Another author once told me something to the effect “Publishing is like a wall that you just have to hit yourself against until it breaks.” I think that’s true. I can take considerable time and effort to get something published, and many attempts to break through the publishing wall, even once you’ve got a finished project.
The problem I see with some people is that they either get tired of going up against that wall, or the walls breaks them instead of them breaking the wall. It is easy to get discouraged and let every rejection you get irreversibly wound your self-esteem.
When dealing with rejection, remember that you are not alone. Rejection is not unique to new authors either. I recently read that Kathryn Stockett, author of “The Help” (which was recently adapted as a movie), was rejected 60 times before she founds someone to pick up her novel. Now I’m betting that those other 60 agents/publishers regret turning her down! Just think is she had stopped after rejection 2, or even rejection 22. She had to run up against the publishing wall 61 times before she finally broke though.
Sure, each of those rejections must have hurt. It is okay to be sad about a rejection. My policy however, is that I can’t dwell on them for more than 24 hours. Once that time has passed, I promise myself to start looking for the next place to submit my work.
What do you do to overcome discouragement in writing? Do you have any methods that you think you should avoid?
So true! It is like a wall. A very thick wall! I deal with rejections by just continuing to write and to believe in myself.
ReplyDeletePeople have asked my how hard it is to find an agent or to get published. I said it is like walking down a crowded street and asking everyone you see if they will marry you.
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