Friday Speak Out!: So You Got Rejected Now What?

By Laura Yeager

Rejection is something with which all writers are familiar. Writers can be rejected for many reasons from weak grammar to an illogical storyline. There are many causes of rejection, but what are some of the effects of rejection on the writer?

The some of the effects include the following –

Throwing the piece out and beginning afresh. This is a drastic response to rejection and is likely to be a result of hurt feelings and devastation. I don’t recommend this action, but if you’re completely tired of working and reworking a story or article, starting from scratch might be the way to go.

Getting advice from an editor or a reader and proceeding to rewrite from there. I do recommend this action. Sometimes a second set of eyes will move the story or article along and will take it to completion. My editor has saved me from looking like a fool many times, as well as spotting typos and misspellings.

Stopping writing entirely. NOT RECOMMENDED. Chalk the rejection up to an editor having a bad day.

Working harder on your own and perfecting the manuscript. Nuff said.

Shopping the piece (as is) around. This method stems from the idea that your piece will gain acceptance if it finds just the right editor. I recommend this action if you know that the manuscript is clean and interesting.

Putting the piece aside (in a drawer) and sleeping on it for a while. It’s amazing what time will do for one’s editing capabilities. You’ll be able to grasp the totality of the piece – the meaning, the syntax…everything about the story.

Of course, all these reactions have their pros and cons. What’s important is to keep at your art and to not give up. Rejection is part of the writing process, and writers should get used to being rejected. If writers can get over and learn from rejection, they can sell more of their work, which is an object of the business.

Back when writers sent their work out in paper form and received paper rejections, it was a fad to paper a wall of one’s home with rejection slips. Since most everything is electronic these days, this doesn’t occur, but, oh, those were the days! A wall papered with rejections was, in a way, a status symbol. It showed years (perhaps) of hard work and perseverance.

The most important thing to remember is to trust your instincts in your writing. This is easy to say and hard to do.

You will be rejected, and what I haven’t said is that maybe you should be rejected at that point in time. Maybe an editor is doing you a favor.

This brings me to a final point. Whether you sell a story or get rejected, don’t forget to thank the editor for her readership. This polite action will take you far.

They say that writing is rewriting. This is true. What’s also true is that writing for publication is rejection. That’s it in a nutshell.

* * *

Laura Yeager is a frequent contributor to Curetoday.com, a cancer website. She teaches writing at Kent State University at Stark and at Gotham Writers. Laura is happy and proud because her son, Thomas, has started writing and illustrating children’s books.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Leave a Comment dealing with rejection, Friday Speak Out!, Laura Yeager, writer tips

Perspective - What's Yours?

 

Perspective - What's Yours?

How silly is this cow?

She's trying to figure out what I'm drinking - cows are naturally curious animals and I just love spending time with them. When I was looking for a picture for this article, I thought you'd all enjoy this particular perspective seeking, milk producing, bovine! 

I learned something new lately and have been applying it in all sorts of areas of my life, but it can definitely help us as writers. Particularly if someone says something negative about our work. Keep that in mind while you're reading and get ready for my infamous questions at the end of our time together!

By definition, perspective is our attitude about things. Here's what I thought in the past (and it was holding me back):

* I thought I had to attend every argument 

* I thought I had to win every argument

It seems silly when you write it out like that, doesn't it? My problem is my emotions get the best of me; particularly so when it comes to teenage offspring. My new perspective is helping me be more peaceful:

* It's okay to walk away from an argument

* When you argue with someone you love, you don't win...you both lose

Isn't that interesting? I went from having to have the last word to being able to peacefully walk away. I'm decades away from convincing my teenage daughter that taking her cell phone away is for her own good. Arguing with her about it is damaging our relationship and when things get heated, we run the risk of saying something we don't mean. It is completely okay for us to walk away from those type of arguments.

I haven't always been able to walk away. I heard other mom voices in my head saying "you can't let them get away with that" and I felt like I had to attend every argument I was invited to. I forgive myself for the times I didn't walk away and now that I know better, I'm doing better. 

As for my writing - if someone wants to write a negative review or provide negative feedback, guess what? I don't have to reply! I don't even have to change anything I'm doing! I do NOT have to attend the argument. I can hear what they are saying and move on - it's okay! We both win - they said what they had to say and I can walk away without the stress of thinking of some snappy come-back - and oh...it feels good! 

As our time together comes to an end, let me ask you:

What was something you previously thought that was holding you back? What opened your eyes and how has your perspective changed?

How do you deal with a negative review or critical comments when it comes to your writing?

Since I never leave the farm - tell me about something exciting happening in your town or city? Tell us a little bit about your 'neck of the woods'? What's going on with you friend?

 Share your answers as a comment on this post!

Hugs,

~Crystal

About Today's Author:

Crystal is a foodie, farmer, and friend! She has 6 children and lots of special young people who call her "mom" even if she isn't 'their' mom! She starts each day sipping coffee and milking cows with the love of her life and occasionally ends the day with a glass of wine.  Crystal is raising kids and cattle while juggling cleaning jobs, bartending shifts, music gigs, her job as office manger and she escapes reality a few hours each week riding horses and reading books (not simultaneously)! And who knows, she may start blogging again sometime soon: http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

In the meantime, you can find her posting pics of food, cattle, and more on Instagram and Facebook! 

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1 comment arguments, crystal otto, dealing with rejection, faith family farming, finding peace, perspective, raising kids and cattle

Friday Speak Out!: Why Heartburn and Rejection Go Hand in Hand

by Theresa Boedeker 

My first short story I submitted was accepted. 

My second story ended that winning streak. 

By graduate school, my friend and I talked about papering our bathroom walls with all the rejection letters we received. 

Reality is that writing is full of rejections. Even well-known writers get their work rejected for various reasons. 

Why one piece gets accepted here and rejected over there is as mysterious as trying to figure out when in the day a family of six will spontaneously arrive in the living room at exactly the same time. 

You may have your theory about why your work is rejected, but this is mine. 

I like to think that the reason my writing is rejected is because my work was read shortly after lunch. At about the same exact time that the editor develops heartburn from having greedily eaten an insane number of hot tacos. 

Who says yes to a practically perfected piece of writing when smack in the middle of experiencing heartburn? 

No one. 

Like I said, that's my theory. So, when I receive a rejection letter, I just think heartburn and to many hot tacos. This way I don't take it so personally. 

This theory helps me take a step back and question if this was the best place to submit the piece. If the piece needs to be reworked. And address how I can strengthen it before sending it out again. 

Sure, there may be another way to look at this heartburn issue. 

In grad school I worked on the school literary magazine as an editor. Suddenly I was the one deciding if the piece should be considered. Or promptly sent back with no other reads. 

Talk about power. 

Talk about heartburn. 

The first several times I rejected a piece it was hard. 

I didn't want to hurt their feelings. I didn't want to discourage them from writing. I didn't want to paper their bathroom walls with another generic rejection form. 

But really, some of the submissions were pretty bad. Some were brilliant. And some were okay. 

And while I am not a person prone to heartburn, some of the submissions I read were so bad I felt like I was experiencing heartburn. 

After enough of these, it became easier to identify the icky sensations overtaking my chest and reject them on the basis of almost causing me heartburn. 

So yes, I know there are two ways an editor can experience heartburn. One from the writing itself. And one from the food they recently ate. 

I like to think my writing being rejected, falls only in the last category. 

Question: What is your theory you have developed for why your work gets rejected? And how does it help you not take it so personally?
* * *

Despite having given a few editors heartburn, Theresa has been published in numerous print and online publications. She dreams in words and would keep writing even if no one read her work. She writes online at https://www.theresaboedeker.com/
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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6 comments dealing with rejection, Friday Speak Out, Theresa Boedeker

This I Know 2.0

At a recent workshop on wordplay, I was surprised with a couple of new techniques I learned. I mean, I’ve been at this writing thing for a good while now and I’ve become a bit jaded. But just when I think I’ve seen or heard it all, someone introduces me to something brilliant and I think back to years ago, at one of my first writing conferences. I heard an attendee say, “I didn’t know what I didn’t know.”

That’s pretty brilliant in itself, that realization. Because so many writers just starting out—myself included—think they know all about writing. We’ve been writing since we were kids, after all, and we may even have degrees in writing or related fields. So we think we have this whole writing thing down. Really, we just need a little bit of information about agents or publishing. And yet, the writer who gets better at this whole writing thing is the one who realizes early on that he or she has a lot to learn.

But unless we go to conferences, sign up for workshops and/or classes, read the genre we want to write as well as read up on the craft of writing that genre, we will never know what we don’t know.

So there are a few things I’ve figured out, after being in this business for so many years, and I thought I’d share to give you a writing leg up, as it were. It’s a short list, but this I know:

That if you want to be a writer in the 21st century, you must be familiar with and use 21st century technology. I’m not saying you can’t write your first draft in longhand; I am saying that when it comes time to submit, you will need those words typed nice and pretty in a digital document. I’m also not saying that you must be signed up for every kind of social media available; I am saying that you must have an online presence somewhere so that readers and/or publishers and editors can find you. And finally, I’m not saying that you must use all the latest financial technology; I am saying that if you want to sell your books or other writing-related materials, there’s a very simple app for that. (Because seriously, y’all, no one carries cash anymore.)

That the best writers have had their work rejected way more than accepted. The thing is, we may not hear about the years of struggle; we only see the success. But very few of the best writers start out with a bang. They start out writing, revising, submitting, and getting rejected. And then starting all over again. And again. And again. And again. The best writers keep at it, even though they will still face rejection after hard-won success.

That if you want to be taken seriously in the writing profession, be professional. Ditch the cutesy email address and never use crazy fonts or colored paper to attract attention. (You will attract attention but not the kind you want.) Use proper grammar. Honor a deadline and reply promptly if you can’t. Treat others—whether you’re meeting them online or in person—with respect.

So how about you? What do you know now that you didn’t know then? I’d love to hear your thoughts because this I know: there’s always something out there I need to learn!

Cathy C. Hall writes for children and adults. Look for her latest byline in Chicken Soup for the Soul's Miracles and More. And if you're in South Korea, you can find her recent leveled readers in bookstores and schools. But if you want to catch up with Cathy herself, look for her around SCBWI conferences or at her website. She knows other stuff, too, and she's not afraid to share it.

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9 comments Cathy C. Hall, dealing with rejection, technology in writing, writing advice, writing classes, Writing Conferences

Friday Speak Out!: That Stack of Rejection Letters and What to Do with Them

by Margaret Y. Buapim

You have a pile of them and with each submission another one comes. Will this ever turn into a yes, you wonder. It can be mind boggling and make you want to give up. You hope that your string of “luck” will change but is it really “luck” at all? The dream is to find that one agent or editor who wants to take your work on and help you refine it so much so that your project is ready for best seller status or at least awards season. Yes! This actually happens and can even take place with a stack of rejection letters. How so?

It's something I’ve learned in this journey but something I always believed fundamentally. A rejection letter or response is a type of acknowledgement that your work is memorable. Some may consider this an unusual optimism, but I preferred an acknowledgement rather than no response at all.

Recently I got such a detailed response from an editor however that I had to use, once I was able to digest, the very precise and seemingly critical feedback. I sent in two pieces. He hated one and outlined why and seemed to prefer the other advising further work on the piece. After two days of hiding from the advice but re-reading the response over and over, I decided to work on the areas that needed to be worked on in the story. I never got a yes from him on inclusion in the anthology, but I have a polished piece now that I am proud of and ready to submit to a more traditional publisher.

I’ve been writing from an early age--prior to high school--and I’ve been submitting my work to contests since college. I have had work published in the past, but now that I am a full time writer, the response time between submissions are longer and the consistent yes, I once heard are few and far between. I admit, my work needs dusting off. Could yours? When I get feedback, I work on areas mentioned and re-work the piece into something usable if not for that publication then hopefully for someone else. Keeping my work organized and ready for submission, I am building my writing catalog at the same time.

What are some elements that so many of us need to strengthen? Character description, development and voice. Imagery. The term ‘ugly prose’ has been used recently, but flowery descriptive language sounds and reads so much better. I want to reach that goal and I try out new genres to strengthen that writing muscle because preparation and opportunity intersect eventually. Why not be prepared?

So how do you recognize a good response guised as a rejection letter? It will go beyond the, “we were unable to use this.” It will give specific feedback: “Too many characters,” “Not a believable character,” you start to see a trend and can refine your work. It will also give you a name and title of a contact at the publication or agency. This has become a secondary benefit of submitting often and receiving responses. I hope to build relationships with those who are seeing my work. Granted I want my most positive stuff to shine, but can you imagine a Toni Morrison being on that other end providing you feedback? She was once an editor at Random House herself; a great mentor to be had by anyone, most would agree.

If we are honest, its usually the stuff we see but don’t know how to fix or have the courage to identify until its pointed out Perhaps a refined pitch or re-submission may naturally come about then once a connection is established. Build relationships and perfect your work that’s what can be great about that initial “no” called the rejection letter.

So now an assignment, start with that stack of rejection letters. I keep mine for reference. Any pointers you can take away?

For More on those who are picking up on this new angle of learning how to view rejection letters check out The Literary Whip, a semi-weekly podcast from Zoetic Press that engages editors on the pieces they have had to say no to and the reasons why.

Happy Writing!

* * *

Margaret Y. Buapim is the self published author of Ring Envy (2006), a Christian Fiction novel which can be purchased here.  She has been a full time author and magazine contributor since 2015. Although she is an emerging voice in the literary world, Margaret has been recognized by the Greater Los Angeles Mensa Society for her essay writing, published in the anthology River of Dreams for her poem "Children of the Night" and a guest short story contributor for Guide Magazine. She excited to contribute to Friday Speak Out in Wow! Women on Writing. Catch up with her on twitter @WorldMaggie as she chronicles her journey in writing with the hopes of inspiring and helping other writers find success. 
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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4 comments dealing with rejection, Friday Speak Out, Margaret Y. Buapim, Rejection Letters, writer inspiration, writer tips

Friday Speak Out!: Reclaim Your Writing Life

by Kathryn Schleich

As almost every author knows, a writer’s life can suck. The rejections pile up, and you start to doubt your abilities, and whether you possess an iota of talent. With over 100 rejections for one book alone I wrote less and less, until I wasn’t writing at all.

What inspired me to make fundamental changes in my writing life? Bluntly speaking, my age and health. I’m pushing 60 and have Crohn’s disease. The painful side-effects from the medication often served as just another excuse not to write.

No one knows how much time they have, but I made a conscious decision that if I was going to write, it was now or never. I dusted off several short stories, found an editor willing to work with me through WOW, and got published twice with interest expressed in a third piece. With my confidence bolstered through being published, I’ve written eight new stories and completely reworked my novel.

Here are tips that helped me reclaim my ability to write and may work for you as well:

• Pay attention to a publisher or agent who offers specific suggestions to improve your work. Just one publisher taking the time to give me feedback on my novel set me on the path to reworking it.

• Don’t be afraid to take risks. Last April I participated in an Author’s Guild sponsored auction and won the chance to have my manuscript reviewed by an industry professional. This September I’m heading to New York City to meet with him.

• Take another look at some of those old stories. If they’ve already been edited, find another editor to read your work. Different perspectives and encouragement can send you in a new and better direction you may never have considered.

•Research potential markets carefully when submitting your work to contests or publications to be sure they are a good fit for your work. Too often, I haphazardly entered contests that weren’t the right match.

• Find a way to deal with the barrage of rejection, so you can rise about it. For example, I have found it cathartic to experience the act of shredding paper rejections or the satisfaction of hitting delete.

• Maintain notes on all agents queried, but particularly those who reject your work. This puts you more in control. Some examples: an agent that makes time to write a personal note is someone I will contact again with future projects. If the rejection is a form letter, the chances of further contact diminish. And, if the letter is copied many times over, that agency won’t be queried again.

• Find what inspires you, continually hone your skills, and keep writing!

* * *

Kathryn Schleich is the author of two editions of the book, Hollywood and Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers and Other Images, which evolved from her master’s thesis. The self-published work was a finalist in the 2012 Indie Book Awards. The first edition was used as a textbook in the Religious Studies Program at the University of South Carolina beginning in 2007.

In May 2017, Schleich’s short story, “Grand Slam,” was published in The Acentos Review and Zimbell House Publishing featured her story “Reckless Acts” as part of its After Effects Anthology this August. Schleich also writes non-fiction articles on women in film, collecting antiques, women’s heart health, Crohns disease, and the environment. She is currently seeking agency representation for her mystery/suspense novel, Salvation Station.

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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7 comments confidence, dealing with rejection, Friday Speak Out, Kathryn Schleich, writer inspiration, writers tips, writing life

Dealing with Rejection: Tips from Authors

One of the many benefits of being a Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing is the opportunity to work with and interview a wide variety of authors. I have compiled a list of some of the best tips they've given us on dealing with rejection. For your reading enjoyment...drum roll please...

Betty's Child by Donald Dempsey

"Don’t be afraid to let it rip." ~ Donald Dempsey during the tour of his memoir Betty's Child

"Rejection is part of the process. I’ve been rejected a zillion times!" ~ David W. Berner during the tour of There's a Hamster in the Dashboard: A Life in Pets



"I feel if my book helps just one family get through what my family has been through it will be a success. That motivation is much stronger than my fear of having my raw and painful experience out there for everyone to read." ~ Madeline Sharples during the tour of her memoir Leaving the Hall Light On


"I think they are inevitable and we need develop a tough skin and be open to ways we can improve. So much depends upon how the rejection/negative review is delivered. If it is a personal attack with no substantive constructive feedback, it needs to be ignored. If it spells out area of weakness and ways of improvement, it can be a gift." ~ Kathleen Pooler during the tour of her memoir Ever Faithful to His Lead: My Journey Away from Emotional Abuse

Toni Piccinini The Goodbye Year

"Worry, dread, and pessimism are powerless positions and they are without faith. I talk a bit about faith in the December chapter and I always get back to a sentiment that makes me feel better: "If you're gonna pray, don't worry. If you're gonna worry, don't bother praying!" ~ Toni Piccininni during the tour of The Goodbye Year


"I deal with rejection and negative reviews by first getting depressed and discouraged. But that’s an unhappy, unpleasant state, so I have to work through it and get over it. I’ll pick myself up, make cookies and then if it’s rejection, I’ll find another way—an open door instead of a closed one. For negative reviews, I remind myself at least someone read my work and felt strongly enough to write a review. If I get too down about it, I’ll go read all the negative reviews on well-known, best-selling authors I admire. That always makes me feel better. Everyone gets negative reviews, even the best books and the best writers." ~ Karen Jones Gowen during the tour of Afraid of Everything

Eric Trant Wink

"Rejection is not a sign to quit—it is a sign to grow." ~ Eric Trant during the tour of his thriller Wink

What has been your best advice? 

Who did it come from? What advice do you have for others?

Please leave a comment - we would love to hear from you!

***

Crystal is a church musician, babywearing mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 9, Andre 8, Breccan 3, and Delphine 1), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff at:http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/ and http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

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6 comments author rejection, author tips, david berner, dealing with rejection, donald dempsey, Eric Trant, karen jones gowen, kathleen pooler, Madeline Sharples, rejection, Toni Piccinini

100 Rejections a Year

What would happen if you set a goal – to earn 100 rejection letters in one year?

No cheating. This doesn’t mean that you can submit horror to a market that only takes self-help or a cookbook to romance publisher. You would have to submit your work to suitable publishers and, once everything was out, get busy writing something new.

If you’re a novelist you may be looking at this goal shaking your head. Even with 5 or 6 novels ready to submit, 100 rejections would likely be unattainable. But what if you queried editors and agents? And what if you added in fellowships, grants and residencies?

I read a blog post about one writer who set this goal. So far the max that she has achieved is 44 rejections a year. But she has also had her work accepted in several literary journals a year and received a number of residencies as well.

I started wondering how many rejections I’ve gotten this year. I opened up the Excel file that I use to track my submissions. Other than the material that I submit to the Muffin, I have 7 submissions. Wow. That’s pretty pathetic. Sure, six of them are book manuscripts but four of those were under contract. That means I’ve submitted uncontracted manuscripts to two agents and one editor.

Given the fact that I’ve allegedly been trying to get an agent this year, that is truly sad. Sure, I’ve had four books (all under contract) accepted, but there's another issue here.  They were all with one packager.  Early in my writing career I learned the dangers of having all of my checks coming from one publisher. That's fine as long as it lasts but what if they go out of business.

To break in to more publishers, I need to get my work out there. Getting my work out there means that I can expect more than a few rejections. And the best way to keep them from felling me when they come in? Set a goal to earn as many rejections as possible.

It’s July so I don’t think I can earn 100 rejections in 2016 but I’m going to aim for 50. That’s probably optimistic but an editor did ask to see a piece of nonfiction from me by the end of August. And another is waiting for an article.

If you’ll excuse me, I have to go take a chance and see if I bring in an acceptance or a rejection. I have a goal to meet.

--SueBE

Sue is the instructor for our course, Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. The next session begins on August 1, 2016.

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6 comments dealing with rejection, effective writing goals, goal setting, goals, rejection, Rejection Letters

Rejecting Rejection: An Exercise in Therapeutic Correspondence

Dear Agent,
Thank you for sending me your letter.

While the book that I submitted to you is unpublished, I have over 425 sales to my credit. Because of this, I feel that your letter, wishing me luck in my quest to become a published author, would be much better suited to an author who is, as yet, unpublished.

Thank you for thinking of me and I wish you luck in placing your letter elsewhere.

Sincerely,
A Published Author


Dear Editor,
While I appreciate the work that went into your correspondence, a bit more effort is required for it to truly shine.

I agree with you that the manuscript I sent you was too long and the characters were too old to be in a picture book. Picture books are seldom over 700 words and my manuscript clocks in at 10,600 words. Picture book characters are often preschoolers or kindergartners. These characters are second graders. Clearly this piece is unsuited to the picture book format.

Fortunately, both the length of the manuscript and the character age are well within the norms of a chapter book, the form that this story takes as stated in my cover letter. You might also have noticed that you received the first three chapters, chapters also being a common chapter book feature and virtually unknown within picture books.

I cannot help but feel that a review of the various types of children’s books would benefit your professional development.

Wishing you luck with your efforts,
The Author of a Chapter Book


Dear Editor,
I regret to inform you that I cannot accept your series of letters at this time. In your first letter, you rejected pages 2 through 4 of my early reader. In the second letter of your series, you rejected page 1.

The main action in the third letter was a rejection of page 5.

At this time, I have no clear idea how you plan to end your series. Will you accept or reject pages 6 through 10? Without knowing the conclusion, I do not feel that I can make an offer on your work at this time.

If you decide to revise, paying particular attention to the ending, I would be willing to take another look at your work.

Sincerely,
The Author of Pages 1 Through 10


Write and submit your work and eventually you are going to get a rejection letter that makes you shake your head. I've had letters that get my name wrong, that reject a source from my bibliography instead of the manuscript that I submitted, and more.

I've learned to laugh at the irony, but I have a confession to make. Sometimes I reject their rejections. I would never send one of these letters, but writing them lets me blow off a little steam.

--SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards teaches our course, Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults.  A section started on January 5th.

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3 comments dealing with rejection, humor, Rejection Letters

Friday Speak Out! Rejection: It’s Cause for Celebration, Guest post by Sioux Roslawski

Why are some writers reluctant to shout from the rooftops, “I got a rejection!” and yet we hear all about the pieces they get published? Why do some writers write post after post about the pieces they’ve submitted, and they tell their success stories to all their writing colleagues but when it comes to the notes of “Thanks, but no,” we hear nary a word? Why is that?

Now, I’m overly fond of self-denigrating humor. It’s my snarky trademark. I figure, if I can make a joke about myself, it prevents dozens of others from making fun of me. And really, I’m happy to provide bits of levity. Everybody needs to laugh more…

So when I recently got a rejection note the day after I sent in a piece, I had to smile wryly. Instead of giving credit to the editors’ impeccable time management skills, I blamed how much my story stunk. My story stinks so bad, they burned rubber to avoid the stench. Now in reality, I am going to hang onto this piece. It didn’t fit the anthology, but it survived a critique session, so I’ll resubmit it to another publisher/editor someday.

But being rejected is a reason to be proud. It means we’re sending things off. It means we’re talking the talk and walking the walk. It means we’re living the life of a writer…

In early January, a writing friend summed up the previous year via a blog post. She tallied up the pieces she had submitted, and noted the successes and the failures. It was way better than the “year in review” shows they do on the television, since this one spurred me into action. Because of Donna Volkenannt, I now keep a writing planner.

When I send off something, I jot down the title, where I submitted it, and a short note to jog my memory. (For example, if it’s a story for the Not Your Mother’s Book series and it’s a cat story and I have several cat stories under consideration, I might note, “when Elmo escaped.”) If the publisher gives a timeline, I jot that down as well, so I know that if I’ve heard nothing at a certain point, I can then inquire as to the status of my submission.

Upon hearing, I note either when it will be published or that it was “rejected,” which means I can tinker—if necessary—and resubmit when another call for submissions comes along.

The use of a planner also allows me to tell, at a glance, if it’s been a while since I sent off something. Too many blank days with no notation means I need to get my rear in gear.

So, when you get your next rejection, rejoice. Celebrate. Being told “no thanks” means you said “yes” to being a writer…and being a writer is definitely cause for revelry…

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Sioux Roslawski is a third grade teacher by day and a freelance writer by night. On the weekends, she rescues dogs for Love a Golden Rescue. Her stories can be found in several of the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies and several books in the Not Your Mother’s Book series as well as other collections and magazines. When the hot flashes hit (hourly) she uses her rejection letters to fan herself. Her musings can be found at http://siouxspage.blogspot.com/

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

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9 comments dealing with rejection, Friday Speak Out, rejection, Sioux Roslawski, writer inspiration