How do you deal with rejection?

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 22 Sep 2015, 03:47

I'm approaching my tenth year of dealing with rejection letters from publishers and agents, so you'd think I'd be used to it by now. But no. It just doesn't get any easier. This morning I woke up to a rejection letter from the one place I put so much effort into because I was sure it was the best fit for me.

So what do you recommend for overcoming the depression that follows such a rejection?

Specific flavors of ice cream and alcohol are more than welcome!

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 22 Sep 2015, 04:15

Rocky Road of course!

Divya agarwal · Post by **Divya agarwal** » 22 Sep 2015, 07:41

Don't take it too heart. Feeling disappointed is but natural. But think about your forgotten successes at this point. They give strength and prepare you to try harder for the next time as per my experience.

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 22 Sep 2015, 09:06

Divya agarwal wrote:Don't take it too heart. Feeling disappointed is but natural. But think about your forgotten successes at this point. They give strength and prepare you to try harder for the next time as per my experience.

I wish I had some of those. Hahahaha

Lee Stone · Post by **Lee Stone** » 22 Sep 2015, 11:32

I have never submitted a book to an agent/publisher, but I do know they reject the vast majority (as in almost all) the inquiries/submissions they receive. Luckily, we live in the modern era of self-publishing. Such works are capturing a larger share of the market with each passing month.

Amazon makes self-publishing easy. Give away hundreds or thousands of downloads of your work and get a measure of what readers really think of your work!

Carole-Candice · Post by **Carole-Candice** » 23 Sep 2015, 10:41

Don't dwell too much on the already closed door. look at the other door of opportunity that is being opened up for you. maybe thats not your best, you can do better. the rejection should not weigh you down but rather act as a motivation to work an extra inch.

Lee Stone · Post by **Lee Stone** » 23 Sep 2015, 10:57

Staying on the bright side, how many professionally-published books have you read that left you wondering why in the world they were ever selected?

CCtheBrave · Post by **CCtheBrave** » 23 Sep 2015, 15:45

I try not to give myself a hard time as long as my ratio for published work to rejections is 1:10 (i'm talking poetry, short stories, articles, etc, not full-length books!). I know that seems incredibly low, but it's a much more realistic number for me, and if I get a few more published out of those ten, i am elated!

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 25 Sep 2015, 23:59

I remind myself that most agents/publishers are looking for stuff that fits into their very limited notion of what will sell. It doesn't mean that my writing's bad. It's just not what they're looking for.

Sorry that you got rejected!! They don't know good writing. As for the emotional aspect, I totally agree with the ice cream idea. I'm thinking... it needs to have Reece's peanut butter cups in it. Otherwise, you're still gonna be depressed.

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 28 Sep 2015, 18:16

zeldas_lullaby wrote:I remind myself that most agents/publishers are looking for stuff that fits into their very limited notion of what will sell. It doesn't mean that my writing's bad. It's just not what they're looking for.

Sorry that you got rejected!! They don't know good writing. As for the emotional aspect, I totally agree with the ice cream idea. I'm thinking... it needs to have Reece's peanut butter cups in it. Otherwise, you're still gonna be depressed.

Bah, I don't like peanut butter! Maybe that's why my life is so depressing!

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 28 Sep 2015, 19:04

That could be it! OMG!

Well, I don't normally call in the big guns, but you may need a total sundae: pink, cotton candy ice cream; rainbow sprinkes; and strawberry sauce. And a cherry.

We have to get by somehow.