Why I Survive as A Writer

It takes me about five minutes to get over a rejection. Here's the process.

0 minute: Okay that's it! That's I'm never sending you people another manuscript to reject! You hate me! It's not just my books, but you've rejected [3-10] of my stories, you hate ME! What have I ever done to you that you should hate me so?

1 minute: I wonder if I have anything else I could send them? No! No! Never again.

2 minutes: But that other story is pretty good, maybe it'll work? No? No. >sigh< three, four, five, six rejections? Can't you get the message, Rothwell?

Give it a rest.

3 minutes: Maybe a chocolate muffin would make me feel better.

3.5 minutes: But you had birthday cake yesterday. No chocolate for you, Kate. Damn you, publisher! It's your fault I want chocolate!

4 minutes: I can get some more coffee though. That'll work.

4.5 minutes: and maybe I should get to work on that other manuscript. Hey, maybe THAT one will work for the publisher---?
NO! No. Didn't you hear me? Give it a rest.

5 minutes: Okay, back to work.

5.5 minutes: Although, maybe. . . . . . there's this other place that might work for the manuscript. They've only rejected me two, three four times.

Comments

  1. Irene3:18 PM

    We survive on hope.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kate4:55 PM

    ...and coffee and chocolate every other day.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kate4:56 PM

    I wish I could "like" comments on blogs a la facebook. Or a thumbs up. Consider yours thumbed, Irene.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Diane M. Wylie7:11 PM

    Hmmm, that looks about like my process for rejections! It sure helps.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Doug10:02 PM

    Hate to be a wet blanket, but you persist because you've had some success amidst the failure. Nothing more powerful than intermittent positive reinforcement.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Doug10:03 PM

    Rejection, not failure. You know what I meant :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kate7:17 AM

    failure, rejection, dead dreams, fallen souffles, weasels sucking your soul...it's all the same in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Molly5:51 PM

    Wow, one minute into reading your blog, and I'm already laughing in appreciation and recognition. Yep, that's the process here too.

    Enjoying 'Seducing Stephen' right now, which is why I looked you up, so thanks for that as well as your blog! I'll be reading more of both...

    Best,
    Molly

    ReplyDelete

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