How to Deal with Rejection Part 2
A newsletter about writing, art and living more creatively
A little update: I've taken the step to work with more flexibility and more time dedicated to freelancing. That being said, if you could share this newsletter with one or two friends you think would be interested, that would mean a lot!
On to the usual programming – let's talk about rejection.
It's scary! It's tiring. It's intense. It's... common. Even the coolest people you look up to have been rejected from something. (If you find evidence to the contrary, let me know).
Here's a snippet from a great interview with writer and translator Carina del Valley — by the way, I was also rejected (twice!) from the opportunity she mentions:
" I was recently rejected from the Andy Warhol Arts Writers Grant for the second time–a lot of great people got grants this year, so I’m not mad. In some ways, [rejections] are just a reminder that you’re in the game. You are living the life you say that you’re trying to live. But any application process is conditioned by so many social, political micro-factors.
Rejections–and wins, for that matter!–are always an opportunity to observe where the rubber meets the road, and where our idealizations about the creative process interact with the world of authorizing and credentialing and funding.
To some extent, you are being evaluated on your capacity to perform yourself as a creative product. We shouldn’t be too innocent about that."
SIGH. A lot of this resonated with me. But I really love the idea of them being "a reminder that you're in the game."
I often think about other creative industries where people face a lot of rejection. Like actors — auditions take time! Not everyone has that time or can take that time, because it might mean losing money. And even if you can, there's rejection. Lots of it.
I was really moved by this Viola Davis interview where she talks about the beginnings of her love for acting. It's clear she's passionate about the craft; and from a young age, she set out to do what she wanted.
She said a teacher warned her class about the difficulty of the job:
“Your family’s not gonna understand it, the rejection that you have to embrace, people are not really going to embrace what you do, do you still want to be an actor?”
She did. She'd been through so much in her life that rejection didn't really scare her.
Here's what I loved about her outlook on it:
"That didn’t register for me, the only thing that registered to me was I thought it was awesome to be an actor. I saw it as an honorable profession."
What is that thing that you think is awesome to do? Go back to it. Go back to those reasons. I give myself permission to take breaks from applying to things, because rejection is hard. You can do the same for yourself, even if it's just a quick break.
And guess what? The only person who can reject you from, say, creating anything is yourself. The awards and the prizes are out there and so are the rejection — but no one can take your craft from you.
Here's to doing more of what you love!
What topic do you want to read about in the next newsletter? REPLY to let me know.
In my recent work, I wrote about:
A new museum dedicated to Mexican food.
EJ Hill's exhibition of flower paintings at Oxy Arts.
Mentorship and Thalía Gochez's work with Las Fotos Project.
Your favorite small but feisty writer,
Eva
Banner design by Ludi Leiva ✨
Opportunities of the Month
GIF by Bijou Karman
🍊 Blood Orange Review Emerging Writer's Contest
Submissions due April 5
More info here
📚 The Word Editor-Writer Mentorship Program
Applications due April 10
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💻 Workshop: Designing Your Artist Portfolio Site
Event happening: April 12
Registration info here
🎨 The New York Art Residency and Studios (NARS)
2022 Residency
Applications due April 11
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🥤 Target Takeoff Food and Beverage Program
Applications due by April 11
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2022 Architecture + Design
Independent Project Grants (NY)
Applications due April 13
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📝 Etel Adnan Poetry Prize (writers of Arab heritage)
Submissions due April 15
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📚 Farrar, Strauss & Giroux Writer's Fellowship
Applications due April 15
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📓 Anne LaBastille Memorial Writers Residency
Applications due April 15
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🖊 Black Embodiments Studio x Luminary Arts
The Arts Writing Residency
Applications due 15
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📚 The Los Angeles Review of Books Publishing Workshop
Applications due April 15
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📖 Toronto Public Library YA Fiction
Writer in Residence
Applications due April 18
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💍 2022 SNAG Educational Endowment Scholarship
(metalsmithing and jewelry)
Applications due April 25
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📗 AAJA/Yahoo Multimedia Journalism Fellowship
Applications due April 29
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🖼 CALI Catalyst
(CA-based artists and art workers)
Applications due April 29
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💍 Womens Jewelry Association 2022 Student Scholarship
Applications due April 30
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📺 New Voices Fellowship
(emerging TV and screenwriters)
Applications due April 30
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☕️ Morean Center for Clay 2022-2023 Artist in Residence
Applications due April 30
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🍃 Witches & Warriors Retreat
Applications due 30
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💾 CultureHub Residency
Applications due May 1
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🖌 2023 Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship
(Minnesota and New York City-based artists)
Applications due May 4
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💸 Santa Ana - Grants for Artists
Applications due May 9
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🖼 Women’s Studio Workshop
Art-in-Education (AIE) Workspace Residency
Applications due May 14
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🏡 Marble House Project - various residencies
Applications due May 15
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📝 Ploughshares 2022 Emerging Writer's Contest
Submissions accepted through May 15
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🖼 Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Residency
Applications due May 15
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📸 Women Photograph Project Grant
Applications due May 15
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🌾 betterArts Residency
Applications due May 30
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BONUS: My latest source of inspiration/joy is browsing through IG for photos of frilly cakes. 🍰
You're welcome.
