How to Deal with Your First Rejection as a Writer
By: Jessica Holman
Tags: Publishing, How To, Writing Tips, Writer, Writing

Photo by Alessandro De Bellis on Unsplash

Whether you are a beginner writer or a seasoned one, we’ve all had to experience that first rejection. It sucks, but it’s good for you.

Reading the words “Though we appreciate the opportunity to read your work, we don’t feel it meets our current needs” wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

Honestly, it was expected but it still sucked.

When you hit submit that first time it would be nice if it was accepted but realistically, it probably won’t be. It may take several submissions before you get it published and that’s okay. Each rejection is another step towards publication.

Of course, you were hoping your story would have been accepted and you could kick off your writing career as soon as it started. You wanted to be one of the lucky people who were immediately successful and didn’t have to grind for weeks, months, or maybe even years. But, those people are the exception and you have to consider yourself as the rule.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some unicorns out there, but it’s not a healthy mindset to adapt as a writer. Never consider yourself the exception, it can lead you down a slippery slope.

You are going to screw up, make a ton of mistakes, and will have to learn the hard way. We all go through it and you are not alone.

The important thing is to deal with it in a positive manner. The failed writers only failed because they got discouraged and stopped writing. It wasn’t because of a lack of talent. There is plenty of not-so-amazing content that is popular and makes money. Why? Because those writers kept writing and found their audience. You have to do the same. While you are searching you are going to hit a few roadblocks along the way. Here is how you can handle your first of many rejections.

Accept the Rejection

Just like any form of grief, you’ve got to accept it to pull through it. No point in agonizing over it or blaming the publication for not understanding your story or article. At least they took the time to read it and discovered it wasn’t for them. Recognize that fact and move on. The quicker you accept that your story was rejected, the quicker you can get it back out there.

You are going to get a lot of rejections as a writer, it’s part of the job, might as well get used to it. The first one does sting a bit but you can either learn from it or let it control you or worse make you stop writing. Don’t do that, keep writing.

Revisit the Revision

There is nothing wrong with re-reading your story or article after a rejection and giving it another revision. Maybe you missed a few mistakes or come up with some better ideas to make it stronger. Or, it might only need a tweak here or there, you be the judge.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve written something, thought it was great, let it sit a while, went back, and found it wasn't so great. It happens, and rejection gives you the chance to correct those mistakes before they are published and unfixable.

But don’t dwell on revisions. This can lead you down a rabbit hole of never hitting the submit button. Some people are obsessed with perfection, while others are fine with mediocrity. I prefer to stay in the middle, which is doing my best while continuing to get better each time I write. Consistent improvement is better than striving for perfection. You can always improve but you will never be perfect.

Try Again

Sometimes, there is nothing wrong with your story but writing is subjective. What I think is great, you may think is garbage, same thing with publications. Your story could be amazing but for a different publication other than the one you originally sent it to. A rejection doesn’t mean your story or article sucked, it means it wasn’t a right fit for that specific publication.

I recommend sending it out as many times as it takes until it is accepted. As long as you are confident in your story then someone will be as well, you just have to find them. Rejections also give you a feel for the publication. Okay, this piece wasn’t for them but maybe they will let you submit a different piece.

Make sure to track your submissions. Some publications do not allow simultaneous submissions and not following the guidelines will only get you another rejection. If you are sending pieces out left and right, you are going to get them mixed up at some point. Use a program, excel, or your own system to keep track of all your stories.

Pay Attention to Submission Guidelines

It would be nice if every publication had the same submission guidelines, but they don’t. Some standards are similar but there are variations throughout the publishing world and you need to respect them.

It is vital you read and understand the submission guidelines. I will reread and double-check the guideline page before I hit submit. It’s tedious but necessary. If you don’t, they won’t even take the time to read your story or article. The rules are there for a reason, remember you are not the exception, so follow the rules.

Don’t Get Discouraged

It’s your first rejection but rest assured it won’t be your last. Keep that in mind but don’t let it get you down. It doesn’t mean you don’t have what it takes or that your writing is horrible. Everyone, even the best writers in the world got rejected and still do. Rejection comes with the territory of being a writer.

Even if you do feel discouraged (and you will no matter what I or anyone else tells you) push through it. You can overcome that first rejection, by continuing to write, edited, submit, and repeat.

Take Away

Accept that first rejection with the knowledge that it’s a part of the process. Be grateful they read it and move on.

Give the piece another read through and revise as needed. Maybe it could use a tweak here or there but don’t stress over it.

Be persistent and try other publications. Just because one rejected it doesn’t mean another will.

Always follow the submission guidelines.

Keep your head up and try not to get discouraged. It’s okay to feel a little sorry for yourself but don’t dwell on it.

And lastly, never stop writing or submitting. If you quit, you will never learn or improve. So, keep your head up, you got this, and keep writing.