Rejection is intrinsic to the life of a writer. We submit so many writings and applications for grants, residencies and writing-related roles. We frequently receive multiple rejections a week. Usually, we don’t mention the rejections publicly. Maybe because we are too disappointed that a particular project looks like it won’t find an audience. Maybe because we don’t want the work that we have spent so many hours/days/weeks/months/years speculatively rewriting and editing to be seen as lacking (or to believe that ourselves). Maybe because making the rejection public can make the hurt feel more acute, or just because we don’t want to be a moaner. Often, we don’t share the rejections because we’re too busy focussing on the next submission, supporting the work of others, paying the bills and/or fulfilling caring responsibilities.

Fortunately, there are acceptances along the way – editors of respected journals and magazines and anthologies who appreciate our work, commissioners who value our experience and skills and trust us to collaborate to make something worthwhile.