Everyone on the rejection train!
December 9, 2008
Ask any writer what they think about rejections and you’ll get a myriad of responses, but they all share a common thread: “We don’t like them, but they’re a part of being a writer.” And wherever there are opinions about rejections there are numerous ways of dealing with them ranging from some more sensitive souls breaking down in tears to others reacting in more aggressive or creative ways.
I, on the other hand, like to view rejections as a goal.
While working with a mentor of mine in the Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill, he told me that while you can’t make a goal out of how many acceptances you get in a year, you can make a goal of how many rejections you get. Ultimately, you can control how many submissions you sent out and therefore how many rejections you get since most agent and publisher rejection rates are usually at least 95%. By treating rejections like this, I make it into a game. It also motivates me to keep submitting in the face of rejection.
For this year, I made a goal of getting at least 10 rejections, so far I have 8. I’m hoping that the last two will come in before the end of the year, but it’s getting close to the holidays so I may not make it.
What is your rejection goal? Do you have another way you deal with rejections?
December 9, 2008 at 2:41 pm
“It also motivates me to keep submitting in the face of rejection.” Wiser words are rarely spoken. This is the stuff dreams are made of.
-e
Eric Mardens last blog post..In The Loop
January 3, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Rejection doesn’t have to be part of being a writer.
The W3 is a giant maw that gobbles up content by the pound. You just have to be able to crank out words on any topic from quark physics to the taxinomical bias of Google to nutrition tips.
Cut down on rejections by cutting down on cold submissions. Use Elance, Guru, Helium and other sites to find writing gigs and skip the rejection.
Either that or develop a thick skin.
Good post. Thanks
editor@webwordslinger.com
January 3, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Thanks for the comment. I agree on cold submissions, they rarely do pay off. As far as the rejections though, I was talking about ones from literary agents specifically when it comes to novels. Unless you know one or have a friend who can get you in with one, it’s prudent to expect a lot of rejections. Especially with publishers tightening their belts lately on the fiction side of things.
I do want to do more article submissions as well as try out for more assignments. I’ll take a look at those sites you mentioned. Oh and I love your Web Writer Boot Camp. Awesome advice. The exact kind I’ve been looking for.
Yeah, having a thick skin helps in this business I’ve found.