The Key to Your Success Is Rejection

Earlier this week, I featured a Q&A in my newsletter with linguist and author, Linda Murphy Marshall. Something she said stood out to me:

“I know a number of very talented writers who might send out an essay or story or two, but then give up when one, two, or three publishers/agents reject them, claiming that they—the talented writer in question—just can’t do it, can’t face the rejections. But I know from personal, painful experience that that’s not how to last in this profession.”

Linda went on to reveal how much rejection she’s faced as a writer—and continues to face. And yet she’s had thirty pieces published! From where I sit, that looks like success to me. But Linda’s point is that to get there, she had to endure almost constant rejection.

How does this sit with you? Are you ready to face the many, many nos or outright silences? Are you prepared for the impolite and downright rude responses? Writing can be such personal work and when our work is rejected, it can feel like a dismissal of our very selves. (And especially if we came up in an environment where our writing was praised by friends, family, and teachers. Ahem.)

I hope you will take this as encouragement: to get to the yeses, you have to receive a lot of nos. Your rejections are proof that you are out there, doing the work. And rejections put you squarely in the company with all the other writers out there doing the work.

Welcome. Keep at it.

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