What if the rejection you got from a publisher wasn’t really about you at all? In this episode of Kind of a Big Book Deal, host Meghan Stevenson pulls back the curtain on the truth behind publishing rejections and what they actually mean for your book journey.
Meghan shares her unforgettable story about passing on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and uses it to highlight an important lesson: rejection is rarely personal. Listeners will learn the difference between rejections that deserve attention, like feedback about platform size, crowded categories, or consistent editor comments, and those you can safely ignore, such as generic brush-offs or requests for unnecessary credentials.
This episode offers clarity and encouragement for aspiring authors who feel defeated by “no.” By breaking down real industry language, Megan equips entrepreneurs to know when to adapt, when to pivot, and when to move forward with confidence. If you’ve ever questioned whether rejection meant the end of your book dream, this conversation will give you the insight and resilience to keep going.
Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(1:08) The story of rejecting The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
(2:16) How junior editors learn through submissions
(3:23) When rejections actually matter for authors
(4:27) Why platform matters more than just a good idea
(6:05) What “soft category” rejections really mean
(6:59) Handling consistent rejection feedback from publishers
(7:04) Rejections you can safely ignore
(8:10) “I couldn’t get support in-house” explained
(8:34) Requests for extra credentials—what they mean
(9:47) Final recap: when to listen, when to let go
(10:59) Outro
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Traditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5” – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan – to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal.
In episodes released every other Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you.
Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out – this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.
