I’m looking at my email and see I got another rejection—this one from a literary agent. Between agents and editors, my total must now be up into the thousands, or at least it feels that way. Several of my fellow writers, creators much more talented than me, couldn’t take the hurt, depression, and loss of self-esteem. They’ve stopped writing. I try to follow the philosophy “even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then” and keep submitting, but it’s hard. How many comments like “Unfortunately, I’m not the perfect match for this one” can an author take in?

We’ve all had to suffer through some form of rejection, whether it’s another person’s approval or affection or a job offer. It stings. Besides the disappointment, a person can feel frustration, jealousy, and anger. In the past, I’ve tried the “It’s their loss” philosophy or “They’ll be sorry they didn’t pick this up.”

Sometimes, it helps to read articles like “6 Famous Authors That Once Faced Rejection,” https://bit.ly/3QXMDjV, and learn that publishers rejected J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript 12 times, and Dr. Seuss received 27 rejections.  In a fit of frustration, Stephen King threw away his Carrie manuscript. Fortunately, his wife rescued it. Carrie was picked up by Doubleday, sold over a million copies, and became a successful film. Louisa May Alcott was told to stick to her teaching because she couldn’t write. She ignored the advice, and Little Women still touches hearts today. 

I’ve tried to tell myself that I haven’t failed. I just haven’t sent my story to the right address. Still, I feel like the last kid picked for the team. I want to ignore those stories of persistence and chuck it all.

I add all the wasted money to my complaint list. Writing classes, webinars, craft books, travel, and conferences add up. 

Hmm. I blink. But I enjoy attending those conferences. I get to meet with old friends and make new ones. I also enjoy the classes, webinars, and books that expand my mind. 

And… if I give up on writing stories, what will happen to the 12-year-old character I created, the one with the quirky habits, a love of science, and a pet cockatiel? Have I forgotten how thrilling it is to create characters, set them in exotic places like Moab, Utah, and get them into scrapes, such as facing a mountain lion? Am I forgetting the thrill of transporting readers into other worlds—worlds I’ve created?

And … there’s the column writing, which can happily absorb me for hours and allows me to connect with various people. “Hey, I just read your column about the vultures,” an acquaintance said. “Here’s what happened to me.” And I get to hear their story.

I may have encountered thousands of closed doors, but many have also been opened. I focus on my laptop. It’s time to get back to work.

I’m looking at my email and see I got another rejection—this one from a literary agent. Between agents and editors, my total must now be up into the thousands, or at least it feels that way. Several of my fellow writers, creators much more talented than me, couldn’t take the hurt, depression, and loss of self-esteem. They’ve stopped writing. I try to follow the philosophy “even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then” and keep submitting, but it’s hard. How many comments like “Unfortunately, I’m not the perfect match for this one” can an author take in?

We’ve all had to suffer through some form of rejection, whether it’s another person’s approval or affection or a job offer. It stings. Besides the disappointment, a person can feel frustration, jealousy, and anger. In the past, I’ve tried the “It’s their loss” philosophy or “They’ll be sorry they didn’t pick this up.”

Sometimes, it helps to read articles like “6 Famous Authors That Once Faced Rejection,” https://bit.ly/3QXMDjV, and learn that publishers rejected J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript 12 times, and Dr. Seuss received 27 rejections.  In a fit of frustration, Stephen King threw away his Carrie manuscript. Fortunately, his wife rescued it. Carrie was picked up by Doubleday, sold over a million copies, and became a successful film. Louisa May Alcott was told to stick to her teaching because she couldn’t write. She ignored the advice, and Little Women still touches hearts today. 

I’ve tried to tell myself that I haven’t failed. I just haven’t sent my story to the right address. Still, I feel like the last kid picked for the team. I want to ignore those stories of persistence and chuck it all.

I add all the wasted money to my complaint list. Writing classes, webinars, craft books, travel, and conferences add up. 

Hmm. I blink. But I enjoy attending those conferences. I get to meet with old friends and make new ones. I also enjoy the classes, webinars, and books that expand my mind. 

And… if I give up on writing stories, what will happen to the 12-year-old character I created, the one with the quirky habits, a love of science, and a pet cockatiel? Have I forgotten how thrilling it is to create characters, set them in exotic places like Moab, Utah, and get them into scrapes, such as facing a mountain lion? Am I forgetting the thrill of transporting readers into other worlds—worlds I’ve created?

And … there’s the column writing, which can happily absorb me for hours and allows me to connect with various people. “Hey, I just read your column about the vultures,” an acquaintance said. “Here’s what happened to me.” And I get to hear their story.

I may have encountered thousands of closed doors, but I also opened many. I focus on my laptop. It’s time to get back to work.