Marie Dees

I think I might have a different way of looking at the waiting part of the submission process than many writers. Instead of counting how many days it takes to hear back from a publisher, I give myself credit for having something going through the submission process. And on it not being rejected — yet.

I know one aspiring author who when asked if she was published used to respond “my work is currently being looked at by top agents.” After all, she’d sent it to them, so at some point they had to be looking at it. Even if was just a passing glance at the envelope as they tossed it in a pile with the others. And if a rejection letter showed up, well, she had something out with another agent.

Sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough credit for having done the work needed to actually finish a story. So, rather than worrying about being rejected (because it will happen), celebrate having completed and submitted a story. Many people who want to be writers never get that far. Perhaps because they fear being rejected.