Annalisa Crawford just placed 3rd in the 2015 Costa Short Story Contest and she's here today to discuss every author's nemesis - rejection!
Congratulations Annalisa!
A new
look at rejection
by
Annalisa Crawford
I have read many blog posts
and articles over the years about how to handle rejection. But I'm not
sure handling rejection is the way to go... I think embracing rejection
is a much better way to approach your writing.
It's been long established
that, in writing terms, I am very, very old. I have been submitting short
stories and novels since before the internet, before email. Yes, folks, I had
to snail mail each and every one - kissing the envelope before posting!
And, therefore, I have
received many, many rejections. And survived.
Not just survived, I
thrived.
I was very lucky. Early on,
I found a small monthly competition that I entered regularly. It was run by one
guy called Keith, who always commented on why he liked my story and why it
hadn't won. In fact, over time, we struck up quite a correspondence. This is
one of the letters he sent...
... and as a young writer, having someone telling me the truth, focusing
his thoughts solely on me for two typewritten pages, and being so encouraging
at the same time was tremendously helpful.
(A complete aside: in the letter, Keith mentioned several other writers
who were also entering his competition regularly - I search them, and one had
been quite a prolific childrens/YA author. So, you never know who you are
pitting yourself against!)
Here's what rejection can do for you:
·
It allows
you to look at your manuscript with objective eyes. After all, if someone
doesn't like it, it can't be perfect, can it? And, to be honest, you don't ever
want to think your work is perfect, because you'll get complacent.
·
The
editors/judges aren't rejecting you - they don't know you. They just didn't
like those words you put on the page, in that order. Because the next
story you send, they might love.
·
It's not
you, it's them. That story rejected today - when the editor had a miserable
journey to work, and spilled his coffee over his desk, and was thinking about
his sick uncle - might have been accepted the following day, when the sun was
shining and his uncle was better. You can't do anything about any of that!
·
It makes
you stronger, it makes you fearless, it makes you a writer (all the best ones have
been rejected).
I, personally, think every writer needs to put themselves in a position
where they could be rejected - a competition, a literary magazine submission -
and expect to fail. Now, instead of feeling down about it, instead of needing
ice-cream and a friendly shoulder to cry on, I simply read the story, makes
changes (or not) and send it out again. No drama!
Do you
allow yourself to be rejected?
What has
been your worst? And your best?
Annalisa Crawford lives in Cornwall UK, with a good supply of moorland
and beaches to keep her inspired. She lives with her husband, two sons, a dog
and a cat.
She writes dark contemporary, character-driven stories, and has been
winning competitions and publishing short stories in small press journals for
many years. She recently won 3rd Place in the Costa Short Story Award 2015.
Thank you, Annalisa.
Great food for thought and discussion!
Has rejection made you stronger?
