Rejection hurts - no matter how many times we tell ourselves it’s “part of the process.” But here’s the thing: it IS part of the process.
A “no” doesn’t always mean your work isn’t good enough. It could mean:
They already have something similar on their list.
The timing isn’t right for that genre.
They’re working with a known author whose project overlaps with yours.
Or maybe… your story just hasn’t found the right champion yet.
I personally know number 3. I was rejected for my story because the publishing house went with a well known author who they knew would sell with a similar story. Did it hurt? Yes. But was I OK? Absolutely YES! I was compared to a best selling author - #win!
Every rejection means you’re in the game. You’re learning, growing, and daring to share something personal in a world that often plays it safe.
Keep writing. Keep submitting. Keep improving. Because every “no” is a step closer to the “yes” that changes everything.
What’s one piece of advice that’s helped you push through rejection?
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Lauren Hackney I usually draw strength from positive feedback. But I think everyone processes rejection differently.
What I keep wondering is: how do we know when to keep going, and when it’s time to let go?
It’s hard to admit when something just isn’t working.
I’ve submitted four pitches so far — two got back to me, one hasn’t yet. The two that passed still gave me detailed notes on what to improve, and both said it could work.
Yet I still got a “pass.”
I just wish they’d said something like, “Hey, fix these things but maybe not with us,” or “Make these changes and resubmit.”
Because right now I honestly don’t know where I stand — whether it’s worth pushing forward with the project or letting it go.
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I like to half-joke that I take rejection like a champ because I’ve been hit with it my whole life in almost every avenue, so if it gets to me it’s REALLY bad lol. Nonetheless I also knew since 2020 when I felt it was time to query my novel Plastic Love that becoming a writer outside of my room wasn’t going to be easy. I’m still allergic to the idea of indie publishing (absolutely no hate to anyone who is indie published, you do you) and boy did the rejections of the trad route accumulate fast lol. It’s pretty similar with screenwriting for me. Got a bunch of rejections from film festivals and now execs, and for the most part I’m level-headed but then the odd critique I never saw coming has me doubting everything. Nevertheless I’ve learned I’m also the type who doesn’t know when to quit; the doubts get loud but there’s this little atom of hope that has me keep going even when I desperately want to quit. So I’ve learned to listen to that little atom because it refuses to shut up and let me stop lol
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Absolutely can resonate with this Sanna Peth and I completely understand how you feel. When I was given the reason of 'we are going with a more established author' I saw that as my story was strong enough. When when it's radio silence or some feedback but no clear direction - it's easy to let your mind wonder if it's the story or if it's because of anything else. Are you part of a writing group in your area?
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@banafsheh - I am curious, do you submit to global publishing houses? I say put it out there to all publishers accepting your genre and style. I know plenty of success indie authors but the hustle is HARD! I regularly speak to authors on my YouTube channel to hear how they get published and everyone's story is different. I also get a peak behind the curtain because I work for a publishing house. Do you have a local writing group in your area? I wonder if you could connect with someone in person and chat story lines, publishing stories etc?
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Lauren Hackney Not really, but I’ve had all my manuscripts read by at least four beta readers, and here in Hungary my books have already been published.
The film industry, though, is a completely different world.
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"Nobody knows anything." --- William Goldman
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Great points, Lauren Hackney! One piece of advice that’s helped me push through rejection is "learn from rejection and move on instead of dwelling on it."
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Sanna Peth well done on your publishing success is Hungary. And I couldn't agree more - the film industry is its own beast!
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@francisco - well said!
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@maurice - exactly. Learning how to move past rejection is a skill in itself!
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Lauren Hackney I haven't submitted to very many publishers, mainly because I don't know any that don't require you to have an agent (and it doesn't help that the ones I did find were criticised by authors for being vanity presses/scammers). And I'm sure there is a writing group where I am but I haven't the foggiest clue where to begin looking for it. I've pretty much been on my own since day 1. I have one friend who's a trad published author but last I checked, she's switched over to indie, and my other friend who's a published author uses Amazon. A lot of my Twitter mutuals who are authors also use Amazon and they're happy but the sales numbers aren't super encouraging (again, no hate, good for them, but it's not a setup I'd prefer for myself). So yeah, I'm gonna need more resources for sure.
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I'll say though that I've heard a certain horror story on two separate occasions on the trad route that did make me consider getting over my indie hangups; two authors got rejected by two different agents who nonetheless loved the rejected novels' central ideas and said on their manuscript wishlists they wanted novels just like the ones they rejected. The first incident got what ultimately amounted to a "hey wtf man" reaction while the other caused such a stink online that the agent got fired immediately (most likely because that agent had the brilliant idea to post it on Twitter). Getting rejected outright definitely sucks but I feel so bad for both of those authors to basically be told they had the right ideas but were the wrong people to execute them.
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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh Ahhhh the Pandora's box that is the publishing world. Firstly, you don't need an agent to get traditionally published. Major publishers mostly accept submissions through agents but I do know there are a few smaller houses who take unsolicited manuscripts. However, their quota for books is maybe 3 per round but their submissions are almost 1000 entries. Those odds aren't great. I do agree - not all traditionally published contracts have great terms. You do need to do your research before signing on the dotted line. I know authors who have had so much taken out of their creative control with their first contract, they almost don't like the finished product. I also know some children's authors who had better ideas for their illustrator but once they signed they gave up that control. I think you're doing the right thing. You're networking. Writing. Learning. And most importantly - you're staying in the game. Quitting is permanent and I guarantee, years from now, more will happen for you because you're actively working on it.
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Thank you Lauren Hackney, you’re right, I’m doing my best even though it feels impossible and even pointless sometimes, and it also doesn’t help that I’m blocked for novels right now (there is seriously nothing I would love more than getting back to writing Seed… though completing and releasing Finding Elpis is a close second lol :)). Yeah I really don’t like the idea of relinquishing creative control so that’s a strong argument against trad pub. Nonetheless indie is still unattractive to me mainly because it’s a lot of extra work I have neither time, patience, nor energy for, so I guess I’m screwed lol. Unless of course I’m wrong and there’s a third route I don’t know about yet. So for now I’m just gonna network and learn all that I can about the whole business and of course phone hone my craft. It seems there’s always more room to grow than I counted on lol…
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"What’s one piece of advice that’s helped you push through rejection?"
I read, reread, and read again the comments critical of my writing over a few days to grasp what the note giver's POV was.
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By the year 2000, all the original stories of the world had been told. Still, when someone writes something from their soul, there is always something new. Although the project's global story is similar to other movie. No matter how hard you try, you won't be able to escape this kind of influence. Therefore, No matter how talented you are
it is very difficult to judge a project just by reading the logline and synopsis.
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Michael Dzurak Do you end up using the notes? Just curious.... I'm glad you found a way to push through. That's half the battle I think!
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@reduanual these are beautiful words. I absolutely loved your response. When you said ' when someone writes something from their soul, there is always something new' Oh, that really got me. You are so very right. And it is a shame a logline is used to get attention when the whole story can be a work of art!
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Lauren Hackney I've used most of the notes since, I submitted to big contests with high level judges, treating the whole thing like an online class with assignment submissions. So even when I got borderline scathing comments, I just assumed the reader knows more than me about the craft. Kind of like that 5-paragraph essay in 6th or 7th grade that teachers tell you is not good despite it having 5 paragraphs.
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I always fall back on Stephen King's comments in his book 'On Writing" which instruct that 'stories pretty much write themselves'. Also, it's my understanding that he doesn't show his work to anyone until he's finished and then leads with a group of his closest advisors.
I've been in writer's groups and have seen how they can devastate those who are most vulnerable. Love your work enough to protect it until you're ready to share. And then, never give up!
Vivian Probst
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That's so interesting Vivian Probst I didn't know that about Stephen King! And thank you for your comments on writers groups. I have seen this happen when I first started and you are right, some people prey on the vulnerable. Thank you for sharing!
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I love it that you shifted your view towards being compared to a best-selling author Lauren Hackney. Yes, you're that good. I think that rejection hurts less and less each time until it becomes an annoying sting. A big leap forwards for me was when an executive referred to my feature as a TV show. That does not mean I discard the notes. To the contrary, I love good notes and take them to heart. But there are too many factors involved in a "no" to lose hope.
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Leonardo Ramirez 2 Thank you for swinging by and checking out this post and sharing your experiences! I'm starting to appreciate how the publishing industry and film industry are similar with how rejection can happen. I like how you said there's too many 'no's' to lose hope - that needs to be on a T-shirt or something!!!!!
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Always enjoy visiting your posts Lauren Hackney. And I know a good T-Shirt print company!
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Some helpful and encouraging insights here. Keep going, and all Good Fortune to you all!!!
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Thank you Pamela Jaye Smith and you too - wishing you every good fortune!
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Great post thanks Lauren Hackney
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Yes! That dark spot on your lungs that they discovered on your Xray, could just be the gold coin in your shirt pocket that you thought you'd lost. Win!
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Great advice!
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Thank you Marie Hatten :)
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@michael I love that - 'could just be the gold coin in your shirt pocket that you thought you'd lost'. First time hearing it but I think I'll be thinking it more often!
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@mike thank you!