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Rejections? Ghosting? It's not personal

It's a tough world for writers. But if your work is truly publication-ready, it will eventually find a home.


Two examples from my own life:


I worked for 15+ years on a single piece, sending it out on again-off again many dozens of times over those years. It continually got rejected. But I believed in it and kept tinkering, kept submitting. It finally found a home, showing that the piece was worthy — it just needed the right editor.


I pitched a particular editor six times before getting a yes on lucky idea #7. It felt a little embarrassing to keep sending ideas, the equivalent of "Do you like me now? How about now? Now?" But the editor wasn't bothered by my continual contact, and we ended up working well together. I wasn't the problem: the ideas weren't quite right for that editor. Until one was.


While rejections and ghosting are not personal, it's certainly possible that your work needs...more work. But even if that's true, it does not translate to giving up or feeling you aren't worthy as a writer.


If you soul-searchingly honestly (two adverbs in a row, how 'bout that!) believe in your work, an editor will too. You just haven't met each other yet.




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