Writers get rejections. It's inevitable and what you do after receiving these disheartening emails often decides whether you can make a living as a writer or not.What do working writers do? They cowboy/girl up and get creative.
Because we have bills to pay.
You probably do too, so take a look at the rejection and decide if the piece is salvageable. Give it an honest once over and decide if it is publishable. Is it out of date? Have too many errors? Need fixed?
Is it worth fixing?
Yes? Then look for other--preferably paying--avenues of publication. Find websites, blogs, trade magazines, newspapers, contests, etc that accept that type of content and send it off
again.
Don't be restricted by whatever medium is most familiar to you. Explore new territory and take different trails.
Let editors know you are submitting to more than one place, unless publication guidelines forbid it. Weigh the pros and cons of choosing just that publication and decide if it's worth it to you to wait.
Make note of each place you send it off to, when to follow back up and get back on the writing horse. Very few full-time freelancers can afford to waste time between submitted articles or other writing waiting on an answer.
Not only does this keep you productive, but it also removes you enough from submissions to look at each one more objectively when a rejection lands in your inbox. Use that perspective to fix the piece and find it a better home.
'C' posts from other A to Z Challengers:
Cantankerous Cranky Pants
Crockery, Casseroles and Cookbooks...A to Z through our kitchen
Is Cinnamon a Health Food?
Credit Union vs Bank
c is for child
Photo credit: Keith Stevens/Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
Rejections are tough, but I use them to come back even stronger. I learn from my mistakes, rewrite, and move on better than ever!
ReplyDeleteExcellent attitude to have, Amanda!
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