How To Handle Rejection Like A Pro (And Where To Go From Here), According To An Editor
'While it’s easy to get down on yourself about rejection, I hope you also congratulate yourself for having the courage to put yourself (and your work) out there.'
Welcome to the Collective World Careers Newsletter. Collective World is a one-of-a-kind creative network powered by the minds and voices behind The Thought & Expression Company. We’re so glad you’re here.
Today, we’re talking to Managing Editor Callie Byrnes about dealing with rejection as a creator—and how to turn it into something productive.
Here are two truths about rejection:
1. Everybody has responded badly to rejection at some point in their life
2. Everyone who has worked in a creative field has dealt with rejection before
I think it’s important to address that first, because everyone needs a reminder that not only is rejection normal, but it’s normal to be pretty bummed out about it. No one’s asking you to only see the glass half-full here! That being said, rejection also can be incredibly helpful to you as a creative—so long as you know what to do about it.
So, you’ve just been rejected. What now?
Remember: Rejection is rarely personal
I think the most important first step for dealing with rejection is remembering that it’s not an insult or a slight. While it’s easy to spiral and tell yourself that your editors believe you’re simply not good enough, I can promise you that’s not the case!
There are a lot of reasons editors may reject a piece of work—it may be that it’s not the right fit for their publication or audience, they may have too many similar pieces that have already been published, or it may simply mean the piece needs a little polishing before it’s ready for the public. Just because something you wrote isn’t the right fit for one publication doesn’t mean it won’t work for another one, and just because one specific piece of work isn’t successful doesn’t mean that you aren’t good at what you do. Don’t give up on yourself so quickly!
Trust your editors (they want to help you!)
Editors understand their publication better than anyone—they know what works well and what doesn’t. But they don’t just have what’s best for their publication in mind, they also consider what’s best for their writers. If they can help you better the work you’re putting out into the world, they want to! Similarly, they may reject work because there’s something there that could hurt your career (or that could put you in a dangerous spot as a patron of the internet).
A writer-editor relationship is often about mutual trust, whether both parties recognize that or not. As a writer, you’re trusting an editor to help do your story justice and to keep your best interests in mind. But it goes both ways—editors have to trust their writers to do their best work, to do their research when needed, and to be willing to collaborate and pivot their vision when necessary. Because yes, you may be trusting them with your story, but they’re also trusting you with their publication—always something to keep in mind!
Take a step back and think like an editor
So, what do you do with the work you put so much effort into once it’s been rejected? There are plenty of options, but before you make a decision, I suggest you take a step back and try to think like an editor might. Ask yourself:
Who is my audience here? Does the audience I envision align with the publication’s audience? Is there a better publication/medium for me to submit/display my work?
What will my audience take away from my work? Is it something that will make them think or help them in some way?
Am I saying anything new? If not, is there a way to present this information in a new way that will give my audience a different perspective?
If someone were to read my work with no prior context, would it make sense?
And, if you’re going to be brutally honest with yourself: Is this something I need to put out into the world right now?
These are all questions editors keep in mind when they’re reviewing someone’s work, which is why it’s important to keep them in mind when you’re submitting your own. They will ultimately help strengthen your final draft.
Use rejection as an opportunity to improve
Criticism can be hard to swallow, but here’s another difficult truth: More often than not, it will actually help you improve your craft.
Criticism helps you view your work from the perspective of an outsider. Even if you don’t necessarily agree with what’s being said, it still gives you a chance to see how your audience interprets your work. If the way you word something doesn’t make sense to your editor, it probably won’t make sense to your readers, either. And if your editor thinks your work needs a little more development (or revising), it’s likely your audience will feel the same way. Even if you don’t agree with what your critics are saying, try to see where they’re coming from and whether or not their suggestions might actually strengthen your work.
There is no creative in the world who hasn’t received criticism to some degree. Nearly every veteran writer has gotten to where they are because they’ve listened to their editors (even when they didn’t necessarily want to) and have remembered those lessons as they continued with their craft. Writing isn’t just about talent but also about the work you’re willing to put in—so choose to invest in yourself by allowing yourself to grow from the criticism instead of letting it become a roadblock. If something you wrote isn’t working, it might be worth trying something else. And when you try something else, you may just strike professional gold.
Recognize that sometimes rejection is a blessing in disguise
Okay, okay, I know that sounds a bit condescending. I am truly saying this from a place of personal experience, though: It’s entirely possible that you’ll look back someday and be grateful for the rejections you’ve received.
This is often a feeling that requires a bit of hindsight—and sometimes quite a lot of time. But over the years, I’ve looked back at some of my rejected work and thought, “Yes, I totally understand why this happened now.” Sometimes as we grow as writers, we’re able to understand why our past work didn’t, well, work (and we might be glad that particular piece won’t haunt us for the rest of our careers). Time also gives us the space to view our creative projects more objectively through fresh eyes.
Sometimes the best thing you can do after you’ve been rejected is to put the piece away for a period of time and come back to it later—if you still feel strongly about it, it may be worth continuing to work on, but you may realize it’s something you actually don’t want out in the world.
One final note: While it’s easy to get down on yourself about rejection, I hope you also congratulate yourself for having the courage to put yourself (and your work) out there. Continuing to put yourself out there, even despite the string of rejections you may receive, is an even bigger act of bravery—and it’s only when you keep trying that you can succeed.
Keep creating, friends!
For more from Callie, check out her work on Instagram and Collective World.
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