Every writer sings a sad sad song

You know what sucks? Rejection. You know what else sucks? Rejection never actually stops sucking. And the third suck? You never stop getting rejected in one way or another. This is true in life, but it is particularly true in artistic endeavors.

I got two rejections last week. And they both sucked.

They weren’t my first, and they won’t be my last. But I’m gonna stop using the word suck now, because I think I made my point.

Writing is a unique industry within the arts. It requires a writer to repeatedly attempt to sell the idea of their art without presenting the entire thing, at least up front. An artist will bring their portfolio of their best pieces. A musician, their best songs. A writer just has to write more words, but in the form of a sales pitch, and hope those words woven together to create interest, be it a query, pitch or blurb, do justice to their art they are trying to sell.

And they do it alot. Like a hella lot. In this industry we all know we need to thicken up our skins and not take rejection personally, but receiving form rejections, or bad reviews, or no reviews or no sales and all the rest of them over and over and over again can slowly eat at the patience and confidence of even the most assured writer.

There’s a hint of self deprecating cynicism you will find in many writers. Whether they write YA romance and believe in unicorns and rainbows or they write fiendish horror and think the world is going down the toilet, there is a sad streak in all of us. You toughen up or you drop out. But even when your skin is as thick as a leather bound hardback, it still sucks.(okay, just that last one).

But you know what’s awesome? Wine. Or Fresh juice if that’s your preference. So if your feeling the blues, pour yourself a glass and draft your next pitch. Because the pen is mightier, so if you wield it, you are a warrior.