Why Jane Austen Wouldn’t Get Published if She Were Writing Today
Before I begin, I friggin’ love Jane Austen. I’ve read every one of her books and multiple biographies. I’ve watched every version of every film adaption of every book ever made.
My favorite is still Pride and Prejudice (call me a cliché, but I have very good reasons for it). However, upon a recent re-reading I realized that if Jane Austen were trying to be published in today’s market, she would very likely be rejected.
That I know the reasons is the very reason I avoid reading books about writing craft. The craft itself is an art form, and there are so many opinions as to what is “good” writing, it’s very difficult to keep track.
However, there are some common themes and I’ll address them now.
Jane Austen Tells
She wouldn’t get published because she tells, she doesn’t show. The “show, don’t tell” adage flies around the writing world so much, it might be the only publishing quip anyone agrees on. Except for those who love Jane Austen because she does not show. She explains. If she shows, she does so very sparingly and sometimes using adjectives ending in “ly” (another no-no in the writing world). “Mr. Darcy said smilingly” is a verbatim quote. This is poor writing, according to the craftsmiths of today.
Jane Austen Describes Little
Jane Austen’s description is sparse. Upon a re-reading, I had to check if I happened to be reading an abridged version (I wasn’t). Did she really give so little detail? Apparently, I’ve watched one too many films, because I could have sworn she described Mrs. Bennet. Or Mr. Collins. Or Miss Bingley. But no. No description other than “Jane was beautiful” or “Charlotte was plain.” We don’t have anyone getting into carriages, or sitting down, or tipping their hat. We don’t know what they wore to the ball or what Catherine De Bourgh’s garden looked like. We think we do because of all the films and retellings, but the reality is, Jane Austen doesn’t reveal as much as we fill in for ourselves.
Jane Austen Has Too Many Characters
So this one isn’t fully agreed upon between the writer gods. Obviously, there are books with enormous amounts of characters (Harry Potter for example). But typically, you’re told to play it safe and keep your characters trim and well-developed. In P&P’s opening chapter, there are so many characters it’s difficult to follow. There are so many characters, you don’t know Elizabeth Bennet is the main character until chapter three.
This one is a bit personal for me, as one of my novels was rejected for “having too many characters.” Now, I’m certain I didn’t create a dance of conflict with my fictional beings in quite the same way as JA, but “too many characters” is pretty broad and sweeping.
However, if I can be confused on page one of P&P, likely all the publishers would be too.
Jane Austen Does Not End Her Chapters on Cliffhangers
This is a big one in the writing world. Keep your readers hooked by ending every chapter with a big, fat question that compels the reader to turn the next page.
Jane Austen does not do this. In fact, many of her chapters end abruptly and the new chapters begin without seamless connection. Now, there might be something in the reprinting that affects this (if so it’s beyond my knowledge), but even if that were the case, the only reason you want to know more is because it’s Pride and Prejudice and your friend told you it was good, and there’s another film version coming out next week, so maybe you should read it beforehand to see what all the fuss is about.
Jane Austen may not have been published in today’s market, but her story-telling style is still one of my favorites. What she lacks in showing, she makes up for in dialogue. We get a great glimpse of who these characters are through their verbal sparring.
I actually don’t love a lot of description—it bogs down the story flow and forces me to see the characters the way the author sees them, rather than the way I have conjured them in my mind (which usually happens once I’ve heard them speak).
I’m glad she has so many characters. Where would the story be without Mr. Collins, or Lady Catherine, or even Sir Lucas? These comedic sidekicks to Lizzy Bennet’s journey have represented every awkward relative in our own lives, and while we can’t make fun of our aunties and uncles, we can certainly make fun of Caroline Bingley.
Ending every chapter on a cliffhanger reminds me that today’s authors are competing with Netflix to keep their readers entertained. This skirts the scary line between entertainment and art, and I doubt Jane would have survived in our consumer culture.
I will always love Jane Austen and I’ll always be grateful she was borne in the era she was. Even if that era prevented her from becoming all she might have become as a woman, it certainly did not prohibit her from becoming who she is as an author.
Katherine Spearing MA, CTRC is the founder of Tears of Eden, a nonprofit supporting survivors of spiritual abuse and is a Certified Trauma Recovery Practitioner working primarily with clients who have survived cults, high-control environments, spiritual abuse, and sexual abuse. She also provides specialized trauma informed career coaching, as folks with trauma often need extra support for interviewing and networking.
Katherine is the author of a historical romantic comedy, Hartfords, a novel that challenges gender roles in a patriarchal society that will appeal to fans of Jane Austen. Her next book on Spiritual Abuse addresses the survivor’s recovery journey, coming in 2025.
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Photo by Elaine Howlin on Unsplash