How to Deal with Rejection
Five simple ways to deal with an editor’s rejection notice.
As writers, we all have to go through some rejections, sometimes. It is not the most wonderful feelings to have, especially when the rejection came with a warning of suspension to the site. When this kind of rejection occurred, it hit deep in the guts. It recently happened to me. One of my articles that I had worked on for over a month was “similar and copyrighted to another site”, which I didn’t even know, nor was I online to do research for that particular piece.
After the initial shock, I decide to get over the assortment of sad, pain, humiliating, and disappointing feelings. I must find a way to deal with rejections, and here is what I have come up with.
Accept rejections with your head high
It is hard to read the rejection words, but just keep your head high anyway. After all, if you are innocent from accusation, your soul is at peace. You know what you did or didn’t do.
If the rejection is about grammar, too common of a topic, fix it, and know in your heart that sometimes rejection makes you a better writer.
Rejection from editors is not a personal attack
Think of rejection notice as a way to improve your skill. Editors do their editing job very well. Give thanks to them. In our normal life, we come across a lot more of unpleasant things. Rejections are not a personal attack. They are just a transition to better ourselves, and our writing.
Make sure to research your topic
Learning from this mistake, make sure to check out your topic online, and on the site you plan to submit your work. This will definitely take more time than the act of writing itself. However, who said the writer’s job is easy? We have to keep in mind that we actually have four jobs: researching, writing, publishing, and promoting.
Keep on writing and submitting
Don’t be discouraged. Keep on writing and submitting. Get back on that horse, and ride! You are a writer, and you love to write. So ease the pain of defeat, because writing is very therapeutic to your wound. It helps you to get over the hurdles, and soar into the blue sunny sky.
Remember what you loved
You are not in this field if you don’t love what you are doing. Everyone knows that we are not making a good living with our writing. We write because we have a passion, an obsession, and an addiction to writing. The majority of writers hold another full job in order to sustain the cost of living.
These solutions may seem simple, but it works for me. I hope it will enlighten you as well. If you have any other ideas, please share. I can’t wait to learn new things.
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Tags: How To, keep on writing, persistence, rejection, Writing
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January 9th, 2008 at 5:47 am
IcyCucky:
Your work is awesome! You just keep your head up high knowing there are folks out here who enjoy reading your articles! =)
SunGoddess
January 9th, 2008 at 6:37 am
I do agree ~Cucky, though it sometimes takes a while to get over a string of rejection notes. It does knock you back, but only for a while.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Never give up! Great article Icy. You’re right of course.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I am having a difficult time taking rejection for the past couple of day.
My grandmother is the light of my life and she is passing away. I just do not want to accept that and it is drawing out this defensive angry person in me – in avoidance.
Not all editors or others that criticize are subject to my approval at this moment. We all have our own diversity and nobody should be able to strip that from us. If it’s mine, I treasure it and hold on to it for dear life.
But, I need to make room for rejection as a way to enhance who I am, keeping an open mind and allowing the criticizer to own their own reasoning as well.
Nice post Icy…Stumbled.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Rejection is hard. I tried to post a picture of my car when I first got it on picable and they thought that it was copyrighted. The funny thing is, i took it in my backyard with my cell phone…
January 9th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Icy,
I read your article and found it very informative. Over the years I’ve had my share of rejection slips. Where some writers consider it to be a stumbling block, I’ve always considered it a chance to learn and see what I’ve done wrong. If you can’t accept rejection then its time to step back and takde a look at why your a writer. Perhaps you will learn something you didn’t know thus inspiring your next piece of writing, which should be so what better than the piece that got rejected. Great Article Icy! Randy
January 10th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Rejection is never easy no matter how prepared. Great article, I Accept it
and think it’s a super learning tool for all who are serious about submissions. Good one.
January 10th, 2008 at 2:59 am
I needed an article like this to lift my spirits today. Thank you for this. It is nice to know that other people have to face rejection too and it is best to hold your head high.
Best Wishes,
Josey
January 10th, 2008 at 4:25 am
Sometimes it feels so hard to get over but your article made me smile! Thanks for that.(I am not alone).
January 10th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Great article Icy.
January 10th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Your kind and encouraging comments are deep in my heart. Thank you all!
January 10th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Icy, I think we have all faced it a time or two, but you have some great points here to help us grow from this adversity. Thank you.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:34 am
You really encourage me man..
I will go on writing despite all my rejections..
January 12th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I haven’t experienced rejection. Your article is helpful for when it happens.
January 13th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Thank you Lucy for this uplifting article! Thanks for your good advice. Best regards from me and take care!
January 14th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Thank you Judy, lonely, lydia, and Chan..
January 15th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
This kind of rejection isn’t major to me really, more annoying if it happens because I just have to edit it in some way or something.
Good article though
January 24th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Very informative…thanks for the vote of confidence.
June 14th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Rejection, interesting topic.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Always useful