Starting with a Clean Slate

Let's be truthful, 2020 was a downer of a year.  Covid-19 was the hot fudge that melted our country with tyrannical government leaders who wouldn't follow what they mandated, caused businesses to go bankrupt because they weren't allowed to be open, opened our eyes to the blatant bias of the news media, and brought social media to a hot point where it became the norm one another's viewpoints. So I say good riddance to the year! 

Time to start with a clean slate and look for ways to think and act positive. As writers, there are many ways that our attitudes can be brought low. And they all zero down to rejection of our writing from critique partners, readers, editors, agents, and publishers. But take heart, a rejection is just the start of the projection to acceptance and publication. Don't take my word for it. Listen to the sage advice of these prolific authors. 

“This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don’t consider it rejected. Consider that you’ve addressed it ‘to the editor who can appreciate my work’ and it has simply come back stamped ‘Not at this address’. Just keep looking for the right address.” – Barbara Kingsolver

“Often, you have to fail as a writer before you write that bestselling novel or ground-breaking memoir. If you’re failing as a writer – which it definitely feels like when you’re struggling to write regularly or can’t seem to earn a living as a freelance writer – maybe you need to take a long-term perspective.” – J.K. Rowling

“Every rejection is incremental payment on your dues that in some way will be translated back into your work.” – James Lee Burke

“Rejections slips, or form letters, however tactfully phrased, are lacerations of the soul, if not quite inventions of the devil – but there is no way around them.” – Isaac Asimov

"I know that when a door closes, it can feel like all doors are closing. A rejection letter can feel like everyone will reject us. But a closed door leads to clarity. It's really an arrow. Because we cannot go through that door, we will go somewhere else. That somewhere else is your true life." ~ Tama J. Kieves

"It is not rejection itself that people fear, it is the possible consequences of rejection. Preparing to accept those consequences and viewing rejection as a learning experience that will bring you closer to success, will not only help you to conquer the fear of rejection, but help you to appreciate rejection itself." ~ 

Robert Foster Bennett
 

Now here's a video from one of my favorite singers about moving past rejection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KiukoG7zRI&feature=emb_logo