The Truth About Rejection

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, what's she got to complain about? She has a BOOK coming out!

Yeah. I do. But it was years in the making. And guess what else? Even published authors face the R word.

It seems at every turn, writers have to deal with the word "no" or even worse.

When you send to critique partners (even the nicest ones have to be honest or you'll never get anywhere)
When you query
When you go on submission
When you face reviews
When you start the process over again from any step above

Heck, even JK herself has to deal with all those adverbial dialogue tags she threw in. Ouch.

There are tons of posts out there on how rejection is necessary and you have to have a thick skin and even I myself say "eat chocolate!" But, I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the fact that we are human and it's okay to admit it hurts.

We all have that OUCH moment. But you know what? That's okay. Let it happen. Then move on to healthy responses like taking the criticism and working to change whatever it was. Oh and chocolate. What? Chocolate has health benefits.

I'm just saying that you have permission to feel bad for a minute. No one is going to think you are a horrible person or that you don't know what to do or any of that. It's what you do after that initial moment of weakness that counts. Don't go rant online - I promise you'll regret it. Instead... say it with me... EAT CHOCOLATE. And? If there's something you can work on to fix the issue, do it. Then try again. Because as I've also said before, that one YES makes it all worth it.