I'm just thankful that we have moved (for the most part) past print communications. The days of opening a envelope, unfolding the crisp letterhead and reading...NO. You got to hold that physical representation of rejection in your hand and, if you wanted to torture yourself, you stuffed it into a file marked "Rejections". A file that taunted you by getting fatter and fatter and occasionally whispered "Read me."
I had one of those files for many years. It all ended with the advent of email and the instantaneous erasure of rejections with the delete button. That and a small but cathartic bonfire.
Erasing reminders of rejection is a great first step but writers need more than that. If you're anything like me you can recount every writing rejection in detail. The ones you knew were longshots. The ones you thought were sure things. The ones that started out as maybes but instead of transforming to an acceptance went the other way. We remember them all.
Stop that!
A few months ago I found another file stuffed in the back of my cabinet labelled "Notes". Fifteen years of letters, handwritten notes, and Letters to the Editor about my writing. Some from readers came directly to my house but many took a circuitous route, going to a publication that forwarded it to my editor who then mailed it out to me. There were also notes from editors and fellow writers.
Thanks for the great story...I had no idea...You really made my day...Believe in yourself.
After perusing through that file full of encouragement I realized that although delete made erasing the rejections easy, it also made erasing the positive boosts easy too. How many encouraging emails from both people in the industry and readers had ended up forgotten?
So I decided to start printing out any positive communications before they disappear into the Trash file. My own personal version of WOW's Success Stories. When I feel a little discouraged I look over the email print-outs taped to the wall in my office and feel invigorated. It's like having my own personal cheerleader.
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How do you encourage yourself when rejection has you feeling down?
2 comments:
I'm glad you're taking all the positives from your rejection letters and using them as encouragement! Rejections mean you are putting your work out there, and that's always a great thing. I've been slacking this year on subs. I don't mind rejections and expect them, and working on both sides of the desk, I know rejections are just as hard for editors to send as it is for writers to receive them. Work gets rejected for so many reasons, and it's usually not because the writing is bad, so it's just a matter of finding the right home. If you have a creative piece (CNF or short story) you're trying to place, I'd be happy to give you some suggestions. Send it over! :)
Hang on to those positive messages! Mine are in an email folder labeled "kind notes."
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