A few thoughts on learning to process rejections

They're as brutal as they are inevitable, but as poets, we must all learn to deal with them

Joanne Catherall in the video for the 1981 classic Don’t You Want Me

As a poet, I’m late to the game of traditional submissions and entries. I wrote my first poem in summer 2006 and sent my first submission (to Butcher’s Dog) in autumn 2023.

But since then, I’ve been relentlessly submitting to mags, journals, comps, and prizes. I’ve also been querying my début novel since April last year. And so far, it’s been 18 months of almost wall-to-wall rejections.

I’m also no stranger to creative rejection, generally, harking back to my music career from 2007 - 2013. So, I want to share a few thoughts on this. Even if nothing I’m saying here is new for you, digesting these reminders and affirmations is important.

I’m reserving this post for my paid subscribers because Friday’s Terrance Hayes post was free for everybody. Free subscribers can unlock one paid post if you haven’t already done so. You can also try a 7-day free trial if you fancy!

Here are the TL;DR headings:

• Don’t let rejections lead you to abandon a project

• View submissions as a way of testing the waters

• Don’t let your poems be square pegs in round holes

• Track your rejections and see them as hurdles

As always, thanks for reading this newsletter. I hope it’s useful wherever you are on your poetic journey. Rejections are tough, but nobody avoids them and, as clichéd as this is, they toughen us up.