4 Tips for Dealing with Rejection

Aug 19, 2019

A newsletter about writing, art and living more creatively

Some people take pride in setting a goal for a specific number of rejections they want to hit in a year. I'm not so brave.

It's tough to have an idea rejected — whether you're entering an art contest or trying to play at a local venue or trying to pitch a story. Here's some of my own experience with rejection and what I hope are helpful tips.

Tip #1: Take a step back

You probably have your dream publications in mind and when they say no, that stings. Take it as an opportunity to keep reading the publication even more closely. See what stories they've been publishing lately. Was there perhaps a way your pitch didn't quite fit their style? Is there another topic that they haven't covered that might work? Do you need to spend more time on your pitch or send it to a friend to read? Step back from the computer for a bit and then come back with renewed energy.

GIF by Robin Eisenberg

Tip #2: Don't take it personally

When I first started writing I always took a rejection to mean "oh wow this is the dumbest pitch I've ever read, also you're not nearly as talented as the writers we publish." Harsh, right? But I'm sure a lot of people can relate to the feeling that rejection makes us question our talent. Don't take it too personally — know that editors are busy and if their tone comes off as short, it's probably because their inbox is full to the brim.

Tip #3: Write it anyway

This applies more to fiction/essays/non-fiction, but sometimes you've just got to write the damn thing anyway. You can publish it on your blog or Medium. You can save it for when another call for submissions comes up. You can use it for your future book. Just because a few editors don't want it, doesn't mean it loses its value in the world. And people still want to hear your voice!

GIF by MillMotion

Tip #4: Ask for feedback

Not every editor has the time for this but it doesn't hurt to ask — can they give you specific feedback on your pitch so you can do better next time? The worst they can say is no. Ask what you could do differently next time. This advice could be useful even if you pitch it to a different publication.

Hope that helps!
I'd love to hear how you handle rejection.

xoxo,

Your favorite small but feisty writer
Eva

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