Bouncing Back: The Bumpy Road of Writing Rejection

Rejection is a reality every writer encounters, whether you're just starting or have years of experience. I know! My work has gotten rejected over and over. Short stories. Article pitches. My very first novel. Sigh.

Sometimes, it feels like a heavy blow, and I question my abilities and the value of my pursuing my creative dream. But sometimes my attitude is on point, and I remember that rejection is not the end. It's just one step along my path to my success. Notice: I said my path and my success--I don't have to measure myself against other writers' journeys or destinations. This is about me and my work.

But it's so hard to keep the good vibes going in the face of rejection.

So, when an author I'm following on Bluesky, http://lfrostwrites.bsky.social/, suggested 'rejection' as a good blog topic to explore with new writers, I thought of course.

Laura Frost has a debut thriller novel, Seeking Sasha, coming out in February 2026. (It looks terrific! I've added it to my TBR list.) And when I asked the community about new topics to cover on my blog, she said to me "a lot of writers want to talk about [rejection] because it’s such an unavoidable challenge."

Thank you, Laura.

So, let's talk about how to cope with rejection in a constructive way. Even better, I'd love to hear from you if you've experienced rejection and how you dealt with it.

Get Over Yourself: Writing Rejection is the Norm

Whether you are submitting articles, novels, or short stories, rejection happens. It doesn't matter if you're new to the game, or you've been writing for years. Cases in point: Stephen King's first novel Carrie was rejected 30 times, and an author of a successful cozy mystery series shared with me her publisher just rejected her newest novel.

In my experience, rejection happens for a lot of reasons that are out of a writer's personal control. For example, I've often received a message that says the story just doesn't 'fit'; in other words, my story didn't align with an editor’s current needs or interests. Yet that 'fit' can be so subjective! I remember when the editor of a humorous mystery anthology rejected my submission because she 'didn't get' the humor of my work. Meanwhile, my writing group buddies thought the story was laugh-out-loud funny. They encouraged me to submit it to the anthology in the first place, because it met the criteria. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Takeaway: Accept that rejection isn’t personal, and pick yourself up and maintain a constructive writerly outlook, which means get back to writing--which is the most important outcome.

Feedback and Other Writers' Perspectives

If you receive feedback along with your rejection, I feel your pain. First, ouch, then treat it as a golden opportunity. Constructive criticism is essential for growth in your writing career, right? But, before you apply it, get another opinion.

A few author contacts told me that work has been rejected and they've received comments from the publisher or agent, which they've found to be both useful and useless. But it's hard to figure out which comments are helpful and which aren't. Sifting through the comments with writing colleagues enabled them to assess the feedback and consider what they wanted to apply to their work.

In fact, one writer told me she always shares her rejections with her writing group, even when she doesn't get comments; otherwise, she'd stew in her disappointment. By connecting with her writing tribe she gets support and encouragement, and hears her friends' rejection war stories, too! After a few good laughs, and with her writing buddies at her back, she's ready to put the rejection behind her and energized to continue writing.

Double Check the Rejection Message

A lot of rejections are short formulaic emails, but occasionally a rejection is a longer message that leaves a door open. You might be invited to resubmit or the message writer offers another suggestion. So, while you don't agree with the rejection, read the entire message carefully to make sure you don't overlook anything.

One author told me about one rejection message, where he almost missed a suggestion to reach out to another contact. The new contact turned out to be interested in his story, which ultimately led to publication.

And several years ago, my three-chapter sample was rejected in the first paragraph of the publisher's note, and I stopped reading the message. I never made it to the last paragraph where the publisher indicated an interest in seeing other examples of my work. I only noticed the sentence years later when I stumbled on the message again.

So, read through the rejection. And if you're reading the message and you sense your emotions are getting the better of you, stop and give yourself some distance from it. Then come back and reread it when you're more level-headed.

Writing rejection? Who cares? More important: What words will you write today?

Focus on the Writing Process

We often become too fixated on the final goal of getting published, which can lead to discouragement and stop you from writing. That's not good.

When my work gets rejected, I remind myself that I love the act of creating, experimenting with new ideas, and enhancing my skills. Like I said, my path and my success. I tell myself: If someone isn't interested in my work, they're not my judge, they're simply not my reader.

I also focus on my writing goals that don't rely on external validation. Often my goals include specific daily writing times and due dates for my drafts. I also set goals for experiments (like my serial paranormal romance, Dream Walkers: Heart & Hand.) I've found that focusing on my process and dipping my toes into new waters bring me joy, and achieving my personal writing goals makes me feel like a winner.

Let's Keep Writing

The most vital advice for dealing with rejection is to keep writing. Don’t let a few setbacks deter you from your passion. The more you write, the better you will become, and you will find your way to succeed according to your terms.

So, remember: Rejection means you're a writer earning your stripes, because it's a part of every writer’s journey. Don't let it define you or stop you in your tracks. Normalize it, embrace your feelings, seek feedback and support, and return to your process. You're a writer! You've got this!

Let's navigate the bumpy road of rejection with confidence together. And let me know how you bounce back in the comments below.