This started off as a pity party post. Here's part of it. "What a frustrating month. First, I fall and go boom. Now, I have the mother of all colds. And to top it off, it's looking like I didn't make it to the top 50 of SYTYCW contest. And now my desktop computer is acting up." I deleted a lot, believe me.
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Life is full of shitty days. One thing I really try to remember is - This too shall pass. And I know it all will be a distant memory someday. But, I must say of all the trials and tribulations of this past month, the one that hurts the most is the writing contest failure. Because, dammit, this is a good story.
All writers believe their babies are the cutest, the best, the top in their class. We gave birth to this story. It's a part of us. When it's rejected over and over it hurts. Everyone knows this is part of the traditional publishing business. I'm up to 10 rejections including this contest. I've heard all the stories of famous author's books and their many rejections. You know what, it doesn't help.
So, pass the cheese and then tell me how you deal with rejection.
I doubt anything I can say will help, but know that we believe in you, Wanda.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharon. I do appreciate the support I get from all my writer friends.
DeleteI have between 20-30 rejections I keep filed away. Rejection sucks & hurts, but I don't let it get me too down. I look to the people who have read my book, and loved it, and keep pushing me to reach for my dream.
ReplyDeleteYea, people like my book. Just not editors. :-p
DeleteI have enough rejections to make a book. It really does hurt. At least all of us know how you feel. I didn't make the top 50 either. It did make me glum for a bit then I just sat down and worked on something else. Samantha is right. People that read your work and like it are a good judge of what you can do. Think of the competition we were up against. Maybe we got an editor who just didn't get it. I'm going with that angle. I believe in you and many others do as well. That isn't much comfort when you know things should be happening. Write something else. It will be better.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm not alone. I'm trying to work on something else.
DeleteOreo's and tenacity. If I can't understand why my ms isn't hitting a cord with people, I will shelve it and start another project. When I come back to the first ms a month later with new eyes, I see things I might have missed before, or I decide that I'm right and they are wrong and I submit some more.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the contest but that doesn't mean a rejection. You can still submit to them the old fashion way.
ReplyDeleteI tend to deal with disappointment by occupying my mind with something else until the sting has passed. Often that something else is a glass of wine...or a bottle. :) Hang in there.