[Blog] Overcome rejection and press forward

If you have ever made an attempt to become traditionally published, you may have experienced rejection from literary agents.

If you self-published your book and received negative reviews, you may feel rejected by readers.

If you’ve sought support from family and friends and only received a few smiles and a couple pats on your back, you may feel rejected.

Rejection is an unpleasant reality that we all have to face at some point in our lives. It can be difficult to cope with, but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t have to define you. With the right mindset and strategies, you can move past rejection and use it as an opportunity to grow and become stronger.

One of the most important things to remember is to give yourself time and space to process your emotions. Allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling and accept that it is a normal part of the process. Acknowledge that you are feeling hurt, but don’t let it become overwhelming. Try to focus on the positive aspects of the situation, such as the things that you learned from the experience or the relationships that you strengthened.

It can also be helpful to look for support from others. This could be friends, family, or a professional counsellor. Talking to someone who is not directly involved can help to put things into perspective and can provide valuable perspective.

In addition, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Rejection is a normal part of life and it’s important to remember that you can’t be successful all the time. Don’t take rejection too personally, instead see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Finally, one of the best ways to cope with rejection is to stay positive and focus on the things that you can control. Keep writing! Make a list of things that you can do to improve your situation, such as pursuing other opportunities or working on yourself. Taking action can help to build self-confidence and reduce feelings of self-doubt.

Rejection can be difficult to deal with, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. By taking the time to process your emotions, seeking support from others, and staying positive, you can use rejection as an opportunity to grow and become stronger.