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I'm an avid reader. Daily writer. My hangup is submitting articles. Too afraid of rejection. Any suggestions ?

cosmickate 3 Mar 25
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3

@cosmickate -- I began writing professionally near the end of 1956. I live in the beginning of what is known as Tornado Alley. What do those two things have in common? Well, the weight of my collection of rejection slips and letters holds my house down and allows me to live here.

What does what I said above have to do with what you posted? A lot. First, rejection comes with the territory so you'd better learn to deal with it properly. Get to understand that when an editor or a publisher rejects a piece of your material, he/she is not rejecting you. They are rejecting the material, and they have several different reasons for doing so. Those can range from something as simple as not following their submission requirements in any of the areas they specified to the fact that the editor/first reader thought it was pure crap.

Back when I began my hike on the insanity trail, editors and publishers were still in the habit of sending personalized rejection letters. They were short and to the point with no hint of diplomacy, but at least we knew why it was rejected. The last note I got like that was a mite over 35 years ago. That's when most publishers stopped using staff editors as first readers and began hiring college students as interns to do first reading. It is now a rare occasion when a writer gets a note of any kind. If you do, cherish it.

The current market is incredibly competitive because everybody and their uncle thinks they are writers and they are all working on the Next Great (insert a nation) Novel. They are all the replacement for (fill in any famous author of yore). This doesn't mean no one new can get in, but it is much more difficult. The nice thing about this state of affairs is that most of the writing is so awful that anything even slightly good tends to stand out.

What does all that mean? Well, it means that if you don't try, you will certainly never know and that if you do try, you are going to get rejected --- a lot. Because creative writing or any other art is highly subjective, what 30 rejected the next may accept. It is axiomatic about this field that no one is ever going to be considered successful until the rejection slips outnumber the number of words you have written. A slight exaggeration, but you get the idea.

You asked for a suggestion. Here is a suggestion: Message me and we'll make arrangements for you to send me a piece you have written. After I've read it, we'll talk. If it's negative, it can be made positive if you really want to write. If it is positive, I can give you some ideas about where and how to sell your work. Sound fair? By the way, this offer stands for anyone in the group who is serious about wanting to write and/or sell their work.

Noted! And thank you.🙂

@Firebug916 -- Yes. I am one who feels paying it forward is the least I can do. There are, of course, limitations, restrictions, and directions, but the offer is real.

3

Just do it. You'll never know or get anywhere if you don't submit them. Look at it this way, they aren't doing you any good sitting on your computer and the worst thing they can say is "No". In which case there are plenty of others who might say yes.

ReBrew2115 Level 6 Mar 25, 2018
2

Get used to the rejection. It's part and parcel with being a writer but will be all that much sweeter when after all that hard work and rejection you succeed. You will inwardly laugh at all of those who said you'd never do it. Look up how many times various successful writers were rejected; J. K. Rowling, 12 rejections, Louis L'Amour, 200 rejections. Good luck and always keep writing.

[litrejections.com]

"Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead."

Wrytyr Level 7 Mar 25, 2018
2

JK Rowling was a first time author after falling into a depression from her divorce.

Her first book was rejected by numerous publishers before it was finally accepted.

Her first book, “Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone.”

If that doesn’t provide some motivation for you

Vipyr82 Level 7 Mar 25, 2018
2

And if a lot of them are saying "No" than I wouldn't be too shy to politely ask them why. Some publishers might be willing to explain it. If enough of them say it's not what they're looking for than it's time to re-evaluate your key audience. If enough of them point out the writing style or errors than focus on refining those parts.

ReBrew2115 Level 6 Mar 25, 2018
1

Just do it.
Rejection is writing.

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