Sunday, November 21, 2010

Rejection and Writing

Ah, sweet rejection! What other profession can be so daunting, so forbidding, yet so enticing, that the person in it is willing to put themselves, and their egos, on the line each time they send out a query or submission? So, why do it?

When I began writing, I remember one rather harsh letter from an agent; the agent pretty much said to me, give it up, don't quit your day job, you'll never make it in this business. Rejection hurts, but I try to mentally note that it is the work, and not me personally, which is being rejected.

Rejection is subjective. Every agent, editor, or publisher is not going to like every word you struggled to write, every page you bled into, every chapter you put your heart and soul into. Having written non-fiction for my first three books, I have amassed a stack of rejections and treasure each one.

For each one gave me the strength, the determination to continue, to revise, and to create something better the next time. Now, I have turned to fiction and have begun to amass a new stack of rejections. These hurt a bit more, because fiction is personal in many ways.

Non-fiction depends upon research, getting the details right, and presenting a compelling read. Fiction taps into the author's creativity and desire to entertain. My recent rejections sting at the very essence of my being, but they do not deter me. I have already started my revisions, because I am a writer, by profession, and know no other way to express myself than through writing.

4 comments:

  1. Well stated and such a great outlook! Thanks for sharing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the comment and welcome as a new follower.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Claudia, what do you think is the best way to beat writer's block? Specifically, a creative block due to fear of failure?

    Any advice?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't like to think of it as writer's block. I like to call it a creative meltdown. And though, that's not really the answer, the only way to overcome the fear of failure is to send out the best work you can possibly create. Even though I have been blessed by getting three books published, I still receive rejection letters. But, I know it is the work, and not me, that they are rejecting. And, each rejection just makes me that more determined to hone my craft to a higher degree. Hope that answers your question.

    ReplyDelete