I have articles that are almost ready to shown to the world. But with the possibilities as to what exactly I want to do with the aforementioned articles, I was overcome with fear and doubt as to whether, if I spoke with the local newspapers, with journalistic websites, etc, I would be laughed at, ridiculed… rejected…
And yet something occurred to me. I had heard tell of many of my idols, my inspirations, having that same fear, but “stepping up” and pushing through it. I have decided that I too will push onward and upward, no matter how lost hope feels. I will make those calls, send those emails, and yes, I may be rejected, but “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again”…
You know all the great writers. Authors, playwrights, poets, screenwriters, journalists… Many household names have suffered the same setbacks that we, the unpublished, have. They too received their fair share of rejection, and today I share some of these rejections with you, as a reminder that perseverance really does “pay off”. I, too, and those of you also seeking to join the ranks of professional writers, can overcome adversity and share our words with the world if we truly put our minds and our hearts to the task.
The girl doesn’t, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the ‘curiosity’ level.
Some fifteen publishers rejected the timeless, true accounts of The Diary Of Ann Frank.
We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.
Stephen King received dozens of rejection letters for his first book, Carrie. Clearly they feared his controversial, dark imagination…
It is impossible to sell animal stories in the USA.
One publisher regarding George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
I’m sorry Mr. Kipling, but you just don’t know how to use the English language.
Said the San Francisco Examiner of one of Rudyard Kipling’s (The Jungle Book, Just So Stories) short stories.
There certainly isn’t enough genuine talent for us to take notice.
Said one publisher of the Pulitzer Prize winning poet Sylvia Plath.
Steven Spielberg was rejected from film schools twice before he was finally accepted and went on to become one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Tim Burton was hired but then shortly thereafter fired by Walt Disney Studios for his writing being “too dark” for children but he has since written and directed dozens of popular children’s films. Some sources suggest that Jack London (White Fang, Call Of The Wild) had his short stories rejected hundreds of times. Even Shakespeare was insulted and rejected by his more educated fellow playwrights in his early years.
Even J.K.Rowling, one of the best selling children’s authors of all time, who famously penned he best selling book series ever published, Harry Potter was rejected frequently, before the (then) small publisher Bloomsbury finally said “yes” after the child of one of their Editors practically begged him to, and thank goodness she did.
Remember, the next time that you are feeling life’s rejections of your creativity, that there is always always hope.
Further Reading
Building The Dream 
True.. never give up!
You of course would know! Another success story, only a more personal battle on your part. I read your profile, it is inspiring to see a self-published author 🙂
Haha, yea, it was a battle, still is in fact.
In the words of Quincy Taggart ‘Never Give up, Never Surrender!’
lol – I love that film
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