If you think you’re the only writer to ever get tons of rejection slips, maybe even all in a row, you are dead wrong. You are NOT the only one. I have read many places about all the famous authors who couldn’t sell their now-famous book until one publisher finally had the sense to buy it. Well, that’s just the way it is. Instead of being discouraged by rejection slips, learn from them.
Some rejection slips are just form letters, saying that they appreciated your submission, but they’re sorry, they can’t use it at the moment, blah blah blah. Yeah, whatever, those are not the most pleasant of rejection slips but editors are busy people and form letters cut down on time. But even boring form letters can tell just how much writing and submitting you have done, which equals experience.
However, some rejection letters are the personalized kind. They give a little more feedback on your piece of writing, which always makes it easier to take. Even if they don’t say the most flattering things, you can always keep in mind what they say in case it might actually help your writing. Not all comments you get will improve your writing, because if you take all advice that you get it won’t be your writing anymore. But you can learn from rejection and it’s worth keeping.
I do. I keep every single rejection letter I get and sometimes it is almost fun – yes, almost fun – to go back and read them, just to hear what a professional thought of my writing and to think on how I might be able to improve it for next time.
Because there better be a next time or you don’t really want to write.
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