The Rejection Therapy Challenge

My family has been talking about Take The Rejection Therapy Challenge lately.

My daughter is a designer, I'm a writer, and my dear hubby is in sales. These are not fields to enter if you're undone by rejection. These professions COURT rejection. My young son? A musician. Oy.

My folder for rejection letters is labelled "YAY!" Because my job is to get a bunch of rejections. That's the price of getting a few "we are pleased to" letters as well. I don't think of rejections as a bad thing, but a good thing. I revel in the nuances of the emailed vs. mailed letters (mostly emailed these days). Signed or unsigned, with personal note or no. The auto response is expected. But most rejections are actually a lack of any response at all. I know lots of writers, even some really successful ones, and their rejection rate may be lower but they still get them. And you know what? They're free!

My husband was my tutor on this, early in my career. He wasn't having all the slobbery weep-fests over postcards from strangers. He refused to join me in the conviction that I was doomed and incapable. It took 48 rejections to sell Eating With Your Anorexic, by the way.

Speaking of which, this month EWYA - as my family calls it - went out of print. The end of a really good ride.

And, as it happens, I have three other manuscripts to sell - and a stack of rejections to show for them.

"Yay!"

Comments

  1. You mean I can't get it anymore? I give your book to everyone! Bummer.

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  2. It's available as an e-book for the moment, but that will end soon I believe.

    I may be publishing it myself later, but that's up in the air.

    *I* wasn't given any notice, btw, so although I have a few copies in the house... that's it.

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  3. That is REALLY bad news - I have given away about 4 copies and keep recommending it. I am going to have part with my own copy soon. Perhaps we should trawl the internet and make notes of where it is still available.

    xx

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  4. Hey, Laura, amazon still has some left. But the prices being asked for used ones are as much as $70. Crazy.

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  5. There are plenty of used copies out there, and in libraries.

    It's been a good run. I'm not complaining.

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  6. What a great way to look at rejection - a challenge to be embraced (and actively sought out) rather than a complete disaster that leads to all sorts of disasterous consequences :)

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  7. Can you (as the author) order more? Can you take control of the copyright and print it yourself? (I'm totally losing the contractual terms here, but as an author I have the right to print my book on my own after my publisher has stopped printing it.)

    I hate to see it lost to the ages. It's still totally relevant.

    Keep shopping those manuscripts, Laura. I want to see what's been on your mind since then!

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  8. When I was not recovered, I remember that I was so very afraid of making mistakes, rejection and trying out new things.

    I hardly caused any problems as a child. My parent's worry over my anorexia was something "new."

    At that time, I couldn't handle their "new" feelings toward me so I withdrew from them.

    When you starve yourself, there are no surprises. It's a predictable process. You go through feelings of hunger but then it passes and you feel calm and then energetic and the process repeats.

    I even watched the food network non-stop. It wasn't because I craved the food. I just knew that there would be no surprises/risks.

    The range of emotions and the tone of voice of some the chefs/hosts is the same throughout some shows.


    I first felt like I was recovering when I started to watch movies. I didn't know if the movie was going to make me cry, laugh or possibly trigger me but it felt OK to take a risk.

    My T. and I work on "coping skills" to do when I am triggered: journal write, relax & meditate, listen to music. But before I leave therapy, I will definitely bring up this topic up.

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  9. I had read EWYA a couple of years ago at the library. Then, a couple of months ago I decided I needed my own copy and got one from Amazon. Glad that I did! It is a great book and should be available ALWAYS!

    Keep on writing, Laura, and getting those rejections and the precious acceptances. I enjoy and greatly admire your work.

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  10. Our local high school has a Rejection Wall on campus. Students place on it the rejection letters they receive from colleges. It helps the students keep perspective on the college applications process and injects a little humor into what is a stressful time for many kids. It's a brilliant idea, in my opinion!

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  11. I love the Rejection Wall idea. Frankly, I think we probably spend too much energy stressing high expectations for kids and not training them to deal with disappointment and continuing to try!

    I feel like kids get tracked in kindergarten so the only option is success - and risk averse.

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