Rejections
What other business incorporates rejection as a normal part of its organization?
I’ve seen the videos of surprised people crying or screaming into the camera because they were fired, cheated on, or somehow rejected.
For a writer, rejection is part of everyday life.
We’re rejected by agents, publishers, bookstores, readers, and other writers. Every. Single. Day. And if you are in a writer’s group, in most cases, there is that one person that just criticizes everyone.
I have been told, by people who gave me their writing bona fides first, that they are giving criticism to make my writing better. I’ve also been told that as a professional, I should accept the usually harsh criticism in the spirit it was offered. Reminds me of a Korean drama villain’s logic.
I don’t see writers crying or screaming into the camera because they got yet another rejection email from an agent or publisher, had a reader tell you they aren’t buying your book because they have never heard of you, had a bookstore reject your self-published book, or have someone shred your work to help you improve.
Why?
I don’t know about you, but I use those rejections as fodder for characters and plot points. Why would I cry about getting free material?
