Every writer will tell you to get used to rejection. They say it because it’s true. There’s no way around it. For writers, rejection is as common as succeeding and it never gets easier. But that doesn’t mean you can wallow in it your disappointment. You will never get anywhere if you do that. You need to learn how to cope with rejection and keep going.
Rejection stinks. It’s disappointing to send out your ideas and work and have it crushed by an editor, client or agent. But it happens, as it should. There is no way you can be the right person for every job or every publisher. Sometimes your ideas aren’t going to fit. Sometimes they are going to miss the mark. And sometimes they may even be bad. It happens. What matters is not how you feel when you open the email or letter, but what you do after.
Here are my best tips for dealing with that inevitable rejection letter:
Breathe
Embrace the disappointment and then square your shoulders and get back to work. It’s fine to
acknowledge the pain, but then you need to write. Don’t let disappointment stop you.
Give Yourself Time
Let the rejection sit for a while. Don’t respond rashly (and never unprofessionally).
Move On
Jump into another proposal or project. Keep busy to take the sting out of the rejection.
Look Between the Lines
Sometimes rejections come with tips or critiques. If so, consider them carefully. If agents have rejected your manuscript because they say it needs more editing, do another round of revision. If a publisher kills your article after submission because it didn’t hit the right mark, consider pitching it to another publication (if allowed in your contract).
Learn From Your Rejections
If you keep getting the same comment about your work, fix it and try again.
Keep Trying
If one agent rejects you, send your work to another one. If five reject you, send to a sixth. If forty reject you, accept defeat and either rework the manuscript entirely or move on to another project. This one is clearly not working.
Keep Writing
This is the most essential tip. If you love writing and want to be a writer, the only way to make that happen is to keep writing. You won’t be successful every time or maybe ever, but being a writer means writing, not being published.
Remember Every Writer Gets Rejected
…even the most popular authors out there. You are not alone.
We’re Not Alone
Our profession is not the only one familiar with rejection. Think about how many auditions actors must go on before landing a role. Rejection happens everywhere in every profession. Don’t take it personally. Agents and editors are rejecting your work, not you.
Don’t Point Your Finger
Don’t blame the person doing the rejecting. They have a job to do. If your book isn’t what they want, that’s okay. They are doing the best they can. You must do the same. Focus on your writing, not the person judging it.
Keep Learning
If your work keeps getting rejected, get some help. Take classes. Read writing books. Learn how to do it better. There are many resources available to hone your craft. Use them. Get better. Do better. Then you might see those rejection letters turn to acceptances.
Good luck!