Unique Ways to Handle Rejection as a Writer

You've heard it a thousand times: Rejection is a part of being a writer. Hearing it over and over again, however, doesn't make it any less disheartening. Even if you nail every manuscript every time, you're going to get rejections because each editor is different in his or her tastes. Maybe a similar work has already been published in the last few years or perhaps they are already backlogged on submissions. Rejection as a writer can be difficult, but here are a few unique ways to handle it.

Throw a Rejection Party

You don't have to invite everyone you know, but do something to celebrate your rejection. After all, you can't get rejected if you aren't a "real writer" because dreamers never actually submit a manuscript. Every writer -- from Ernest Hemingway to Ann Rice -- has received a rejection at some point in time, which makes you part of the club. So order pizza, rent a few movies and invite your closest friends over to share in the joy...or misery.

Start a Rejection Board

Since all writers have to deal with rejection, why not show it off for the whole world to see. I once had a writer friend who would post every rejection slip he got on a bulletin board in his office. It helped to remind him to keep pumping out the manuscripts in pursuit of the acceptance letter and it also made a very colorful display of artwork.

Begin a Rejection Scrapbook

If you aren't comfortable displaying your rejection letters in the obvious way described in the previous tip, why not display them a little more privately? Start a rejection scrapbook for all of your manuscripts that fail to find a home. Just staple the manuscript pages to one side of the page with the rejection slip(s) on the other so you'll have a record of your writing history. When you become famous, it'll be good for posterity.

Burn the Rejections