Writing Tips...

The Glory Of Rejection ©
by Linda Broday

You may all think I’ve lost what little mind I have left when I say there’s a positive force in rejection. But despite any truth to the insanity theory, I didn’t just fall off the turnip wagon.

Several in our humble group have received the sting that a hated rejection letter can bring. It’s a hot topic among us. I know firsthand how difficult those are and worse, learning how to get past the heartbreak to keep writing and sending out. It is very hard and takes a lot of willpower.

I have some thoughts to share on the subject. They came after reading a very special book called “The Bodacious Book of Succulence” by a woman named Sark, which stands for Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy. My perspective changed dramatically. She says succulence is a process of discovery and being alive in every possible way. And we should think of our books as a big letter to the world. If you truly wish to be published, ask yourself what you’d like more than anything your letter to say.

Bodacious means bold and remarkable. Dare to keep sharing the special gift God graciously gave you. Dare to be bold and refuse to give in to what we perceive is negative hurt.

Stick your chin in air and dare anyone to yank away the coveted brass ring!

I’m not saying it’s easy. Sometimes it takes a tremendous amount of courage. Susan once received a rejection letter taped to the OUTSIDE of the envelope where the whole world could read it. Talk about mortification! Yet, she didn’t slink back into her complacent, uninspiring shell. That editor’s rude act made her more determined to show everyone she did have talent and tenacious drive. And those hated kicks in the teeth should motivate us as well.

A familiar saying from other authors kept her going – that if you’re not getting rejected, you’re not reaching far enough. One of her friends asked, “Why are you measuring how you feel by what you think you’re not getting?” Block out those hurts and get on with writing bigger and better stories. Push the boundaries of your creativity. We need to concentrate on doing creative work for the inside of ourselves, what makes our spirits complete in a free, unencumbered way, instead of focusing on the reaction of the outside world which sometimes has the good sense God gave a rock.

I’m reminded of Christopher Vogler’s THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. The hero (or writer in this instance) leaves the ordinary world to begin a journey. Once on the quest we enter a special place full of challenge, excitement, and peril. Pitfalls come one after another to try us. We get bloodied up and battered, may even taste death, yet we ultimately discover the secret, hidden door and get the prize.

To quit when we stumble on the rocky ground causes us to lose self-respect. It plain makes us feel a crummy, god-awful failure. Power comes from perseverance.

We write for personal fulfillment (or at least we should) so it doesn’t compute why we should let rejection destroy the creativity that brings contentment and joy. I agree it’s much more pleasant to get only acceptance and praise, yet if that happened we would lose the growth we need as writers because there’d be no need to examine the shadows and darkness that lurks inside each of us. We’d become clones of a perfect world rather than the fantastic writer who is unique, adventurous, and free. Learn to allow yourself to experience the entire scope of emotion, the good and bad, the ups and downs, not just what you pick and choose to feel. Besides, isn’t that where we get the material in our stories? The conflicts we give our characters? Life is not always filled with roses and sunshine. No one promised that when we drew our first tiny breaths. Believe me, you wouldn’t want it. How boring to have everything handed on a silver platter? Determine to be all you can be and don’t listen to those who would delight in pushing you back into obscurity.

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you truly want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across your doorsill,
Where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.”

~ RUMI

Find the truths inside yourselves. Be bold, daring, truly alive in every way. Don’t let a bruised ego keep you from fulfilling those dreams that yearn to blossom into reality. Write that big letter to the world . . . or begin with a small one. Success comes from trying, which in turn develops into amazing accomplishments.

Keep writing.
Keep sending those suckers out.
Keep the fire in your gut burning!

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