Did you know 96% of manuscripts get rejected by traditional publishers annually (The Write Life, 2023)? For Cathie Borrie, author of The Joy of Being, that statistic was a grueling reality. Her memoir, exploring caregiving for her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother, faced 82 rejections before finding a home. In an interview with Humber’s School for Writers, Borrie reveals how resilience, creativity, and sheer grit turned “no” into “now published.”
The Rejection Phase: “No One Wanted My Story”
Borrie spent years documenting her mother’s fragmented memories, crafting a nonlinear narrative blending poetry and prose. But publishers balked. “They said it was ‘too experimental,’ ‘too niche,’ or ‘not marketable,’” she recalls.
Key Challenges:
- Genre Defiance: Blurring memoir, poetry, and experimental fiction confused agents.
- Niche Topic: Alzheimer’s narratives were considered oversaturated post-Still Alice.
- Industry Bias: First-time authors over 50 face 30% lower acceptance rates (Publishers Weekly).
Table 1: Traditional Publishing vs. Borrie’s Path
| Aspect | Traditional Route | Borrie’s Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Manuscript Format | Linear narrative | Hybrid poetry/prose |
| Submission Strategy | Agent-first | Small presses + contests |
| Timeline | 18–24 months | 7 years |
| Outcome | 4% acceptance rate | Book deal + literary award |
The Breakthrough: Crowdsourcing Validation
After years of “no’s,” Borrie shifted tactics:
- Contests & Grants: Won the 2021 Canada Council for the Arts Grant, attracting publisher attention.
- Writer Communities: Joined Humber’s mentorship program, refining her pitch.
- Self-Publishing Sampler: Released excerpts on Medium, gaining 50K+ reads and proving audience demand.
“Validation didn’t come from agents—it came from readers,” she notes.
The Deal: Why Zest Books Said “Yes”
In 2023, indie publisher Zest Books acquired The Joy of Being. Their rationale:
- Unique Voice: Borrie’s fragmented style mirrored Alzheimer’s cognitive chaos.
- Pre-Built Audience: Her Medium followers promised early sales.
- Award Credibility: Grants and contest wins mitigated financial risk.
The book has since been nominated for the 2024 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize.
Borrie’s Advice: 4 Rules for Unpublishable Manuscripts
- Reframe Rejections: “Each ‘no’ is a step toward the right ‘yes.’”
- Leverage Non-Traditional Platforms: Blogs, contests, and grants build credibility.
- Niche Down: Target small presses passionate about your genre.
- Community Over Competition: Writing groups provide critical feedback and morale.