rejection

1. Remind yourself that your ability as a writer is not being rejected.

   It's just this particular story at this moment in time. Rejections can be so subjective beyond
   manuscript formatting. Maybe the editor has seen 6 cat stories come across her desk that day or
   maybe that editor doesn't like dragon stories?

   The important thing is not to take the rejection personally.

2. Give yourself time to deal with the rejection.

   Don't ever underestimate the importance of chocolate or ice cream!
   It's okay to sulk for a bit, but get the rejection out of your system as quickly as possible so you
   can go on with your writing/submitting.

3. If feedback was given, look at what the editor said and take a serious look at the problem.

   If you agree, rewrite the story accordingly.

   If you disagree, don't rewrite. Find out what another editor has to say before you do any rewriting
   (if you disagree).

   If the story isn't what the editor is looking for, take a serious look at why. Maybe you need to do
   more homework (i. e. study more issues of the magazine.) Try to learn from the rejection.

4. Remind yourself of past successes.

   If you've sold something, go back and look at that story in print or the contract.
   If you haven't sold anything yet, then look at the latest story you've finished (finishing a story is
   definitely a success story!)

5. Get that story back out in the mail!

   If the story's out there, there's always a chance for a sale, but not if the story's shoved away in a
   drawer somewhere.

6. Don't beat yourself up about the rejection.

   All writers get them and they aren't the end of the world (even though they sometimes feel like it).

7. Remind yourself that being a writer means committing yourself to the long haul (and that means plenty of rejections to pave the way).

   If you're feeling discouraged because all you've gotten are rejections, don't because those
   rejections are signs that you're working hard to sell something.

   It takes most new writers a while to break into the business, but if you keep at it, eventually you will
   sell something.

   Writing is 75% persistence, 20% patience, and 5% talent.

8. Don't give up on a story after 1 or 2 rejections.

   Submit that story until you run out of markets.

9. The best response to a rejection is another story.

   If you get a rejection from a market, send them another story. Many editors reward
   perseverance.

10. Don't get discouraged.

   The difference between the amateur and the professional writer is that the professional didn't quit.
   -- Richard Bach