| Rejection hurts. Many artists think about rejection so | | | | of creating as is the thrill of inspiration. Rejection is |
| much that they are afraid to even put create. This is | | | | built into the game. Get used to it and be willing to |
| a crime - a theft of art before it is even born. How | | | | take it in stride. If you are getting rejections, take it |
| do we deal with the suffering that comes with | | | | as an excellent sign. It means that you are moving |
| hearing no, no, no, time and again? Over the years I | | | | your art from the privacy of your home and into the |
| have had my share of rejection and coached artists | | | | world. It means that you are trying, and that you are |
| through this painful part of the artist's journey. Use | | | | taking your work to the next level. It means you are |
| this anti-rejection checklist to ensure that rejections | | | | taking yourself seriously enough to risk a no. You |
| are few and far between, and when they strike, that | | | | should feel good about this and acknowledge your |
| you have a plan to move on. 1. Separate the creating | | | | efforts to bring your work to a wider audience. |
| and the promoting process. I suggest creating first, | | | | Okay, so you have done everything on the |
| and thinking about selling later, when your art is | | | | anti-rejection checklist (and more!) to ensure the best |
| complete. Do whatever you can to produce the best | | | | possible result. And you've been rejected |
| art you are capable of. 2. When submitting your | | | | nonetheless. Now follow the post-rejection checklist |
| work, set aside the quirky artist you and assume the | | | | to deal with it and keep moving. You can only do so |
| professional stance. Submit your impeccable slides or | | | | much to avoid rejection. How you deal with it will |
| queries - absolutely free of errors, typos and | | | | determine how successful you will be. Here are ten |
| smudges. Show up in a professional way and expect | | | | rejection rituals to overcome the sting of 'No.' 1. |
| to be treated professionally. 3. Do your research. | | | | Write an encouraging letter to yourself. Remind |
| Seek a true match for your art. Be clear about the | | | | yourself why you do art and why it is worth some |
| submission process for each gallery or contest that | | | | suffering. 2. Write another letter that expresses your |
| you submit to. Make sure to follow the guidelines. | | | | emotions to the rejector (then throw it away). Make |
| Again, this is not the place to express your abundant | | | | this fun and really go for it, because you are not |
| creativity, unless it's in the vein of how you can get | | | | going to send it. 3. Revisit a former success such as |
| in front of your target audience. 4. Set up a system | | | | a contest won or a prior showing. Gloat over your |
| to track your submissions. Know where you have | | | | previous victories and know that they are just the |
| submitted your work so that when you get a | | | | beginning of your success. 4. Spend some time free |
| rejection, you are ready to resubmit to another likely | | | | writing on your experience with rejection. Start with |
| candidate. Make it easy to keep submitting - you | | | | the prompt, 'When I was rejected....' 5. Throw a |
| don't want to be so overwhelmed emotionally that | | | | tantrum. Grab a big pillow and pummel it with all the |
| you can't keep going. 5. Speaking of emotions, its | | | | force of your disappointment and anger. Rant and |
| inevitable that you will be awash in a whirlpool of | | | | rave about the unfairness of it all. 6. Exercise. Go for |
| emotions. The work of making and selling art is a | | | | a walk or a run or a bike ride, or whatever you do to |
| deep and powerful expression of the human | | | | get into your body. Offer up your sweat to the |
| existence. No wonder we get emotional! Anger, | | | | rejection. 7. Some people save their rejection letters. |
| resentment, frustration, and sadness may all threaten | | | | You may want to add it to a file or... 8. Burn the |
| to overtake your resolve to make and show art. | | | | rejection letter, and with it, all the disappointment. 9. |
| This is normal, yet you don't want to dwell in the | | | | Call a supportive friend and tell them about the |
| storm. Experience the emotions and then move on. | | | | rejection. You may ask them to recount your |
| Give yourself a suitable period of time for you - an | | | | strengths as an artist and a person. Make sure this |
| hour, an afternoon, a full day, and then keep going. 6. | | | | friend is able to offer unconditional reassurance as |
| Be very clear about what is being rejected - this | | | | part of your rejection ritual. 10. Do any of the above |
| particular query or this particular piece of writing. You | | | | rituals and then get back to whatever you were |
| are not being rejected. Your entire creative life and | | | | creating. You must keep going! |
| artwork are not being rejected. We can get | | | | Cynthia Morris of Original Impulse helps writers and |
| depressed beyond repair if we globalize the rejection | | | | visionaries make their brilliant ideas a reality. Author of |
| and take it to mean that we are no good or our art | | | | Create Your Writer's Life: A Guide to Writing with |
| is no good. 7. Know that rejection is as much a part | | | | Joy and Ease, and Go For It! |