Hey!

Getting rejected is an unpleasant but absolutely necessary part of writing for those of us (like me) who want to have our words published by others. Rejection stings, but I promise it gets better the more you practice.

When I started trying to publish my fiction, the rejections were so demotivating. I didn't want rejection to be the end of my fiction attempts, though, so in 2021 I made it my New Year's Resolution to get 50 rejections. I reached my goal of 50 rejections, changed my mindset about rejections so they felt more like progress (especially as form rejections increasingly became personalized rejections), and scored my first two paid fiction publications that same year.

Now when I look back and read the stories I wrote years ago, I can see the improvement over time. Most of them I would never submit in their current state. But I had to write and submit and revise and submit again to get to where I am now. Rejection and I have a much more productive relationship these days.

I was reminded of this when I received a recent rejection for Clarion West, one of the most prestigious speculative fiction writing workshops in the world. I might apply again in the future, but for now I'm still glad I applied. Preparing the application helped me polish a few of my existing short stories and helped me reflect on why I write. I also learned that there are plenty of authors whom I love, like Erin Roberts, who were also rejected from Clarion West and have still had amazing careers. There are many paths to success and fulfillment in writing, and I won't regret putting myself out there, pushing my limits, and most of all finding joy in the journey.

Thanks for joining me!

Nicole

Disclaimer: The views expressed in my newsletter or on my website are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of State or the United States.