk about brutal.

Lolita was rejected by 5 publishers who feared prosecution for obscenity.

Nabokov’s novel was finally published by Olympia Press in Paris in 1955, merci beaucoup.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

“First, we must ask, does it have to be a whale?

We recommend an antagonist with a more popular visage among the younger readers.

For instance, could not the Captain be struggling with a depravity towards young, perhaps voluptuous, maidens?”

A depravity towards voluptuous young maidens? How very… original.

Thankfully Melville believed in the power of his creativity and stuck with his own idea.

Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts, even if others tell you it’s wrong.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

“It is so badly written.”

The 80 million people who read the book would disagree. Enough said.

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You don’t have to love rejection.

But you can start to see it as part of the process of getting you to the right place.

Besides, as you can see from these 8 examples, you’re in very good company!