27
Hit 50 short story rejections last Tuesday, and it actually helped me
I'm not a young guy, been writing on the side for about 6 years now. Last Tuesday I got my 50th rejection for short stories I sent out to various magazines and contests. At first I felt pretty down, but then I looked back at my first 10 rejections versus my last 10. The feedback got way more specific and encouraging as I improved. That number made me realize I'm actually getting better, even if nobody is buying yet. Anybody else keep track of their rejection count and notice a shift in the quality of feedback?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
faithwalker15d ago
@gibson.elizabeth those numbers really put things in perspective, I used to be a lot more negative about rejection too.
5
gibson.elizabeth15d ago
50 rejections in 6 years...
3
honestly i gotta push back on this idea that rejection is some kind of badge of honor. the whole "never give up" mindset is great and all but at a certain point you gotta look in the mirror and ask if the problem is you not the world. if you're getting 50 no's over 6 years that's not bad luck, that's a pattern you're not seeing. maybe your work just isn't good enough or you're pitching to the wrong people. sometimes giving up and trying something totally different is the smart move, not stubbornly banging your head against the same wall. practical people adapt, they don't just collect rejections like trophies.
1