Freelance Writing

Coping with Rejection

As a freelance writer, it's inevitable that at one point (or several!) we'll be faced with rejection. Whether it's already happened or will happen in the future, rejection can be scary, humiliating, and upsetting all at the same time. There are many things writers do when faced with rejection, but the following are what I've found to be the most efficient methods of getting over it and moving on with my life and my career.

Get angry. Yes, this may seem counterproductive, but it's actually unhealthy to repress emotions. Granted, you don't want to go crazy and start throwing knives at your kitchen walls, but feel free to let out a scream, punch a few pillows and vent to a close friend. In doing so, you're letting go of what's holding you back from pushing forward with your work, regardless of the rejection looming over your head.

Keep writing! You know that old saying, "If you fall off a horse, get back on and try again?" It's the same idea with writing. Just because you've received one rejection slip (or even several) doesn't mean you throw in the towel. If you're serious about your craft, you'll keep at it. At the very least, your drive and determination will push you to show those editors what you're really made of.

Whatever you do, don't send in poorly written work to any publication that comes your way. You want to show the people at the top that you know what you're doing and have the talent to prove it. While it may be a bit of an ego-soother to send in work on a ferocious basis, it's detrimental to your recovery and can actually hinder your climb up the career ladder.

Eventually, you'll get over that slip of paper that you thought spelled the end of your career. You'll get over it, move on and continue writing as if nothing had happened. Because in reality, nothing really did. So what if an editor didn't like your work? You'll work twice as hard to impress the pants off them the next time around. So what are you waiting for? Get writing!

posted by Denise @ 9:28 PM