Monday, May 10, 2010

Rejection Inspection

When I started working on my manuscript last year, I bought a book at a bargain store called, Reject me I love it. Admittedly cheesy, I thought, "Why not? I may need this someday." And I was right. It is the best little book, especially for aspiring authors. It deals with all the usual self-criticism that keeps us from ever even trying to reach our goals, and the defeatism that comes with rejection. We're so afraid of being turned away that we won't even try. In the book, author John Fuhrman stresses to embrace rejection, because it is a healthy part of growth and not something to be afraid of as we are usually taught. In fact, no success can ever come without a small amount of rejection. Those who learn from it are the winners. Those who try, and fail, and then try again will eventually succeed.

The next time someone rejects your project, say to yourself, "This is good, because now I will fix what is wrong and then the next time there will be less to reject."

Another book I had close at hand was The Secret, which many of you might have heard of already via Oprahworld. It is realized thought in action. If you dream it, it will come. Well, that hasn't been my experience. I think hard work brings success, and maybe not the exact kind you want, but the kind you need. Success doesn't have to be owning an expensive yacht and living on your own private island. Success should be you being able to do the things you love. Consider this: most authors whose books you see at the bookstore have day jobs. So, you either do this and love it, or don't do it at all. I appreciated The Secret but thought it was just a romantic bit of idealism that preempted actual work. Yes, it is good to have a dream to work towards, but you have to get your hands dirty or it simply will not happen.

My last point comes, again, from Reject me I love it. Fuhrman writes about audience. There is a small portion of people that are going to hate you and the work you produce, although dislike is a better word I guess. There is nothing you can do to make them like you. Period. Don't waste your time. Now, there is another small portion of people who will absolutely love you. You could have flaming cold sores and listen to Barry Manilow all day and they would adore you. This is a good thing and you should appreciate it. Moving on. There is a big portion of people who are undecided. These are the people you want to concentrate on. These are the people who could buy a copy of Paul Blart: Mall Cop next to the register if it looked pretty and the sun was setting right. It's your job to promote your work to these folks and hope for the best. You got the good, forget the bad.

Life isn't perfect. But you can make it okay. Good even. Thank all those bullies in school, and the teachers who gave you an F, and your older brother who said you were an idiot. They did it to help you. At least, I think they did . . .

12 comments:

  1. Haha I must say the last paragraph said it best... They did it to help you. At least, I think they did, that was great!

    What a brilliant post, I must say this book sounds very intriguing and something I might thoroughly enjoy so thank you so much for sharing!

    I just read your little summary of your novel The Soul Seekers, it sounds very good and I wish you the best of luck in a time of sending out queries and representation! It's a book I would read for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really do appreciate good criticism ... if it rings true to me, then I know the experience (however painful) is going to bring me closer to my end goal. It will improve and mold me as an artist. What artist doesn't need good instruction? Good point here, all of them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Really good post and a great way to look at rejection. I love the idea of seeing it as an opportunity to be better.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jen, glad you liked the last part there. And also glad that you like the book description. Thank you!

    Tess, thank you! I like good crticism too. Like you said, it does hurt at first but then the op to grow always makes me happy.

    Shannon, it does seem like life is all about growth moments; getting better with trial and error. Thank you for the comments!

    ReplyDelete
  5. To succeed, you need to embrace rejection? It sounds very odd, but maybe you're right. Jeez, I've had enough rejection in my life; maybe I didn't embrace it enough!!!!

    Thanks for the wisdom. Bisou, Cro.

    ReplyDelete
  6. p.s. Churchill said "difficulties mastered are opportunities won".

    ReplyDelete
  7. Phonetic joke: 'Nothing succeeds like a budgie with no teeth' Sorry. Carry on.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Here are my two buddies keeping up the end with their jokes. It's like having two older brothers come in to crash the sleep-over, haha.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amy thank you so much for taking the time to fix the technical difficulties for my small piece on yesterdays post! That was so sweet of you! You certainly did not offend me I do need help with those types of difficulties. Luckily that was the first time I had wrote the piece and only the first run, had it been like a hundred versions I would have been freaking!

    I do wonder if you'd want to help me with my current WIP Finding me though. I've started the revision process as you know, more or less just rewriting the piece and I'd love your take on it all! Email me at jenniferdaiker(at)gmail(dot)com if you'd be interested!

    Thanks again for the help!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the title of that book Reject me I love it. I'm putting that on my to read list. Thanks for the review and positive spin on rejection!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Karen-You're welcome, and it's a really good book for keeping morals up.

    ReplyDelete

A Millennial romp through Jane Austen

  A few years back I wrote this story about a fifteen-year-old girl named Frankie drudging through a very complicated life in a fictional sm...