How I learned to love rejection
My writing submission strategies, and why winning isn't the point
Hi friends,
I’ve talked to three people somewhat recently who said variations on the same thing:
“Bizzy! I applied for a thing, because of what you said!”
That is beautiful music to my hairy ears.
I frequently encourage writers to apply for opportunities (grants, residencies, etc.) or submit their work for publication.
I, myself, love applying to stuff. It’s a nice way to scratch the part of my brain that likes organizing, writing cover letters, making spreadsheets and such. (I truly do enjoy this administrative minutiae.)
And I tell myself, you’ll never know if you don’t try! It’s such a cliche, but it’s true. It’s that classic lottery tagline: “You can’t win if you don’t play.”
But in talking to folks, I realize not everybody likes applying to stuff.
Some say it’s not worth it, because there’s no way they could ever win.
The psychological hurdle is real.
If you think your work isn’t good enough, or that you’re undeserving, or that the odds are stacked against you—it makes sense that you wouldn’t bother applying.
But…
What if you COULD win?
What if you DID win?
What if you DIDN’T win, but it was still worth the effort?
What if there was value in trying, NO MATTER the outcome?
ABS: Always Be Submitting
In the past 12 months, I’ve sent out approximately:
64 short story submissions (not 64 different stories, but 64 submissions)
44 cartoon submissions (ditto)
5 grant applications
(I wish it was more.)
I always want some applications in the pipeline, because it gives me something to look forward to.
“Look forward to what?” I hear you saying. “An inevitable rejection? You look forward to getting disappointed again and again?”
YES.
I love rejection!
Bring on the rejections!
90% of the submissions above were rejected, and there are more rejections to come!
So what?
I already won because I did the work, finished it and sent it off.
That’s the true win. And the rejection doesn’t cancel it out.
Nor is a rejection a personal attack on me or my writing. It’s just one opinion, based on multiple factors over which I have no control.
With a rejection, I don’t lose anything. (Except the time it took to apply, and sometimes a small submission fee.) I come out even. In fact, I come out ahead.
What I get out of applying to stuff (even when I don’t win)
For writing specifically, it drives me to finish and polish my work
For grants/residencies specifically, it drives me to articulate my creative projects and goals
It necessitates keeping my bio and artist statement updated
It encourages me to make sure my website, social media and other public presence is updated, in case someone goes looking for it
It gets my name in front of editors, grant-makers and others in the literary community
It requires me to research and learn about opportunities, organizations and publications, increasing my knowledge of the literary landscape
It exercises my administrative, form-filling-out, attention-to-detail muscles
It’s good practice in the delicate art of letting go
As I said before, it gives me something to look forward to.
There’s a secret benefit in every kind of rejection
No response/ghosted
I learn patience. I learn not to take it personally. I learn to love my work even if others don’t. I learn that perhaps this opportunity is not one I want to try for again, because they don’t respond to submissions.
Form rejection
I learn that my story wasn’t the right fit for this particular publication at this particular time. Or, my project proposal wasn’t the right fit for this particular grant at this particular time.
I might take another look at my work and consider whether I’m still confident in its quality. Did I rush to submit it? Or is it truly ready?
If I’m still confident, I’ll immediately send out another submission elsewhere. I make a positive out of a potential negative.
Personalized rejection
I learn that this opportunity saw something worth noting in my work. Perhaps we will be a good match in the future. I will very likely apply to this opportunity again!
Very personalized, highly encouraging rejection or runner-up
I feel special! I get a (delicious yet dangerous) taste of external validation! I will DEFINITELY apply for this opportunity again. I will be sure to mention their encouragement in my next cover letter.
I learn that this organization might be a great fit for me, and I can look for more ways to get involved with them.
Acceptance
Okay, acceptance isn’t a rejection. But it still has life lessons attached.
Importantly, I learn even more patience. Because after an acceptance, comes 3–12 months of waiting for the publication, grant money or residency to actually happen. SO MUCH PATIENCE!!
How do I know what to apply for?
There are a bazillion things to submit to or apply for. Which opportunities are worth spending your valuable time and attention?
I prefer opportunities that are:
A fit for my genre, subject matter, style/aesthetic. (Am I speaking the same language as the opportunity, so to speak?)
A fit for my creative goals. (Do I want to go to a residency? Publish a poem? Get funding for my community literary project?)
A fit for my values. (Do I want to publicly align myself with this publication/organization and what it represents?)
A fit for my current skill level or career level. (Is this an opportunity for newbies, mid-career folks, Pulitzer Prize winners?)
And/or, a meaningful step up from what I have done in the past. (Am I challenging myself to stretch a bit outside my comfort zone?)
On top of all of that — if I have a personal or professional connection in regards to the opportunity (or have gotten encouraging rejections), it jumps to the top of my list.
What do you think about rejection?
I would love to hear your submission strategies in the comments.
Upcoming Bizzy Events!
Author Talk: Bizzy interviews Lily Barrish Levner
Free! Fri. June 27, 2025 from 5PM - 6PM
Western Sullivan Public Library, Delaware Free Branch, 45 Lower Main Street, Callicoon, NY
Beware! I shall interview Catskills author Lily Barrish Levner about her Borscht Belt mystery, Banquets & Bootleg Bounty and its new sequel.
Knowing Newsies
Free! Thurs. July 17, 2025 @ 7PM
On Zoom or the Arts Nest at Delaware Valley Opera Center, 6692 State Route 52, Lake Huntington, NY
I’m interviewing the screenwriters of the Disney film Newsies, Bob Tzudiker and Noni White, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of The River Reporter newspaper.
Publishing Panel and Writer’s Mixer
Free! Tues. July 22, 2025 from 5–8PM
Western Sullivan Public Library, Delaware Free Branch, 45 Lower Main Street, Callicoon, NY
This panel of local writers will cover journalism, Substack, freedom of the press, traditional and self publishing. Plus a social mixer afterwards!
Surely, this is enough Bizzy news for now!
If you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go (foolishly) cook up a big batch of hot soup in the middle of this heat wave.
xoxo,
Bizzy
Just here to say I typed a huge comment on my phone, pressed the wrong place on my screen, and it disappeared. 😱
I love this perspective! One year I made myself a goal of getting 50 rejections. That was it, the whole goal. A few submissions in, I got my very first acceptance. You just never know, so it really helps to take the pressure off the outcome