Is there really a ''key'' to success when it comes to being a published writer?

[Joss]

The key to success if luck and having talent. Whether talent is something you're born with or something that can be learned is debatable. I believe their are a lot of talentless people out there writing novels and trying to get them published - and they will be rejected.

I have a problem with your examples because, frankly, vampires are old hate. That trend has passed. You're not going to break into publishing with a vampire book unless you bring something truly unique and original to it.

Secondly, your theory about what could happen between a vampire book and a book (genre?) called My Life On The Praire is that your forgetting that concept and plot are important, and I'm confused by your comparison here. What kind of book is the Prairie book? For all I know if could be the title of a vampire novel. You're comparing a trope to a possible title. That's a major flaw and doesnt' make sense.

Anyway, I know for a fact (because not only have many literary agents said it, but editors have said it. A good concept can be killed by bad writing. Many literary agents in particular (not talking about just one or two) have said that they've had to reject a manuscript with a great concept because the writing was poor. That should tell you everything. Just because a book has vampires doesnt' mean that publishers will publish it. There's a lot more thought that goes into writing. Sure, a great concept can overcome average writing, but it can't overcome plain bad writing. Believe it or not, readers expect more from a book.

Also, one thing that I've learned from a publisher - if you have an outstanding concept but are a poor writer, the publisher might agree to publish your book, but they'll hire a ghost writer to write it - if they think it'll sell lots of copies.

But going by your crystal ball comment (I'm not sure what to make of it, really) but yeah, if I were a publisher and I knew for a fact that a poorly written book that I'm holding will definitely sell millions of copies thus making the company millions of dollars then yeah, who wouldn't publish it? Publishing is a business first and foremost. So, even some great authors and great books can get rejected if there's no market for it. Publishers wouldn't be in business too long if they didn't care about their bottom line (making money for their stockholders). that's a given, but it's a given to me because I have a degree in business. But, it probably won't be as badly written when it hits store shelves. The publisher can just invest in a ghost writer on the author's behalf to make it publishable quality or perhaps go through many rounds of editing with the author until its presentable. I mean, Amanda Hocking's book had to go through lots of editing when she got a traditional publisher to publish her self-published ebooks. - even she admits that they were badly written and in need of good editing.

You're wrong about why most manuscripts get rejected: Most rejections happen because the manuscript isn't ready to publish. Just because someone writes a novel doesn't mean it's a good novel that should be published. Most literary agents say the number one reasons they reject a manuscript is: 1) the writer didnt' bother reading the publishers/agents submission guidelines and submitted to them somthing they don't publish - ie: sending a romance manuscript to a publisher that doesn't publish romance. And 2) the manuscript the writer is submitting isn't ready to be published - either the manuscript needs more polishing and editing or the writer still needs to hone his/her skill and become a better writer. There's also another reason that's hit on by many literary agents: A writer might be a decent writer, but in this age of publishing, you need to be more than just a 'good' writer, you need to be a 'great' writer. and writing encompass more than just having pretty prose. Well, I guess you're not entirely wrong: If something is as badly eye-gouging as most of the stuff editors and agents get then I guess you can say that it won't make them money and therefore they're rejecting it - a bit of a stretch though.

And, having a PhD in literature from an Ivy League school doesn't mean you're a great writer who should be published instantly - they still need to learn the craft like the rest of us and will endure just as many rejections. In fact, many literary agents joke about the submissions they get from people who learned creative writing at college - they find a lot of their work is overwritten.

And, btw, we're probably making the same points.