3 LESSONS WRITERS CAN LEARN FROM REJECTIONS

Hello Writers,

Welcome back to another week of valuable writing insights to keep you

focused on your writing journey. Rejections can feel like heartbreaks

in a relationship, especially when you've invested so much in your craft

with high aspirations. While rejection may not be sweet, it can be a

crucial stepping stone for growth and improvement in your writing career.

Let's delve into the profound lessons you can extract from rejections:

1. Resilience and Perseverance:

Rejections serve as a powerful lesson in resilience and perseverance.

View each rejection as an opportunity to strengthen your resolve

and refine your writing skills. Even acclaimed authors faced numerous

rejections before achieving success. For instance:

   - Margaret Mitchell faced 38 rejections before publishing "Gone with the Wind."

  

 - Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen encountered 144 rejections

before the success of "Chicken Soup for the Soul."

   - J. K. Rowling was rejected 12 times before the magic of Harry Potter came to life.

Embrace rejections with an open mind, recognizing them as steps towardimprovement on your literary journey.

2. Objective Self-Reflection:

Rejections offer a chance for writers to engage in objective self-reflection.

Take a critical look at your work, consider the feedback provided

in rejection letters, and honestly assess your role in the rejection.

Use constructive criticism to identify areas for improvement,

whether it's refining your writing style, storytelling techniques,

or character development. This process contributes significantly

to your growth as a writer, fostering humility and

a constant drive for improvement.

3. Understand the Subjectivity of the Industry:

Rejections underscore the subjective nature of the writing and publishing industry.

What may not resonate with one editor or publisher could captivate another.

Recognize that rejection is not a personal reflection of your writing ability

or depth; it's influenced by individual preferences, market trends, and editorial needs.

Understand the industry's subjectivity to maintain confidence in your unique

voice and perspective. Sometimes, your work may not communicate its spirit

on a surface level to those lacking figurative and literary depth.

Dear writers, don't take rejections personally or let them breed vindictiveness.

Embrace the lessons embedded in every "no" you receive.

Until your next "yes," cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and

a deep understanding of the industry's dynamics. Keep writing!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Francisca Ogechi Okwulehie is the Founder and Writing Coach at Moncoeur Global Concept. She is the author of three published books; "A Preacher's Secret, Tari's Golden Fleece and The Capitalism of Unsatisfied Bodies." She holds a B.A and an M.A in Philosophy from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Her works has appeared in the Afriworiliterary Project Anthology; The Different Shades of a Feminine Mind (2017) and the 84 Bottles of Wine For Wole Soyinka Anthology (2018). She has a penchant for highlife music.