The Writing Process: Rejection!

Rejections happen. Rejections are necessary. Rejections force us to tried harder, to be persistent, to earn our keep. Rejections make us better than we were before. They are the grindstone which sharpens our literary sword. 

But forget all that. Rejections suck! They are heart breaking, even when you've read all the blogs like this one that tell you how regular and inevitable they are. When you start collecting them they chip away at your pride. Even when you tell yourself that they happen to everyone. Even when you read JK Rowling's rejection letters. Even when other writers make it a goal to reach one hundred rejection letters every year and you'll only up to twenty and they're already crushing your soul. Maybe just subliminally. Unconsciously. Inevitably, they will wear you down...

If you let them. All I can say is don't fear the rejection. Expect it. Welcome it. They're just emails, usually in form version. Occasionally with specific comments, which is really a good sign. Brandish them like scars of war. An army drill sergeant once told his recruits that they should thank the Viet Cong, or "Charlie." He bellowed to them, "Charlie makes us stronger. Charlie makes us train. Charlie makes us sweat. Charlie makes us lethal. Without Charlie, we are nothing!""

Me? I keep my subscription to Duotrope going and as soon as that email comes it I hope and start hunter for another publisher. The only other option is to quit and be nothing.

Have you been rejected? If not, you're not trying. Share your frustration, or better stated, show off your war wounds in the comments below.