Hang in there, Sam. You have a full life, and sometimes writing can’t fit into it. And thank you for setting up the writing group meeting; it was so motivating for me. 👍
"What's my point? When an anthology has 300+ submissions, you may get bounced for ANY reason. Sure, your story might not be up to the quality they're looking for. It's more likely, though, that they already have a story with a similar setting, or plot elements, or a vampire sidekick, or... you get the idea.
Rejection doesn't mean your story sucks. It just means your story wasn't right FOR THEM. That's hard to remember sometimes, but it's a lesson well worth learning.
Do your best, tell a good story, and if it doesn't land at first, dust it off and send it out again until it does."
100% Agree. When you are first starting out (or when you have 60 books - according to Sarah Hoyt), it's hard not to take it personally, in the "Do I suck?" manner. I built up some resistance to that through art shows, and goat shows, and guinea pig shows, and...yeah. You have no control over the judge(s), it's ALL subjective to them (unless you are married to them or something). Not like competing for Soldier of the Year, where it's all skills and knowledge based for the most part.
So, one way to think of it is that it's not a bad story/art/song/etc, it's that they have different tastes, and if you think of it as you like Rocky Road and they prefer Strawberry Swirl, then you hopefully don't get as down on yourself. (Yes, I still do, somewhat! But, I'm working with that philosophy, so I get over it faster!).
So, pick your least favorite flavor and every time you get a rejection on something you did creative you just say to yourself, "They just prefer Lime." and move on!
Hang in there, Sam. You have a full life, and sometimes writing can’t fit into it. And thank you for setting up the writing group meeting; it was so motivating for me. 👍
Also, the Discord meeting was cool, even I was voiceless for most all of it! lol
And My hubby used to run Women's self-defense professional for a DV organization, so kudos to you for taking that on, it's so needed!
"What's my point? When an anthology has 300+ submissions, you may get bounced for ANY reason. Sure, your story might not be up to the quality they're looking for. It's more likely, though, that they already have a story with a similar setting, or plot elements, or a vampire sidekick, or... you get the idea.
Rejection doesn't mean your story sucks. It just means your story wasn't right FOR THEM. That's hard to remember sometimes, but it's a lesson well worth learning.
Do your best, tell a good story, and if it doesn't land at first, dust it off and send it out again until it does."
100% Agree. When you are first starting out (or when you have 60 books - according to Sarah Hoyt), it's hard not to take it personally, in the "Do I suck?" manner. I built up some resistance to that through art shows, and goat shows, and guinea pig shows, and...yeah. You have no control over the judge(s), it's ALL subjective to them (unless you are married to them or something). Not like competing for Soldier of the Year, where it's all skills and knowledge based for the most part.
So, one way to think of it is that it's not a bad story/art/song/etc, it's that they have different tastes, and if you think of it as you like Rocky Road and they prefer Strawberry Swirl, then you hopefully don't get as down on yourself. (Yes, I still do, somewhat! But, I'm working with that philosophy, so I get over it faster!).
So, pick your least favorite flavor and every time you get a rejection on something you did creative you just say to yourself, "They just prefer Lime." and move on!