Writing.Com General Discussion

My first novel publication came after more than 100 rejections; my second is due next year (2019). My first short story publication was just me sending something off in 1988. My next 4 were all through entering competitions. My next 40+ have been through constant submitting. I sit at about 20-25% acceptance rate. I have had maybe a dozen poems published. I gave up counting how many I sent out. This means I have collected more rejections than you could imagine. I stopped counting at 500. It got depressing.

Now that little bit of self-promotion is for a reason - I have not gone the self-publishing/vanity route, but have still had some success. However, the main things I believe you need are:

(1) persistence

(2) a thick skin

(3) work that you can sell.


Write, write, and write again. Edit. Get others to read. And send stuff out. Look at their guidelines and send it all out. You never know. Keep on trying though. Don't give up. Don't take rejection personally. And write well.


And good luck!