In fact, I recently read that we should appreciate and maybe even celebrate rejection. Why is that? Well, as a writer we need to put ourselves "out there" through submitting. So...the feeling is that if we are truly doing our jobs, we will be submitting and getting rejected. Therefore, rejection is a kind of badge of honor or sign that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.
But no matter how you spin it, rejection stings.
I am not one to submit to twenty agents or editors all at once. I am pretty picky. Afterall, if I really want to form a relationship with said agent or editor, I should do my research and be selective as to who I query. But it does lead to an even bigger sting when your net is not cast that widely. This was the case back in early March when I received not one, but TWO rejections in a matter of an hour. Ouch! My reaction? I immediately walked to the nearest chocolate.
I have come up with my own way of making rejection taste sweeter, and I would like to share my strategy with you. It's called...REJECTION CHOCOLATE!
1) Get a jar with a lid and fill it with your absolutely favorite chocolate or candy of choice. Mine is filled with Cadbury Mini Eggs...which are not easy to find now that Easter is over.
2) Place the jar near your work area to serve as motivation.
3) Start submitting your work to your dream agents or editors. Do your job!
4) Don't touch candy.
If you get a rejection, AND ONLY IF YOU GET A REJECTION,
5) you get to open the jar and eat a few pieces!!! You deserve it. You are a real writer.
6) If you get so many rejections that you empty the jar, celebrate and refill jar.
If you get an acceptance,
7) Chocolate serves as a Celebration Chocolate! (choose candy wisely, so that it tastes good with champagne, too).
So what are you waiting for? Fill a jar, get writing and submitting and next time you pop that jar you will have something to celebrate!
We all need that rejection chocolate, Marcie. I've been collecting pb rejections for 7 years now! So close rejections. We love it, but no rejections. They all hurt and none of them help to pay the bills. Give me some of that chocolate. :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, my friend. You. Are. Awesome. And quite the genius, too! Love this idea, and hope that those little chocolate covered eggs serve as a HUGE celebratory dish!!
ReplyDeleteLove you, girlie!
Ahhhh, my friend. You. Are. Awesome. And quite the genius, too! Love this idea, and hope that those little chocolate covered eggs serve as a HUGE celebratory dish!!
ReplyDeleteLove you, girlie!
Ahhhhhh. I need a really big jar to catch up on 13 years worth of rejections. Haha.
ReplyDeleteLove the motivation. :)
Ahhhhhh. I need a really big jar to catch up on 13 years worth of rejections. Haha.
ReplyDeleteLove the motivation. :)
Now that's food for thought! ;0)
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. Now must go find some M&Ms....
ReplyDeleteMmmmm. What a sweet idea. :)
ReplyDeleteLove your rejection chocolate idea! Mine are Hershey Kisses and M&M's!
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea, Marcie!! It's a dieting author's dream!!
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna need one of those full to the brim with laffy taffys (minus the banana flavored ones)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Marcie, but I'm in cadbury mini eggs withdrawal, so you shouldn't go around advertising the treasure yer hiding!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the two rejections in one hour :( What a neat idea about the rejection chocolates, though!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea I'd been eating rejection chocolate all this time...
ReplyDeleteAt a recent conference, one writer (or agent) said rejections show you are serious, because you are submitting and you are working. Still struggling to fit this piece into my writing puzzle. Good luck finding those eggs!
ReplyDeleteBRILLIANT! A win-win in a sea of losses.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we seasoned professionals all know that repeated rejections induce an odd state of euphoria and indifference. But one must ratchet up the rejections before reaching this nirvana-like state. The road to which is paved with chocolate.
This is a great idea! Helps take the sting away. I might have to do something like this... Right now I do keep every rejection letter I get, personal or not, as a reminder that I tried in the first place!
ReplyDelete