{"id":2281,"date":"2024-04-29T13:32:05","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T12:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novlr.org\/?p=2281"},"modified":"2024-06-14T16:45:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T15:45:21","slug":"how-to-get-over-rejection-a-writers-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/how-to-get-over-rejection-a-writers-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Over Rejection: A Writer’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learning how to get over rejection isn\u2019t easy, especially if you\u2019ve poured your heart and soul into your writing. You\u2019ve written an incredible story, a brilliant poem, or the next great novel. Finally, it\u2019s finished, and you\u2019re ready to share it with the world. You find the perfect journal, publisher, or agent you just know will publish or represent your work and send your submission out into the electronic ether. Then, you wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Waiting Game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When (and if) that response finally comes, your stomach knots with nerves. You can\u2019t tell what\u2019s inside yet, so you suck in your breath, your fingers tingling, and click it open. Everyone hopes to see the words \u201cCongratulations!\u201d emblazoned at the top, along with a message telling you how much they loved your writing and that they can\u2019t wait to publish your piece or represent you, but sadly, that\u2019s not always the reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes we do get acceptance messages\u2014that\u2019s what every writer dreams of after all\u2014at which point we can rightly celebrate. But the reality is, only a small percentage of submissions are accepted, so most often, what you\u2019ll receive in your inbox, is a rejection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does a rejection look like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rejections come in many forms, but most of them are formulaic and from my experience, will include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n