Dealing with disappointment and rejection (a writers guide)

Most aspiring writers are all too familiar with the feeling of a manuscript, poem or other piece of literature being dismissed by a publisher or company. A few days ago, I too felt this feeling, when I was told the news that my poem “My Pen” would not be shortlisted for the Red Room Poetry Competition.

To make matters worse, my whole school classroom was informed of my shortcomings via my well-meaning but perhaps overly-ambitious English teacher, who told my class to vote for my poem in the “People’s Choice” category of the competition, before realising my name wasn’t on the list.

At first, I was none too pleased by this turn of events. However, after mulling it over, I realised it didn’t really matter that I had missed out. I had still been asked by my school to submit that piece of poetry on the website, which is already flattering recognition. I had been encouraged by my family and peers through the process, and I had been earnestly told that my poem was of good quality and fun to read. The people who read my poem said they really enjoyed it, and, for me, that was enough.

After realising this, I felt a heavy weight lift from my shoulders. After all, isn’t the point of books, poems and articles to inform and entertain? I figured that I had entertained all who had taken the time to read that poem, so wasn’t my poem successful? I believe my hard-work indeed paid-off, just not in the way I originally expected.

And so, if you have recently submitted a work to a company, competition or wherever else, and have been rejected, think of this. “Have I entertained someone with this work?”. If the answer is yes, then you’re already more “successful” than you could ever imagine.