Summary

The web content provides guidance and encouragement to writers facing rejection, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and the reality that even famous authors have experienced numerous rejections before achieving success.

Abstract

The article titled "The Writer’s Guide to Getting Rejected 100 Times" offers valuable advice to writers who are struggling with repeated rejections of their work. It acknowledges the frustration that comes with rejection but stresses the need to continue writing and improving. The piece highlights famous authors like Jack Canfield, James Patterson, Stephen King, John Grisham, and J.K. Rowling, who faced extensive rejections before their eventual success. It encourages writers to remember their passion and initial reasons for starting, to learn from rejections as they would from any other setback in life, and to keep submitting their work to different publishers. The article also suggests that rejections can be seen as opportunities to grow and that the writing journey involves continuous learning and adaptation to the evolving landscape of publishing and audience preferences.

Opinions

Rejection is a common and almost inevitable part of a writer's journey, but it should not deter one from pursuing their passion for writing.
Persistence and resilience are key traits for a writer, as success often comes after numerous attempts and improvements.
The experience of rejection can provide valuable lessons and opportunities for growth, much like learning to ride a bicycle or drive a car.
The article suggests that writers should not limit themselves to a single publisher and should be open to finding alternative publishing avenues.
It posits that even the most successful writers continue to face rejection and must adapt to changes in the publishing industry and reader expectations.
The piece encourages writers to focus on their love for writing rather than solely on financial gain, suggesting that writing for enjoyment can lead to better content and eventual monetary success.
The author of the article believes that writing is both an art and a science, requiring a blend of creativity and technique to create a masterpiece.

The Writer’s Guide to Getting Rejected 100 Times

Valuable tips you need to know

So, you just received another rejection email. It wasn’t the first time, but you’ve received several rejections on your articles by now. As a writer, this is very frustrating because you thought this was one of the best articles you have written.

In your mind, you curse the publisher. They don’t know what they’re thinking.

Many of us have been there before, but you can’t let this get to you. You have to keep going and keep writing. Eventually, someone will publish your article.

Writing is an art as well as a science. Your job is to find the two to create your masterpiece. You’re not the first one to go down this road and you won’t be the last.

These Famous Writers Were Rejected

Several writers that you’ve heard of, and possibly read their books, were rejected. You may be surprised at the number of times they were rejected. So don’t let one of two rejections get you down.

Jack Canfield was rejected 144 times before the successful “Chicken Soup for the Soul” was published. The book sold over 134 million copies and the book became a New York Times Best Seller.

James Patterson was rejected 31 times before “The Thomas Berryman Number” was published. This was the first book in his Alex Cross series.

Stephen King was rejected 30 times before “Carrie” was published. This was the biggest turning point for King.

John Grisham was rejected 28 times before “A Time to Kill” was published. Grisham wrote several more best selling books and some became movies, including “A Time to Kill”.

J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times before the first “Harry Potter” book was published. Since then she has won numerous awards, her books were made into movies and she made the billionaire list.

Looking at these writers and their rejections, it makes you think that one or two rejections weren’t that bad. It could have been worse, much worse.

Remember Why You Started

If your goal is to make a full-time income from writing, you need to remember that. No one said this would be easy. There will be some lessons you’ll learn along the way. More than likely you have many more lessons to learn.

Just as you learned to ride a bicycle, drive a car, or use a computer, each one took time to learn what to do. Most likely, you weren’t an expert after the first day. You had many more lessons, setbacks, and failures.

Did you give up? No. You kept going until you got better.

The same thing happens as a writer. You want to get better and can’t let the rejections ruin your day.

Shake it off. Step away from the screen. Get some fresh air. Take a walk.

When you’re ready, get back to writing. You owe this to yourself and your audience.

Don’t Let Two or Three Rejections Get You Down

After a while, you may run into a string of rejection letters. It’s not a great feeling at all. You have to get rid of that thought and keep writing.

Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna from Pexels

Just as you didn’t give up after you fell off your bicycle, you got back up and tried again and again until you mastered it.

You have to remember how much you wanted to ride that bicycle. You need to get back that desire to ride the bicycle and replace it with writing.

This very same desire is the same process you need to write your article to get published. You’ll receive rejection after rejection even though you think you’ve mastered writing but the path you’re on has changed a little. You have to find the right path to get your article published.

After you do that, you need to work on your next article which will be on a different path once again. The road continues to change as it does when you ride a bike. The path continues to change and as a writer, you have to change with it.

If you fail to change with the new roads you’ll encounter, you’ll get frustrated and seriously want to give up. You’ll want to quit.

Inside of you is a writer who wants to do the best and be one of the best. You have to keep writing and submit your article to the publisher.

There Is More Than One Publisher

The publisher you’re working with keeps rejecting your article. You can’t figure it out and think the publisher really hates your work now. They see the similar type of articles you’re submitting.

When this happens, you need to find another publisher. There are other publishers out there. The other publishers will more than likely publish your work.

Don’t think you have to submit your work to the same publisher every single time. Working with another publisher will also get your article in front of other readers who may not even know you.

In this case, the publisher who rejected you is actually doing you a favor. You should send them a thank you note next time they reject you. Maybe you could send them flowers or a bottle of wine.

Even the Best Writers Get Rejected

Whether you are a new writer or an experienced writer with years of experience, you can still get the dreaded rejection email. If you’re getting rejection emails now, don’t worry. It will still happen to you, years in the future.

You may think your writing will get better and you have figured it all out, but there will be new roads you’ll encounter as a writer. There will be new publishers. The requirements will change. Your audience will evolve as well.

You as a writer need to keep evolving as well. You need to continue honing your craft. Maybe you need to enroll in a writing class. You might have written hundreds of articles, but you still need to stay up to date.

Your Way Ahead

Don’t let the rejections get you down. Keep writing. Be patient. Stay focused and write your next masterpiece. There are worse things that could happen.

Writing can be as easy or as hard as you make it. You have to write because you love the game of writing itself.

If your goal is to make money, the money will come. But first, you have to learn to write to your audience. Your audience will then pay your bills.

No one ever said writing was easy. You’re probably having a better time writing on topics you like, instead of writing for a grade in school. The best part is you’re not getting graded on your grammar. At least I hope you don’t.