In a post on the BookBaby blog, Michael Gallant offers advice for bouncing back after receiving negative feedback or a rejection. “Even when life leaves you feeling the most disconnected from the joy of writing, there are ways to stay connected with your craft and hasten your return to a place of confident creativity,” he says.
First, remember that you can’t please everyone. Even renowned writers like Shakespeare, Woolf, Vonnegut, and Murakami have their detractors. Some readers love ’em and some don’t. When someone gives you negative feedback on your writing – not constructive, but actively negative – remember that they are only one reader of a large audience. The same goes with rejection. Carrie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe were all rejected multiple times before finding a home.
Of course, you should use any critique as an opportunity to improve your work. Importantly, Gallant also suggests channeling your anger or disappointment into your writing. “Strong emotions can translate into strong writing,” he says. “If you’re feeling discouraged in your writing practice, try stepping back, looking at feelings of sadness or frustration, and figuring out how to incorporate that intensity of emotion as creative fuel.”
Gallant also urges you to remember that you are writing for yourself, no one else. “It’s all too easy for writers to fall into the trap of attempting to please others, and there certainly is a time and place for that,” he says. “But as writers, we must always remember that a huge part of our job is creating work that resonates with us. Focus on crafting something that you feel is beautiful, meaningful, and important, regardless of what anyone else might think, and see how quickly negative feelings towards your writing transmute into positive momentum.”
