Women and Adversity: Rejection

Ruins at Delos, Greece

Rejection sucks.

Having editors and agents reject queries and stories is a particular disadvantage to being a writer, especially being a freelance writer.

I’ve worked in the industry for decades and have more than a thousand articles published, but I continue to get rejections.

The silver lining for me is that the most recent rejections I received included suggestions on ways to improve what I had submitted.

I sent the agents a simple “thank you” without defending myself. What would be the point?

I gained insight into my work from their comments.

What have I learned?

• Take to heart what they said.
• Continue writing.
• Submit to more agents and editors.
• Believe that my work——and yours, dear reader——will be published.

I often feel what Van Gogh must have felt when his work wasn’t accepted.

I hope.

I dream.

I write.

It’s worth my time.