How to keep writing despite rejection

Rejection is a part of every writer’s life. It’s important to learn how to keep writing despite rejection. When we send out that first piece of writing, we expect the world to fall at our feet. When that doesn’t happen, we are crushed.  I once received a rejection on a manuscript before I received the postal confirmation slip. Now, that’s rejection.

The road to publication is a long one, but there are countless stories of well-known writers sending manuscripts out and reaping rejections. Would it make you fee better to know that one publisher said of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, “It is impossible to sell animal stories in the USA.”? Yes, publishers can be wrong.  Therefore, it’s important to put the book out there again and again until you find a home for it despite rejection. What if Orwell had just thrown that manuscript in the closet based on that publishers opinion? 

Here are some ways to do keep rejections in perspective and to keep on writing that:

1.       Put the rejections in perspective by realizing that it is only one person’s opinion and there are many more places to send your work.

2.      A rejection doesn’t mean you’re a rotten writer. It only means that one publisher can’t use that one piece at that time.

3.      Can you learn something form the rejection? If so, once you lick you wounds, sit down and try to apply what you learned through what the rejection letter said. 

4.      Some rejections aren’t rejections at all. If the rejection letter says they can’t use that piece but would like to send something else you’ve written, dry those tears and send something right away. Hearing from a publisher that they want to see more of your work is an endorsement of your writing.

5.      Adopt the motto: Writers write. No matter what, I will keep writing and keep submitting.

6.      Make a list of 20 places to send your article or manuscript. As soon as it comes back rejected, send it to the next. If the rejection includes an invitation to re-write and to submit again, do so.

7.      Diversify. Write, write, and write. Keep something out there all the time to increase your chances.

Above all else: If you love to write, continue. Keep writing despite rejection. The more you write each day, the better you will become.