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Dec 15

How to Deal with Writer’s Rejection

If there is one piece of advice I can give any writer it is this:

Be professional.

It is easier said than done when you have a mound of rejections. It’s hard to stay motivated, to not take it personally, and most of all to not quit when you see the rejection after rejection of your stories.

You’ve spent months, or even years, writing something that you love and now you have the task of trying to get it out into the world. To work so hard on something and invest time with no reward coming in site can discourage even the most motivated writer.

Publishing is a business. Often rejections have nothing to do with writing. You may be a great writer, but the publication, or agent, just isn’t a good fit. I’ve been rejected because my work was too long, too short, or the very common “not right for us.” *Sigh* We’ve all been there, and if you haven’t because you’ve just started your journey, you will be there.

But rejection can be good too.

It’s good for the ego. You may think you are the next Hemingway, Baldwin, or Atwood, but really you are not there yet. Your work is derivative, or not polished enough. The diamond is still struggling to come out of the coal. Getting rejected may force you to take another look at that story. Is it still your best work? Can you improve it somehow?

Also, it takes time to find where you fit. You writing style develops over the course of years and finding the right place to showcase your work hardly happens overnight. Okay, I’m sure there are some writers who got their dream agent and dream publisher on their first try, but most of us are not lucky like that. We have to try and try and try some more to get a “yes”. I’ve had story rejected 10, 20, or more times. Some writers have more than me.

I read a meme somewhere that read, “Rejection is evidence of trying.” If you have a inbox full of rejections, congratulations! You are putting yourself out there and trying to be a published writer. You are going further than a lot of other people.

I met a young woman a few years ago at a writing class. She told me she took class after class to get inspired to write. I was a bit horrified, but I politely told her that nothing will motivate you to write, you have to just sit down and do it. I realize now that she was scared to put herself out there. So she didn’t even try to write and was caught in an endless loop of taking classes and thinking about writing.

Don’t be like her. Start writing. Don’t be afraid to get rejected.

Rejection may also make you a better writer. If I had my first novel published at nineteen, I don’t think I would be the writer I am today. I know I wouldn’t be the writer I am today if I had my novel accepted back in 2008. That rejection is what made me go to grad school and focus on my craft more. It takes time to find your voice, develop as a writer, and get that experience under your belt. Now rejection is not fun, but I don’t let it affect me.

The good news is that every year someone decides they are going to start a literary journal, become a literary agent, or go work at a publishing house. That person may love your work and want to give you a chance. There is always hope and as long and you let rejection fuel you and not discourage you, you may see great results.

I hope everything is going well with your writing. Next post (around the end of the month) will be a recap of my 2024. So Happy Holidays (if you are celebrating) and everyone keep writing!

Dec 1

Burnout

We’re coming to the end of 2024. For some, the end of the year is exciting, but for other, it can be stressful. Did you accomplish all that you set out to do back in January? Did you move forward with your goals? Just thinking about it may conjure exhaustion, and you wouldn’t be alone. I’ve been hearing and seeing a few people online and IRL, who are feeling the burnout.

I had my own phase back in 2022. If you scroll back, you’ll see that I wrote in January 2022 that I was going to finish my novel by March 2022, or quit the book all together. I didn’t even make it to March. By February, I was done and I limped to my March deadline with no interest in the book. I then decided I needed a few months to reassess and decide what I wanted to do with my writing career. I never thought I would quit writing, like I did in 1997 or 2008, but I needed to take a step back. Did I want to really pursue serious publication to build a sustainable writing career, or did I want to just keep this a hobby?

I spent six months thinking about it. I tried reselling and exploring other parts of my life. I wasn’t just a writer. No one should be all one thing. I learned a lot about myself, like that I wasn’t lazy (I had the hustle mentality to hit the thrift stores every weekend, list the clothing, and then drive 3-4 times a week to the post office) and that trying new things can lead to new interests and surprises. Around September 2022, I got an idea for a new short story and, with that, I eased my way back into writing.

I spend 2023 working on new material, got a promotion at my job, and by the end of the year, a new idea for a new novel. This novel is what I’m working on now and I hope to finish the first draft by the end of this year.

I have a friend who was experiencing burnout and I suggested that she live a little more life. I hate that writing is sometimes romanticized into a mysterious act that one can only do when they are locked away from the world. The reality is usually very different. People are writing on their lunch breaks, early in the morning before work or school, late at night after kids have down for the night, or only on the weekends because weekdays are way too hectic. The luxury of solitude and peace happens in spurts, not an everyday thing.

So if you are feeling burnout, live a little life. Get curious about the world around you. I believe that curiosity feeds creativity, so learn, or do, something new. It can be a small as trying a new restaurant, or as big as trying to start a business. You will learn about yourself and maybe have a fresh perspective on whatever you are in the middle of. I know that is easier said than done, but try. I think you will be better for it.

I hope all your writing projects are going well and you are taking care of yourself.