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Monday, April 13, 2015

How to get Your Groove Back after Rejection

I have joked (and been serious) before about what I have done when rejected by agents, publishers or critiques. The strategy is mostly about drinking. But, having just had a somewhat brutal rejection, I find myself in a familiar and utterly ugly place.

Doubtsville.

It's a hideous country, flat and with nary a comfort food in sight. I hate it here. I hate how squishy I feel, like a snail pulled out of its shell. I hate how my thoughts bounce around looking for something good to hang on to and finding nada.

I hate how corrosive this place is. How it seeps into my bones and amplifies the negative voice in my mind. I need to get the fudge out of Doubtsville. Now.

Directions Out of Doubtsville

Personal Tsunami
A very smart friend said to me that it's okay to feel bad. Don't minimize how crappy you feel just because people have it worse. It's okay to have a Personal Tsunami, something that feels devastating, even though it isn't. Let it feel like loss.

Perspective
Yes to tsunami, but only for a little while. There's a big difference in accepting feelings and wallowing in a vat o' self pity.


Horses
As in getting back on it. This is something I try to do too soon. As soon as the tsunami hits, I mean before the waters recede and I even know where I am, I'm googling things. Books, conferences, crit groups, blogs, answers, answers answers! I want the remedy before I'm ready for it. But there's a time for horses and getting back in saddles.

Nerves and Fear
I have a friend who is a writer and an opera singer. She helped my daughter over come some fears about singing in public. She said that when you have nerves, don't try to stifle them, instead shake hands with your nerves and say hello. Your nerves, if kept in their proper place, can help fuel you, make you better. And if you've said hello to your nerves, you can keep an eye on them. They can't sneak up on you.

Fear is not your friend. Fear is gripping and crippling and all the 'ippings' you can think of. It can stop you from writing or WORSE stop you from writing what you are really capable of.

EXIT
Get past these twists and turns and I believe you can get out of Doubtsville. I'm stuck somewhere on the corner of Nerves and Fear but I have a plan to get out. A simple plan. It's called "I NEVER GIVE UP."

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for this! I just got a rejection a few days ago that I was so hoping was going to be a yes. I'm going to share this with my cp- she needs it too! =)

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    1. Glad to hear it, Leandra. You actually reminded me of another important tool for getting your groove back - sharing! When you know that others are getting rejected in various ways and it's not just YOU, it does make you feel better. It makes me feel like I'm not the very LAST to be picked in gym class :)

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  2. Hi Alex! This is a wonderful post. My CP (Leandra) just shared it with me and I sooo needed this right now! It's great to know we're not alone in this struggle!

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    1. Hey Krisitn! Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad it was helpful. It was a sort of 'fake it till you make it' post because I was totally decimated by my rejection - BUT! I am getting my groove back (slowly.) Knowing I'm not alone really helps!

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  3. I think I may have passed you on the way Doubtsville yesterday. Ha! Good tips and tactics to stay positive. Fear is evil.

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    1. Emily, that was you whizzing past me on the corner of Personal and Tsunami? I'm sorry to hear it, but you looked fab and are in good company! Now let's get the heck out of this dump!

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