How can a writer deal with rejection?

By Nava Atlas | On | Comments (2)

Dear Literary Ladies,
I know that rejection is part of a writer’s life, but every time one submits something that gets turned down, it’s hard not to feel crushed. How did you learn to cope with it, and not take it personally?

After leaving Prince of Wales College I taught school for a year in Bideford, Prince Edward Island. I wrote a good deal and learned a good deal, but my stuff came back except from two periodicals the editors of which evidently thought that literature was its own reward, and quite independent of monetary considerations. I often wonder that I did not give up in utter discouragement.

At first I used to feel dreadfully hurt when a story or poem over which I had laboured and agonized came back, with one of those icy little rejection slips. Tears of disappointment would come in spite of myself, as I crept away to hide the poor, crimpled manuscript in the depths of my trunk.

But after a while I got hardened to it and did not mind. I only set my teeth and said, “I will succeed.” I believed in myself and I struggled on alone, in secrecy and silence. I never told my ambitions and efforts and failures to any one. Down, deep down, under all discouragements and rebuff I knew I would “arrive” some day.

—L.M. Montgomery, The Alpine Path, 1917

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2 Responses to “How can a writer deal with rejection?”

1. So great to see you here, Colleen! Thanks for your comment …

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2. Thanks for this wonderful story about handling rejection and about persevering and belief in our stories and our point of view…it came a the perfect time for me…I was feeling discouraged but now will keep at it…

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