Welcome, Eryn Grace

I'm Thankful For writers:

I had to think long and hard about this, because being a writer, you’re always ‘in the trenches,’ waiting for that golden (better than brass) ring when an agent or publisher notices your hard work. It’s a negative business and not for the faint of heart. Rejection is the name of the game, and if you get one inkling of getting ahead, you’re on top of the world. For example, an agent requesting a full manuscript is like gold. But when that same agent dumps you after reading that full for four months with an exclusive because they can’t place it and just give you one line something like ‘sorry…not for me,’ you’ve gained nothing, but actually lost four months with that manuscript.

I could say I’m thankful for my health, the family, my friends both online and off, but I want to take a more unusual look at this, because that’s who I am. I’m actually thankful for those rejections, believe it or not. Yes, they sting. Yes, they can make me cry and make me think I’ll never make it, even making me consider just giving up and getting a ‘real’ job. But after receiving TONS of rejections, I realize this…I’m farther ahead than I was before the latest rejection. I’ve learned a lot from those rejections, even if it’s not to submit to a certain agent or publisher again, because of their nasty form letter or their lack of even acknowledging that I’d sent them anything. I’ve gained priceless other writer friends through those rejections, realizing I’m not in this battle for the golden ring alone. And I’ve grown to the point that the rejections aren’t nearly as personal, getting me ready for scathing reviews once I am published. Everyone’s a critic…every reader, every publisher, every agent, and negativity seems to be the name of the game.

So, to all those writers out there, be thankful for every single rejection. It’s getting you closer to the golden ring or the prize, whatever it might be in your case. For some writers, it’s just to be published anywhere. For others, it’s to be on the New York Times bestseller’s list. And yet for others, it’s just to finish that first manuscript. Be thankful if you’ve accomplished any of those goals. I certainly am. Those rejections mean I’ve finished that manuscript, had the guts to let someone else read it and even submitted it, baring my soul to the world through my words. I’m thankful…to all those agents and publishers who have turned me down. And some day, I hope to actually make it, to be able to look back on all those rejections and laugh, but for now, I’m truly thankful.

Eryn Grace at www.eryngrace.com ‘Hearts of Compassion’ coming out December 3, 2009, with Red Rose Publishing