Rejection. As a person exerting effort to achieve anything and certainly as an artist, we have all experienced it and I think it’s safe to say that it never feels cozy. Instead of making it mean what I used to though, I now welcome it and here’s why: it means I’m trying and that people are acknowledging as much and it feels more like validation than a sharp stick in the eye.

Lately I’ve been sending out submissions to literary magazines and although I’ve gotten some glorious yeses, at least 3 times a week I get a form letter telling me that though they enjoyed reading my piece it isn’t for them and all that means is is that I’m in the club. The ‘write, submit, get rejected or accepted and repeat club’ and I love it here! It’s better than the ‘trying to get by doing something I don’t give a rat’s ass about club’ or the ‘dreaming of doing something but too scared to try club’.

I feel confident about my work and its not resonating with someone or even them thinking it’s absolute garbage, only means we’re going to have to agree to disagree.

I’ve been told no in every form. Dumped, fired, ghosted—you name it and I’ve gotten to the honest-to-God point of, “Oh, well, their loss”, and I never would have gotten here without all the rejection.

If it takes 100 nos to get a yes then blaze through those first 99 as fast as you can. Not only do you get your yes, the contrast of all those rejections heightens the joy.