Why Being Rejected Means Nothing

Filed under Get Published.

To have your work rejected hurts! It bruises your ego and leaves you feeling deflated and down trodden – but in the long run rejection mean nothing.

You see, no matter how many times you are rejected, as long as you come back fighting, as long you ensure your pitch is top notch, as long as you are confident in your book – rejection mean zip, zero, zilch.

And the reason it means nothing?

Because no matter how many times you are rejected, you always need just ONE YES! 999 rejections mean nothing if the 1000 proposal results in a yes and a book deal.

So next time you are rejected, don’t see it as a reflection on your work, just see it as one rejection closer to publication.

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  • http://candyprison.blogspot.com FionaChan

    “So next time you are rejected, don’t see it as a reflection on your work, just see it as one rejection closer to publication.” I love this! Thank you!

    • garysmailes

      Books get rejected for many reasons – quality is just one of them. The problem is that we writers are a sensitive bunch and we often assume a rejection is an opinion on our ideas. However, it is equally likely that a book is slightly off genre or the agent or fails to meet a publisher’s future plans or…well I could go on.

  • Pingback: On rejection… « The Victory Stitch

  • http://candyprison.blogspot.com FionaChan

    “So next time you are rejected, don’t see it as a reflection on your work, just see it as one rejection closer to publication.” I love this! Thank you!

  • Anonymous

    So a bit like learning to walk, lots of bumps and bruises in the process, but at the end your up on your two feet. I hope you’re right Gary, I’ll take your advice because I like it and it suits me.

  • http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com Advnturs in Children’s Pblshng

    Great inspiration! As always, you bring the good stuff.

    Martina & Marissa (4kidlit)

  • garysmailes

    Books get rejected for many reasons – quality is just one of them. The problem is that we writers are a sensitive bunch and we often assume a rejection is an opinion on our ideas. However, it is equally likely that a book is slightly off genre or the agent or fails to meet a publisher's future plans or…well I could go on.

  • http://www.stopdoingdumbthingstocustomers.com/blog dougshaw

    …ermm, so it doesn’t mean nothing then eh? It means – one step closer to the goal. It means you had a go, which if you hadn’t would say what about you..? I think rejection is very important, if you’ve never been rejected, then I suggest you’ve never really tried hard enough.Cheers – Doug

    PS – for you – read…anybody :)

  • sarahcallejo

    So a bit like learning to walk, lots of bumps and bruises in the process, but at the end your up on your two feet. I hope you're right Gary, I'll take your advice because I like it and it suits me.

  • http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com Advnturs in Children's Pblshng

    Great inspiration! As always, you bring the good stuff.

    Martina & Marissa (4kidlit)

  • dougshaw

    …ermm, so it doesn't mean nothing then eh? It means – one step closer to the goal. It means you had a go, which if you hadn't would say what about you..? I think rejection is very important, if you've never been rejected, then I suggest you've never really tried hard enough.

    Cheers – Doug

    PS – for you – read…anybody :)