by Meg Dowell
Your time will come.
Between graduating college (May 2014) and starting my first ‘real’ writing job (March 2017), I got rejected … by many, many people.
For many, many things. Especially writing jobs.
Because it’s not formal education that qualifies you to write. It’s part of it, but often a very small part. What matters more is experience … and writing samples.
And when you don’t have either of those things … well, how are you supposed to get them?
(Hint: writing for free sucks, but it works.)
Rejection is awful. I know. Rejection after rejection after rejection can make you feel like it’s not even worth trying anymore.
Do you want to hear something important?
Rejection won’t ever stop.
But at some point, your successes will overshadow your shortcomings. Every single one of them.
I know that’s hard to believe. I mean, you worked for (days? weeks?) on that article and pitch email. And you still didn’t get picked.
Always remember one thing: sometimes, it’s not you. It’s them.
You might be a great writer. Or you’re not the best (yet), but you show great potential. It’s just that editors are looking for very specific things. If you’re not the best candidate to be able to deliver that thing, they’re just not going to pick you.
“No” does not mean “never.”
Someone, someday, will choose you. You’ll find each other at just the right time, probably by accident. Their current needs will fit your skills like puzzle pieces. You’ll answer every “have you done this before” question with “yes.” You’ll pass every test, impress every evaluator, you’ll do everything right. And they’ll say, “Okay. Come write for us. We want you.”
It might take weeks. Months. Years.
But in some capacity, it will happen.
That is, as long as you don’t give up hope. As long as you keep working as hard as you can. And on top of all that, you have to keep believing you’ll eventually get where you want to be. Because just as much as hope alone won’t get you a writing job, working without passion won’t help you reach any of your writing goals at all. You’ll just get frustrated. You won’t want to do it anymore.
Rejection is not a reason to quit. It’s a chance to improve or change direction. Or both. If you want to 100 percent guarantee that you’ll never get published, stop trying.
Your writing fits somewhere. Everyone has a place where they belong. If you haven’t found yours yet, keep looking. It’s out there.
(And if it’s not … create it yourself.)
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a freelance writer and a nine-time NaNoWriMo winner with work published in Teen Ink, Success Story, Lifehack and USA TODAY College. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Jeannie Intrieri and commented:
I love this advice so hard ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the reblog Jeannie!
LikeLike
So well said! Good for you! To,your success!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well fancy meeting you here, Jena!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy and commented:
😊 There is a glimmer of hope in the darkness. I will be a writer. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do since I was two. 👩🏽💻
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the reblog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. This was inspirational. So I tweeted this, too. 😊
LikeLike
That’s awesome. Thank you. You rock.
LikeLike
If you want it to happen you’ll find a way to make it happen! Keep going! So awesome for you to share something that inspired you too 🙂
LikeLike
Very encouraging and inspirational! Great post, thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome 🙂 Best of luck to you in all the things!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, and you too!
LikeLike
Way to go Meg! It looks like you’ve already got a bunch of successes under your writing belt!
Thanks so much for visiting me at thewritesteph!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Working on it 🙂 Good luck to you in all your writing things too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great encouragement; thanks so much for this post!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
This is so inspiring!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad it helped you 🙂 Hope all the writing things are going well for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This advice is what I needed to hear thank you bunches!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad these words found you then 🙂 Best of luck to you in all your writing endeavors.
LikeLike
I really needed to hear this. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome! Glad it could be a help to you.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Mandibelle16 and commented:
Such great advice “Everyone has a place in writing” you just have to keep looking and trying to find yours! Rejections are not personal so keep writing, and keep trying!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the reblog Mandi!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome!
LikeLike
Thanks for this post, great encouraging post!
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 Glad I could encourage you today!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the phrase “no does not mean never” 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike