Blogging out Disappointment

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Everyone has those days I know, but that rational thought is overwhelmed with the feelings of disappointment over a rejected manuscript. I know it’s not the end of the world but it impacts my writing world. And I’m surprised about my feelings too. Lord knows I’ve had disappointments before. I’ve been down this road before in other aspects of my life. 


This morning (the morning after) I didn’t want to do revisions or much of anything, so I posted that on Twitter, where I’m a newbie and joined as part of an online class. Glad I did because fellow writers know so much about disappointment and offered encouraging words. I texted a writing class friend and she was sad with me. I felt understood.


But two hours later I find myself blogging out the disappointment because I don’t know what else to do and writing is a way I get things out. I purge, on paper, and thus online. Sometimes we’re our own worse critic. Maybe because of perfectionism, want for control, need for approval, or whatever other psychological term fits. 


Maybe this is a time to reflect on why I choose to write: issues of social justice, letting young women know they don’t struggle alone, that obstacles are surmountable, that someone cares.


It dawns on me that the reason for my disappointment is because I think my work won’t get out there and my audience won’t hear me. That makes me sad. 


In the search for a photo on disappointment I found this quote:
We keep going back, stronger, not weaker, because we will not allow rejection to beat us down. It will only strengthen our resolve. To be successful there is no other way. – Earl G. Graves


Then I remember I don’t write for me, I write because I’m driven to write for something more. It’s not about me. Rejection is part of the path to success. I still have my truth, my goals, and I know I can do this.

I’m ready to take a deep breath and review the comments about the MS now. Thanks for listening.