What to Expect When You're on Submission: Elle Nash on Rejection, Risk & "Deliver Me"

🎙️ New episode: Elle Nash's journey from starred review to indie darling

Hey Bleeders,

For the final installment (for now!) in our What to Expect When You're on Submission series, I'm bringing you something a little different: a solo-style episode from author

elle nash

(Animals Eat Each Other, Nudes, Gag Reflex, and Deliver Me). I sent her a bunch of questions, she hit record from across the pond—Elle’s currently based in Scotland—and what came back is a super forthcoming monologue with brutal truths and sage advice about the publishing process, especially her experience with her latest novel, Deliver Me.

Here’s the TL;DR of her journey:

She skipped the slush pile.

A starred Publishers Weekly review got agents sliding into her inbox. One of them was Kent Wolf (dream agent!)—and they’ve been working together ever since. “Agents are looking… They're reading high-end literary magazines, they're reading Publishers Weekly, they keep their eye on the news for clients.”

Expect submission to take a long time.

Elle knew it wouldn’t be quick or easy. For her, it took eight months and a round of rejections from big houses before finding a good home with the well-regarded indie Unnamed Press.

Rejection isn’t usually about you.

“Rejection is extremely arbitrary,” she said of the passes. “It can be based on how an editor is feeling that day, if they've read five submissions that already kind of have the same themes as your book, and they're just tired of reading that in that moment. There's so much stuff that goes into why someone picks something and why it resonates with them.”

Editors are tastemakers—but also salespeople.

Elle reminds us that behind every acquisition is a bottom line—publishing is a business. Taste matters, but so do sales projections, and sometimes your book just doesn’t feel safe enough for a corporate publisher. If you want to take big risks in your work, maybe the Big Five isn’t the best fit. Ultimately, Elle is grateful for the creative freedom of going indie.

Rejection can be clarifying.

She got 10–14 rejections, but the feedback helped her sharpen the book and stand her ground. “You have to simultaneously believe in your bullshit and also not let the opinions of others affect how you feel about your work.” Preach.

Best coping strategy? Stay busy.

While she waited, Elle finished other projects and stayed in the work. When the “yes” finally came, she was staying at the Chateau Marmont and “just started to feel like everything was possible.”

Her final advice:

Steel yourself, stay grounded, hear the feedback, and stay true to your authentic voice.

This one’s packed with gems—a must-listen if you’re querying, on sub, or just dreaming about publishing.

🎧 Listen to Elle’s latest episode now!

Happy bleeding!
Courtney

P.S. Check out Elle’s original interview on the podcast.

Writing to Your Taste & Feeling Close to the Character 🫶

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I’m teaching some upcoming workshops you might be interested in:

• Start a Newsletter to Supercharge Your Platform, Network and Business

• Land Big Bylines by Writing for Columns

• The Multi-Passionate Writer’s Life

• How to Build a “Platform” for Writers Who Shudder at the Thought

• Creating Your Podcast

• Podcasting for Writers: How to Start, Sustain & Grow Your Podcast

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So… ROLL CALL! 🗣

Where are you at in the publishing process? Still concepting and writing your book? Querying? On sub? Drop a comment and let me know—I wanna hear your status and cheer you on.