The WM Freelance Writers Connection

By Angela Atkinson

I'm not being negative here folks, but the fact is--professional writing and rejection go hand and hand. Of course there are a few super-writers who publish their first novel by the age of 8 and never receive a rejection, ever ever.

However, such writers are the exception more than the rule, so the rest of us need to be prepared for at least an occasional rejection. So how does one cope?

Don't Take It Personally

It's much easier said than done, but there it is. Just realize that the editor is NOT trying to hurt your feelings or tell you that you're bad--she's just doing her job. So, if an editor wants revisions, make them and thank her for the opportunity to make the corrections. If you feel strongly that her recommendations are wrong and you're not willing to make the changes, maybe it's time to send the piece to a different publisher.

On the other hand, if an editor rejects you completely, take it for what it is: your piece wasn't right for the publication for one reason or another. Move forward. If the editor offers you any personal comments (even a scribbled one at the bottom of a form letter), read it carefully and absorb it. It may just be what you need to get published next time.

Handle It Gracefully

In fact, says writing blogger Damien Kane, "As a writer, you will get hit, as sure as you will get wet in the rain. A writer who receives criticism with a rejection slip is lucky. In my personal experience, there are three levels of rejection with the fourth being the acceptance: