--- title: "The Author's Journey: From Rejection to Published Book | Swati Hegde" description: "Turn your writing dreams into reality with Swati Hegde. Learn the real path from 400+ rejections to a publishing deal. Get expert fiction coaching and manuscript help." canonical: https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/the-author-s-journey-from-rejection-to-published last_updated: 2025-09-15 --- # The Author’s Journey: Turning Rejection into Your Published Book Tribe Verified · 400+ rejections to Penguin publishing deals. By [Swati Hegde](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor) · Available online globally · ₹7,000 per course (lifetime access) (estimate) Part of [Fiction Writing Coaching](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/gallery) I’ve been exactly where you are—querying, questioning, and battling the doubt. Here’s the real, unvarnished story of how I went from hundreds of rejections to a 4-book publishing deal. ## Photos and videos - [Video: From leaving my first literary agent in 2021 with no book deal in sight to having two published books and three more on the way from Penguin Random House. This journey has been a wild ride of fresh starts and unexpected milestones.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a4d1d8e9-1d91-4559-818e-2218c2fde6d6) - [Video: It took me five years, six manuscripts, and over 400 rejections to sign with my literary agent and get a 4-book deal with Penguin Random House. Publishing is a marathon, and I believe in you. Keep going and keep writing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/4fd3cea7-a0db-4344-9a70-2a1643247f53) - [Video: Three years ago, I had no agent and no publisher, just the faith that it would happen someday. Now, I'm months away from my second novel's release with three more to come. This video shows the transformation from hundreds of rejections to unboxing my books.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3e1af2a6-4c32-4d5c-afcc-530e0a8ead64) - [Video: They said, "You'll never become a published author." Now I have four romance novels to share with the world. This is a little look at how the tables have turned.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/85070df2-99d9-40a2-b410-3099f1384852) - [Video: She doesn't know it yet, but she's writing the book that will kickstart her publishing career. This is me, years ago, working on the manuscript that would eventually reach readers across the US, UK, Canada, and India.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ac51b4e3-e8bb-489d-820e-4a1429e4468b) - [Video: From scribbled notes in my 2020 journal to a published debut novel, "Match Me If You Can," available worldwide. It's surreal to see an idea transform into a real book that people are reading.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/49026408-ea4a-494a-8946-8b8c5bc0b887) - [Video: Another look at how it started versus how it's going. From an idea in a journal in 2020 to doing a live author event in 2024. The journey is long, but so worth it.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/43e799c6-a7cc-4ec9-b82e-0fba0a04886b) - [Video: A lot can change in three years. In 2021, I was back in the query trenches after 400+ rejections. In 2024, I'm a published author with a 4-book deal. Hope and resilience are your most important tools.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ca0f22ad-8627-4373-ae0b-b608403f421a) - [Video: Two years ago, being a published author with book signings and launch events was just an impossible dream. This is a reminder that life can change at any moment. Keep working towards your goals.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3bde5d0f-b6a7-47de-881d-2fbf48af9e3c) - [Video: On my 26th birthday in 2022, I wondered what my 29-year-old self would tell me. Now, three days from 29, I can say: you have everything you wanted and more. It only gets better.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8c468a1e-57ce-45b0-88ac-488a58b7f8fe) - [Video: I was just 18 when I started writing my first romance novel. Ten years, many manuscripts, and countless rejections later, my dream of being a published author came true.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3f17746e-922a-403c-ab9d-85febce0ada5) - [Video: A message to writer's block and imposter syndrome: I kept writing anyway. After 5 years and over 400 rejections, my debut romance novel, "Match Me If You Can," is out now.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/be03d7f2-7e51-4089-b569-d9bcf50023fc) - [Video: When people said, "Getting published is really hard. You won't make it." And here I am, doing events for my debut novel with three more books on the way. I made it.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/abf326de-d5d3-4f61-a591-849c736a6a9e) - [Video: A look at my journey through my 20s. From starting my editorial business at 21 and navigating mental health challenges, to signing with an agent at 26 and becoming a published author at 28. It's been a ride.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6df2e7e1-bba8-4946-935b-a2146721886d) - [Video: Another look at my journey through my 20s. It's been full of rejection, heartbreak, and mental health breakdowns, but it's made me who I am today: a published author and a successful freelance editor.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/80a809b9-8c08-44bb-b1a5-03ae5d02adb6) - [Video: A conversation with my younger self. She just got her 200th rejection and has little hope left, but she's too stubborn to quit. I wish I could tell her that her stubbornness will be the game-changer.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a2618375-be94-4a39-a9f3-f6cb0c53635a) - [Video: A lot can change in 5 years. This video shows the contrast between my mindset in 2020 versus 2025, after finally making it as a published author with a 5-book deal.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d6b5a4c9-99f3-48ec-ad98-376c904586e6) - [Video: A look back at the girl I used to be in 2017 versus who I am in 2025. I've come so far, not just in my author career but also in my mental health and lifestyle.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/4e929b1c-ba9b-40f1-a0d6-6a2400bd418f) - ![My 2024 wrapped, author edition. This year I published my debut, signed more book deals, and wrote over 80,000 words across three different projects.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d98f6c53-a32d-4568-95f0-ad328b50a416) - ![Life moves fast, but I wrote faster. In 2024, I worked on four different books, from my debut to my upcoming YA and adult romances.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1aaaaa7a-14d7-4434-bb93-55de962cb5e5) - ![A visual recap of my 2024 as an author. It's been a huge year, from publishing "Match Me If You Can" to anticipating "Can't Help Faking in Love."](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c4aaea50-8505-4236-891a-01d012b59366) - ![A fun graphic celebrating my debut year, where I signed three new book deals. It's been an incredible ride and I'm so grateful.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/29ad38e5-0de9-44e6-b570-1993a306a538) - [Video: Being a published author can be anxiety-inducing, but then I remember the little girl who dreamed of this. I've wanted this since I was 7, and I'm so glad I pushed through to get my 5-book deal.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9b904209-adae-4ced-bd4f-2cfeb665491b) - [Video: From unboxing my debut novel in 2023 to having four books releasing with Penguin Random House. It's only the beginning, and I'm so glad I kept writing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/09aa133f-4e25-4217-bf61-ca8d6bf087f3) - [Video: I just wanted to be a published author when I grew up. And that's what I did. It's a dream come true to be living my childhood dream.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7d1e5685-7003-4f2a-8de7-f4783270e636) - [Video: The little girl who decided she would make it as an author someday would be so proud of me now, with two books on Goodreads and more on the way. This is all for her.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d27899b9-3b22-455e-8ad2-0eda0d041752) - [Video: One day you'll wake up and realize that every rejection and every breakdown led you to where you are today. This is just a chapter in your life, not the end.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/09892a5a-2eeb-42c8-ab51-ff13907fb80a) - ![A lesson from 2022, the year I got my big break. Getting a book deal doesn't "fix" your life. You'll find new things to be anxious about, so you have to keep working on your mindset.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ed7cd0f6-39cc-4f8a-9263-ae943de1d425) - ![A collage of my 7-year writing journey. Each year brought new lessons, from the importance of editing to the power of resilience.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/734d7127-2592-4c41-a73c-7ff111dee0f7) - ![A lesson from 2024, the year I became a published author. I need to appreciate my successes instead of focusing on the small, inevitable disappointments. And god bless therapy.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8dd25cb4-48db-40d4-9a79-ce68bfc28d4b) - ![A lesson from 2018, when I queried my first drafts. Writing a book isn't enough. You also need to know how to swallow your pride and edit your manuscript.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c8d14e6e-ac36-468d-b269-79620cd5265d) - ![A lesson from 2019, a year of frustration and anxiety. If you want to be traditionally published, you need patience, persistence, and a rejection-proof mindset.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a6fa3b48-1459-4b98-b7ea-0adc8b8abdce) - ![A lesson from 2023. The goalposts will always keep shifting in your career. New levels, new devils. The key is to find joy in the journey itself.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ec9be76b-424e-43b8-a06f-48805f874cb2) - ![A lesson from 2021, when I returned to the query trenches. Finding the right literary agent is like finding a life partner. You might not get it right the first time, but your person is out there.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bbf8ad8b-e6ae-4b6e-9778-3b996b202c9c) - ![A lesson from 2020, when I finally signed with an agent. Rejection is just redirection. Your work will find its place someday, with an agent and a publisher. It's inevitable.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/21f3b00c-e120-4911-85fc-1e2dfac87546) ## About The Author's Journey: From Rejection to Published Publishing isn't a straight line. I’ve lived through over 400 rejections and came out the other side with a four-book deal from Penguin Random House. I don't just teach you the craft; I show you how to navigate the mental load of the query trenches and turn that chaotic first draft into a submission-ready manuscript. So, how do we actually get you published? It starts with looking at your story honestly. Most writers get stuck because they’re too close to their draft to see the plot holes or the pacing issues that agents flag immediately. In my 1:1 coaching sessions and mentorship, we aren’t just fixing typos. We’re working on structure, voice consistency, and that all-important 'hook' that keeps an agent reading past page one. If you’re not ready for 1:1 support, my self-editing course breaks down the exact framework I used to fix my own messy manuscripts. Whether you’re writing contemporary romance, YA, or desi-inspired fiction, I bring the same brutal honesty and industry experience to your page. Let’s stop the guessing game and get your book out of your head and into the hands of readers. ## About Swati Hegde I’m Swati, a Bangalore-based author who writes desi slowburn romance and YA. I’ve survived the brutal query trenches so you don’t have to struggle alone. Whether you need a fresh set of eyes on your manuscript or someone to help you beat the impostor syndrome, I'm here. [See all of Swati Hegde's services](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor) ## More from Fiction Writing Coaching by Swati Hegde - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/featured) - [My Coaching & Courses](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/my-coaching-courses) - [Practical Writing & Editing Tips](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/practical-writing-editing-tips) - [The Realities of Author Life](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/the-realities-of-author-life) - [My Books & Stories](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/my-books-stories) - [In the Community: Events & Interviews](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/in-the-community-events-interviews) - [Get to Know Me](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/fiction-writing-coaching/get-to-know-me) ## More services by Swati Hegde - [Romance & Young Adult (YA) Fiction Writing](https://mytribe.in/swatihegdeauthor/romance-young-adult-ya-fiction-writing) ## Similar work from other experts - [Creative Writing Alumni Success: From Manuscript to Book](https://mytribe.in/anitasattic/author-development-program/from-manuscript-to-milestone-alumni-success) by Anita's Attic · Author Development Program · Available online and at studio in Kothanur, Bengaluru - [From Workshop Drafts to Published Books](https://mytribe.in/bangalorewriters/creative-writing-workshops/published-proud-our-authors-success-stories) by Bhumika Anand · Creative Writing Workshops · Available online and in-person across Bengaluru - [From Artist to Artpreneur: Building Your Creative Business](https://mytribe.in/artbeatpaintings/artpreneur-coaching-mentorship/from-artist-to-artpreneur-my-journey) by Nishka Mehta · Artpreneur Coaching & Mentorship · Available Online; In-person sessions in Mumbai & Bengaluru - [My Journey: From IT Burnout to Marathon Coach](https://mytribe.in/thrivewithmegha/running-coaching/my-journey-motivation) by Megha Kishore · Running Coaching · Online coaching and in-person across Delhi NCR - [My 7-Year Creator Journey: Behind the Scenes](https://mytribe.in/srishtyjainstyles/personal-shopping-budget-styling/my-creator-journey) by Srishty Jain · Personal Shopping & Budget Styling · Available online and in-person across Delhi NCR - [Behind the Scenes of a Tarot Professional](https://mytribe.in/readingswithshweta/tarot-courses-workshops/behind-the-scenes-the-entrepreneur-s-journey) by Shweta · Tarot Courses & Workshops · Online workshops & classes ## Book To book Swati Hegde, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20Swati!%20I%20saw%20your%20Author's%20Journey%20page.%20I'm%20working%20on%20a%20draft%20and%20would%20love%20to%20chat%20about%20coaching%20to%20get%20it%20ready%20for%20publishing.)