How I Turn Rejection Into Publication by Cathy Wald
“Save it for your novel.” That was the withering advice given to me by a hard-boiled New York newspaper editor in May 1993.
I was heartbroken. The essay he’d so succinctly nixed was about my personal reaction to the deadly explosion at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. As a former cult member myself, the events had hit me hard. This was the first time in my life I’d ever felt drawn to discuss my cult experience in a public forum. And although I’d never written a personal piece for a major newspaper before, I knew I had something unique and important to say.
That essay was so close to the bone that it hurt. While writing it, I’d come to understand the meaning behind the old saw, “Writing is easy, all you have to do is open up a vein and let it bleed.” I literally felt like my life’s blood had gone into that piece, and that I didn’t have any left to give.
On top of that, I had just tapped virtually the only high-level personal connection I had in the newspaper industry, through a former journalism professor of mine. With his help, I had been able to fax my piece directly to the editor, and to receive an immediate response. Alas, all in vain!
Instead of accepting the editor’s rejection, I took it as a challenge. That is, after I took a few moments to peel myself off the floor. I slowly figured out that what he had objected to was the fact that my piece was too personal and inward-looking – and that, in its current form, it probably wouldn’t move anyone but me. It might not belong in a novel, but it definitely didn’t belong in a newspaper, either. So I rewrote the piece several times, desperately struggling to go beyond my own deeply felt emotions in order to communicate something that would be meaningful to readers. With each rewrite, I achieved a little more emotional distance and perspective.
When I finally felt I had a winner, I decided to go whole hog. I submitted the piece to every major newspaper in the U.S., and a few minor ones, too. In the end, “For My Sister in Waco” was printed in three newspapers: my local Gannett chain, the Chicago Tribune and The Baltimore Sun.
My ability to go beyond the emotional hurt of rejection in order to understand the editor’s criticism and address it, catapulted me into a new stage in my writing career. Based on that clip, I got my first assignment for a major women’s magazine, followed by another, and another, and another.
Sure, I’ve had plenty of acceptances, since then, but I’ve had many more rejections, from every possible source. While the turn-downs may still depress and even paralyze me for some time, in the end I remember “For My Sister in Waco” and accept the challenge -- both to make my work better and to leave no stone unturned in order to find the right home for it.
I’ve also drawn on my vast experience with rejection to create a Web site about rejection, www.rejectioncollection.com, where I post some of my own rejection letters and stories as well as more than 300 stories from other writers and creative artists. It’s a fun place to work out your grief, rage and frustration about rejection, reconnect with your sense of humor back, and become inspired to get back to work.
I also wrote a proposal for a humorous book about rejection. Wouldn’t you know, it’s already been rejected by a dozen publishers.
Think that’ll stop me? No way. I’ve already done several major rewrites of the proposal, and I’m bound and determined to get the book published, even if I have to do it myself. Once again, I know I have something to say, and the Web site has proven to me that the audience is there. Anyway, at this point, I can’t lose. Every new rejection I collect immediately becomes new material for both my Web site and my book!
Catherine Wald is a freelance writer and creator of www.rejectioncollection.com the writer’s and artist’s on-line source for misery, commiseration and inspiration, which has been named one of Writer’s Digest’s Top 101 Web Sites for Writers. Her work has been published in Poets & Writers, Writer’s Digest, The New York Times, Woman’s Day and Chicago Tribune, among others. You can read “For My Sister in Waco” at www.writerwald.com.
Editor’s note: Cathy’s book was published last year. Hurrah!
THE RESILIENT WRITER: TALES OF REJECTION AND TRIUMPH FROM 23 TOP AUTHORS,
Persea Books