Tears of Rejection

One of the hardest parts of being a writer is the rejection that comes with it, but they say you should embrace the no responses. After all, you can't hear yes without hearing no first.

Don't Reject Me

I’m a writer which makes rejection a part of my life, and I’m not exactly a millionaire writer which makes the rejection a large part of it.

Today I received a rejection email that was actually one of my favourites because it told me what I needed to fix before resubmitting to them. I thought it was great that it was so constructive, but at the end of the day it was still a rejection and so inevitably a sense of dejection followed, because it’s still another no to add to the pile. The pile that could compete with a mountain, while the yes pile isn’t even as thick as a carpet.

So, what’s the best way to handle rejection? Good question. If you find out, let me know.

A glass of wine: that’s for sure. Some chocolate: absolutely. But then what…? When I was younger it used to spur me on, it made me work harder, I was more determined. That was at the start though. Now the determination is harder to come by. Now the sense of defeat lasts longer. Now I find it more challenging to just dust myself off and get back to my computer.

I allow myself to feel sad about it for a night, and in that night I can cry, complain, sulk, sob, eat donuts, drink wine. The next day though, I force myself to get back to work and not think about it. Of course it’s not that easy. I can’t say, ‘oh well, it’s just one’ anymore, because my writing career has been long. The no responses have inevitably built up.

I know it’s true that in these careers where the work is subjective, it’s common for the rejections to outnumber the acceptances, but that’s cold comfort when you see the token email that basically says thanks but no.

I guess the true comfort in seeing ‘Unfortunately it’s not for us’ again is that at least I’m not alone. Writers, actors, illustrators, musicians…and many others…we all hear it over and over again.

No one ever said that being a writer was easy, and I’ve heard it said that if you can’t handle rejection then you have no business being a writer. That doesn’t mean I can’t wail about it though.

To read more about my romance books visit my website here. 

Writer Friendly Office

As a writer I spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen, and even more time indoors. It’s where I’m happiest so that’s okay, but as spring approaches (not that you’d know it from the glorious British rain) I usually start looking outside with longing. At the blue sky, at the bright sunshine, at the lush green leaves and grass.

Last week we had lovely warm weather, today it’s been chased away by wind and rain, but is there a way to get a little of outdoors and bring it inside? I have one word for you: plants!

I’m no gardener and I struggle to keep plants alive, but I’m getting better, and it’s proven that bringing plants into the office increases productivity and makes you happier, so as a romance writer who spends most of my time sequestered away with my computer, plants are a way to brighten my office space.

But what exactly are the benefits of having plants in your workplace?

Stress Reduction

Studies show that indoor plants not only freshen the air, but they also eliminate toxins. This has the impact of making you more relaxed and boosting your mood. We’re also know to associate colours with our moods, and as green is a colour we associate with safety, it explains why having lush green in our office or home makes us feel so comfortable.

Pretty to Look At

When you’re trapped inside, working hard, eyes on your computer screen, an aesthetically pleasing sight gives you a reprieve from straining your eyes.

Increase Productivity

Office plants increase brain performance and encourage creativity. As long as you’ve got a plant within your eye-line, it will impact upon your productivity.

Creativity Boost

Having a plant within your view can change the way your brain processes information, which in effect increases your creativity by fifteen percent.

For such a small addition to your office space, the impact can be great. So, what are you waiting for? Go buy yourself a plant and wait for magic to happen. Just one tip: Don’t forget to water it.  

Behind the Mask

When an introvert writer steps outside and learns about the promotional side of writing... I did not sign up for this.

Imaginary Friends

Being a writer always seemed like the perfect career to me. I'm an introvert, most comfortable in my own company, in my own home, with my dog and imaginary worlds to keep me company, so the idea that I could do this as a job was ideal. To sit at a computer and put words on paper - words that give others a chance to experience the exciting worlds and lives that inhabit my brain - was just what I was looking for.

What no one warned me about was that there's more to being a writer than writing. It sounds crazy, but it's true. There's a whole load of PR that comes with the job. Talking to strangers, putting yourself out there, trying to find your way into a community of people who all know each other and help each other, when your natural instinct is to blend in. It's like going to a masquerade and being forced to take off your mask.

I know I'm not alone in this discomfort. I've heard it mentioned a lot between us creative type people. That the social side of writing wasn't what they were prepared for. Over time I've grown better at faking my discomfort in person, but strangely, I still find myself socially awkward online.

It takes courage to step outside your comfort zone and that is something that is a constant battle for me. My natural instinct isn't to step forward, it isn't to bare my face, and there are times in my life when even my closest friends have struggled to understand my introverted tendencies and have called me miserable because in a large group I'm not the person who stands out. When other personalities overpower me, I grow quieter, and I wish I was at home.

Which is what makes the promotional side of writing such a challenge. I like talking to people, especially in the literary world, where we can discuss words and books and writing, and all the things I'm passionate about, but what I can't do is use those conversations to sell my work. It is a constant struggle; the line between promotion and conversation.

I've always been more comfortable with fiction than reality and there is a certain sense of security, writing books without giving too much of myself away. When I write I see through the eyes of my characters and it gives me an insight into other personalities but when it comes to the core of the matter, I still like to view things from the outside.

If I'd known writing wouldn't be as reclusive as I expected it to be, would I still do it? Absolutely! Because if all the uncomfortable moments, the awkwardness, the over-thinking are the price to create fantastical worlds and talk to like-minded people then I guess I can go to the ball and leave my mask at home.

For more of my blog posts or to read about my books visit my author website here.