Okay so I figured today I’d tackle the subject of rejection! And for all you singles out there, I’m not talking about dating (LOL—sorry, maybe that can be a future post). This is for you writers.
Over the last couple of months we’ve talked a little bit about it in my crit group. As writers we all know about rejections on some level or another. Whether it’s on query letters or partial/full requests, we’ve all been there.
I like to look at rejections as one step in a long journey. They’re necessary to get us where we’re going. Sometimes we’re sending stuff before it’s ready, so it’s a flag that we need to buckle down harder. If we’re garnering the requests, then getting rejected, it means hey I’m on the right track, but there’s just a little something missing here. And other times, it can mean getting some feedback to help push us in the right direction.
The thing is, without rejection we wouldn’t necessarily be as appreciative of the journey itself. Because let’s face it, the harder we have to work for something, the more it means to us. As writers it’s tough to put ourselves out there, to feel the pain of rejection when someone passes on our work. But if we didn’t take that chance, then we’d never know. It is through the rejection phase that we really learn how to be good writers.
That being said, I don’t know too many of us who really “appreciate” the rejection (LOL). But if you’re wondering what to do with some of your rejection letters, I’ve compiled a list of wonderful uses (this is subject to how many you’ve stockpiled, so I can’t be held accountable if you’re not able to do some of these things—LOL).
10) Rejection letters make great kindling for fires
9) Rejection letters can be used to build a fort for your kids (although it might not be real stable unless you use duct tape wood to help hold it up).
8) Rejection letters make great paper airplanes, however I don’t recommend trying to make them out of the cardboard postcard rejections—they don’t fly as well.
7) Rejection letters are great for dabbing lipstick from your lips
6) Rejection letters also make great scrap paper! Just cut ‘em up and use them to jot down phone messages!
5) Rejection letters can be used in case you run out of toilet paper (although I wouldn’t recommend this too heavily due to paper cuts and all).
4) Rejection letters act as great coasters for your tables and furniture. No more messy glass rings on the wood!
3) Rejection letters also make great wrapping paper. Come on, what kid doesn’t want their birthday present wrapped in a “I’m sorry to say this isn’t right for me” rejection letter…
2) Rejection letters make excellent dart boards. You should try and see if you can land it in your own signature block—loads of fun!
1) And number 1. Use your rejections as keepsakes. No really. That way one day you can look back and say HA—Take that world I MADE it!!!!
Rebekah L. Purdy's Blog 
LOL. LOVE the list. So true.
This list is great! Ha,ha. Ten and One are my faves!
Vanessa and Kelbian,
Thanks for reading ladies! It’s kind of fun to joke about rejections some, it helps take the sting out a bit (smiles). But hey, might as well do something creative eh?
Thanks again for commenting!
lol. Especially the toilet paper and gift wrap. “R’s” are a nature of the beast I like to call the writing industry. You’ve got to develop thick skin.
Rachel,
I thought you might appreciate those two (LOL). Yeah, I definitely agree that when querying one definitely leads tough skin. It is a business and we have to remember that!
Thanks for dropping by!
I like number 3, Rebekah. My kids would be on the floor over that one. lol. But number 1 would be great too!! Having just come off a rejection for a full, I try and handle each return query with hope as well as fear. It’s difficult to balance that hope more than the other but I’m trying. To all of you out there in the same boat, don’t get out, we’re not sunk yet and won’t it be amazing someday when we reach the shoreline of published?