I may have lost the list in the move, but one that really sticks out in my mind is Tom Clancy’s Hunt for the Red October. I have heard various rejection numbers from 4 through 33, but in the end, the US Naval Institute (Press), of all places, published it. :-0

If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.
And, every time one door closes another door opens.

I can sympathize with the hearing loss. I have 30% loss in each ear. I would rather communicate via email than telephone. On the bright side, I did have to do a telephone interview for a writing job last year. I was terrified and after the call was sure I had messed up. Besides the hearing loss, I’m shy and can’t pour on the charm. But I got the job which lasted over six months. We must remember our successes, not the rejections, and I’ve had those too.

You get extra points if you perform this dance at a wedding or other dress-up occasion.

How to Do the Worm

Dani and Jodee — What is the worm? I’m scared. LOL Dani, don’t injury yourself.

LOL!

Then the shout heard round the world will be, “Help! I’ve done the worm and I can’t get up!”

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I won’t even have to post it here. The gleeful shout heard round the world will be me celebrating.

I will also will be dancing around (probably in my pjs) doing a wild assortment of moves from the 50′s through now (I learned through dance classes). As long as my son doesn’t get a video camera between now and then I think that event will be private (rather than a viral laugh fest via YouTube).

@ Dani: You will let us know when (not if) you get the offer for the dream gig, right?

@ Dionne: You are going to do great….Just take it one step at a time. If you don’t get into prep this time, then rework your application and try again. You can do this!

Anyone else feel like a virtual group hug is in order?

@Dionne: Good Luck! I am sure you will do fabulously.

Tammy

Dani: I have no doubt you WILL get that dream gig!

Tammy — I think a lot of us are self-taught, and we do fine. Like Ann, I don’t apply if someone asks for a journalism degree, or some sort of experience I don’t have, but I have had some really great freelance jobs. I think you’re right — just go for it.

@ Jodee: Thank you. So far of the three I didn’t get the first time but really wanted and reapplied for later, I have gotten two.

I got rejected a second time for number three. But, HA! They have not heard the last of me! (Well, ok, if I get ‘dream gig’ they have)

@ Tammy: Thank you!

@ Mary: On a particularly bad day, I also picture the person I sent my stuff to calling other people over to their computer screen and all of them pointing and laughing. You just keep on plugging. It’s a numbers game and if you keep at it, you will get hired.

@ Karen, Kathryn, & Kathleen: Glad you liked the post. You just have to press “send” and let it go. Then get on with your day.

@ Ann G: Someone who would take the time to e-mail you about wasting their time isn’t busy enough. You deserve to work with people who will treat you with respect. Same goes for you, Leigh.

@ Dani: I prefer not to think in terms of failures, more in terms of lessons learned. If you get in that mindset, then you can focus on making adjustments along the way instead of giving up. That doesn’t mean that being rejected doesn’t sting and that we don’t need to retreat sometimes to regroup before trying again. Kudos to you for reapplying for something you really wanted to get…and getting the gig!

I still remember my first official rejection letter. I was 12 and our writing project was to write and illustrate a children’s book and send it to a publisher. I did and was one of the only people to actually hear back from the publisher, so I figure that meant they’d at least looked at mine.

Most of the time, rejections roll right off, but this one guy got to me. And when someone does get to me, I love cranking up music and singing along. It’s one of the best stress busters there is!

@ Jodee:
Thank you! What a beautiful and appropriate topic for today. Coincidentally, I blogged about ‘successes and failures’ yesterday because of things I had been reading here.

@ Everyone:
I have learned not to think of ‘failures’ as such, but to think of them more as signposts along my path in this journey we call life. For me, ‘successes’ are like coming across signposts that read, “Well done! Keep moving forward”.

When I have setbacks (ie ‘failures’) it is like coming upon signposts that read, “Wrong way – please take another path” or “Ooops! You’re trying to run before you can walk. Please practice walking some more and then come back this way again.”

There have been a couple of gigs I have applied for and not gotten, but later applied for and DID get. The reasons are because if I got a rejection letter than contained info about why I didn’t get it, I used that to make myself better qualified the next time around. If I didn’t get info, I still ‘did my homework’ and worked on things related to that position so next time there was an opening I would have a better shot.

For me, those rejections are either no big deal because its part of this business, or a catalyst for ‘improving my craft’. Currently, I am trying to land a dream gig, and the process is grueling. I think I may be in a little over my head, but I know I can do the job. If I get it – awesome! If I don’t, I will keep working on the skills I need for the job and apply again in the future. One day, I WILL get the gig – its only a matter of WHEN.

Yes, its disappointing when I get rejections – especially when its for gigs I really want. However, I don’t let them hold me back and I don’t allow them to become an excuse to give up or not continue to pursue my dreams (which could so easily happen).

I allow myself to be bummed out for a little bit (to get it out of my system). Then I pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep moving forward. As Jodee so eloquently stated, its all in the perspective.

It seems that since I have found a few lower paying clients to give me some work, I almost feel like I am not good enough for anything better. I read job ads, think about applying, and then talk myself out of it. As a freelance writer I do not receive feedback on most of the work I do, and it makes it hard to know if my work is great or just sub-par. This post has given be the courage to try anyways.

Thanks again,
Kathleen

There was an article in one of the writing magazines I get by a very young writer (started getting published when she was still in high school). She said that she did it by just bombarding the market – she would have 20 queries out at any one time. I’m not to that place yet, but I figure if I keep consistently plugging away eventually the yes’s will out number the no’s!