Last night, the fateful list of the 2015 Pitch Wars mentees was released. Like many others, I did not find my name amongst the chosen ones. I spent an odd amount of time trying to figure out how I should react. This is officially my first rejection, and that's entirely okay. There is a long, crazy process ahead, but it is a hopeful one filled with potential.
And yet, it's still okay to be sad, right? I don't mean a crippling sad that prompts a bottomless bowl of white cheddar popcorn whilst watching a shameful amount of Keeping up with the Kardashians. I just mean a sad that says how much you care about the work you're trying to get out there. The emotion is natural, and it's not a bad thing.
And yet, it's still okay to be sad, right? I don't mean a crippling sad that prompts a bottomless bowl of white cheddar popcorn whilst watching a shameful amount of Keeping up with the Kardashians. I just mean a sad that says how much you care about the work you're trying to get out there. The emotion is natural, and it's not a bad thing.
I guess there's not that much else to say, other than this is a time that requires courage and risk taking. A manuscript will always be safe when you keep it to yourself, but we don't write in order to keep our words safe. Some people won't like it, and there will be more rejection along every step of the way. The great thing about that is there's a whole community of writers out there who know exactly what that feels like. They also know how worth it everything is when you hold your published novel in your hands.
The next step is to move forward, to query and prepare and keep hoping. It only takes one more person to believe in a writer's story, and that's always something to hold onto. Rejection does not depreciate talent or the value in what you are doing. It doesn't define you as a writer or a person. It just means you were brave enough to take the chance, and that's incredible.
