How To Handle Rejection as a Writer

By Morgan Mitchell

There’s a dirty word in the writing world: rejection.

Sooner or later it happens to all of us. We work hard on an article, poem, story, or devotional, taking time to choose the right words and polish it until it shines. We submit it and check our email every day for a response.

Then one day we receive an email from the editor. Eagerly we click on it and it runs along these lines:

We’ve read your submission and we regret to say we’ve decided not to accept it at this time.

Bummer!

When our writing is rejected, we can be tempted to mope around and dwell on it. But we don’t have to let rejection get us down! In the time of my short writing career, some of my articles have been rejected. Over time I've learned how to handle rejection and even use it to my advantage. Here are some of the ways I cope with it.

Tell A Trusted Friend

Maybe the last thing you want to do is talk about your rejected writing. But it helps to share it with somebody. You don’t need to go on and on about it, but it’s good to get it off your chest. Introverts, I know this can be hard, but an introvert is sharing this tip, so take it for what it’s worth. ( :

Be careful about who you tell though. Not everyone will see why your writing being rejected is such a big deal. Choose another writer, a friend who believes in your writing, or a family member who supports you to be your confidant. I usually tell my mom and sister; they’re great at showing sympathy, but cheer me on at the same time.

Wait Before You Start Rewriting

When my writing gets rejected, I immediately want to pull up the file and start rewriting. Maybe you’re like that too. That’s not the best response though, because at the moment you’re emotional and aren’t ready to approach your work rationally.

Give yourself time to simmer down. Work on a fun writing project or take a break from writing. Maybe start on a new story or brainstorm an article. Basically, the point is to put distance between yourself and your rejected piece.

Then go back and read through it carefully. Try to look at it impartially, as if you found it on some random website. Note down any faults you see or anything you think can be better. If the editor included any advice about how to make it better, seriously consider it as you begin to rework your writing.

Make sure you have a copy of the original. As you rewrite and delete, you’ll want what you first said in case you don’t like what you’re writing. You don’t want to delete anything that adds to your work! Parts of your original might sound better in your rewrite and you’ll want it as you’re editing.

Don’t Trash It

Don’t give up on your work. Just because it needs some improvement doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Sometimes it just takes a little polishing for it to shine - and get published, which is what we really want.

Get a second opinion from another writer or critic. Say, “This got rejected and the editor said X. Can you tell me if you see anything else?” They will have a different perspective and might be able to point you in the right direction.

After you polish up the piece, consider resending it to the place that rejected it. That may seem useless; after all, they rejected it once. Why would they take it now? Well, there’s no harm trying; maybe the reworking will do the trick. You might want to consider asking someone to read it over once more before you send it out though, just to make sure there’s nothing else that’ll make it better.

Many best-selling books were rejected numerous times before they were published. Madeleine L’Engle sent in A Wrinkle in Time twenty-six times before it was accepted. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell was rejected thirty-eight times. Chicken Soup for the Soul received a whopping 144 rejections before becoming the first in a book series (there are over one hundred books now!) and a #1 New York Times bestseller.

Don’t be discouraged; these authors persisted and reaped the rewards for their labors. Who knows? Maybe you’ll one day join their ranks if you press on and keep going.

Don’t let the experience scar you. Yeah, it knocked you down, but don’t let it keep you down. Stand up, dust yourself off, and try again. Maybe while you’re reworking your original piece, you could try writing something else and submit it somewhere. Don’t let the rejection stop you from moving ahead in your writing journey.

View Rejection as an Opportunity

This point might seem weird. Rejection seems more like a lost opportunity rather than a good thing. Really, though, it’s a chance to grow as a writer. Think of it as a kind of test. The million-dollar question is: “Will you continue to write, despite this rejection?”

Gradually I’ve come to understand I don’t always have what it takes. Sometimes my skill set meets the requirements of a publication. Other times, not so much. But now’s my chance to learn and improve and climb a step higher on the mountain of writing.

Now, I know saying that is easy, and doing it isn’t.

But rejection serves to make us better writers - if we let it.

Rejection can motivate us to improve our skills. It makes us take a step back and ask, “What could I have done better?” If you have a hard time figuring it out, there are many articles out there that list reasons editors reject submissions. A quick internet search will put you on the right track.

One Day Acceptance Will Replace Rejection

As much as I would like to fantasize and say rejection won’t happen to you, I can’t. That would be a lie. But I can say editors won’t always reply to your submission with a rejection email. If you continue to write and perfect your skills, one day you’ll have the satisfaction of seeing your work published.

What do you do when your writing gets rejected?