Rejected for the first time

The rejection also made me reflect more deeply on why I write. The decision to be serious about writing is not to fulfill a youthful dream or make up for shortcomings; it is not to enter the literary world and be arty. But...

I learned from the email that the submitted manuscript was rejected. This is the first time...

The first time a manuscript was rejected was like falling out of love for the first time."The editors said it was inappropriate..." I looked at the computer screen sadly, with a scar on my heart. How could they treat my article like this? What does "inappropriate" mean? It clearly means that my writing is not good enough! I use words sincerely and hide my thoughts deeply between the lines. Can't they understand and experience it? I can modify it again, just don’t reject me so wishfully, okay?

In those years when one does not know the feeling of sorrow, the heart is delicate and fragile, and any scars will hurt deeply and heal slowly. After my first breakup, I was depressed for about two years. It's not that I'm in a life-or-death relationship, it's just that I can't accept "rejection", so my entire self-worth collapses.

After waiting for two years, the other party's heart is extremely determined. Is "inappropriate" the real reason? Or an excuse? At that time, I felt that I must be not beautiful enough, gentle enough, smart enough, or... enough. Maybe as long as I change, I can still make things better. But what to change? I am who I am, and if I cut my feet to fit the shoes, I am no longer me.

Now that I am in my forties, although I cannot immediately shake off the sadness of having my manuscript rejected, I will not fall into depression again. After all, after falling out of love, I still found a good home; the spouse God created for me is a beloved person who knows how to appreciate me and cherish me. On the contrary, I feel glad that I didn't force myself to make do with it, otherwise I would have missed a more "suitable" partner.
Maybe I should try another magazine to find a home for my articles.

The first time my manuscript was rejected, it seemed that my child was suspected of having "something wrong"."Although the article is creative, it is not deep enough." This is the comment of the editor group. I look at my manuscript and see how good it is. Why are these editors so ignorant of appreciation! Does it have to be long to have depth? Didn't they read the charm of "it's all in words"? How can a cold email from the magazine I submitted to repay me for the article I molded with sincerity and love, and carved with sweat and tears?

He looked at the child sitting on the floor of the study room, flipping through the comics in the Sunday newspaper intently, as if he really understood it, and his little fingers carefully smoothed out the creases. At three years old, she is the focus of our little family's life, and is loved by three thousand people. Although she is not a genius or a beauty, many friends (and even strangers) always praise her for being smart, cute and polite.

She was also seen as abnormal. During a routine check-up at the age of six months, the doctor showed a "caring look" on the child as he still couldn't turn over or exchange hands to pick up things. It was also said at the time that if there was no improvement within two months, physical therapy might be needed. I argued that the child was born prematurely and that many of the growth indicators did not apply to her. The doubts in my heart suddenly turned into worries...

Three days before she turned eight months old, the child turned over and swapped hands to pick up things. It didn't seem like a great trick. After that, she could stand and walk without learning to crawl. At eighteen months, she started to speak two-syllable words. Can speak simple sentences at nine months. Isn't it normal? She just grew up according to her own schedule. Since life is God’s creation and an inheritance given by Him, as a mother, I can only try my best to cultivate and discipline this growing child so that she can become a person who loves and fears God.

Perhaps, I should read more, write more, and think more to make my observations more acute, my thoughts more profound, my expressions more vivid, and let the seeds of writing take root deeply.

The first time my manuscript was rejected, it seemed like I had taken off my rose-colored glasses., gave me a cold reminder to re-evaluate my writing skills and examine my writing motivation. In the past, my friends praised my writing ability, and I was proud of my submission and acceptance. It almost made me think that the titles of "writer" and "writer" were so easy to obtain.

But after carefully reading the articles in magazines and online, I realized that I was far less sophisticated than them, so I gained new respect for these authors. How long did it take for them to develop such skills? How many lives did they have to experience before they had such insight? Of course, I also have more consideration for the editor-in-chief of the magazine. How can they tolerate the rawness of the work while encouraging the potential of the rookies; how can they maintain the overall novelty while confirming the maturity of the veterans?

Perhaps, after writing each article, I should put on a magnifying glass and "pick apart the bones in the egg" and stop feeling sorry for myself.

The first time my manuscript was rejected, I was like a newlywed who "worked in the kitchen for three days, washing my hands and making soup", accepting expected criticism with trepidation. The pampering of her mother's family before marriage and the attention of everyone at the wedding banquet are now stored in the closet. Start learning by doing, growing from mistakes, and gaining attention from rejection. After all, the person you serve is the close relative of your beloved husband, so you can't give up your future efforts just because of one criticism. Marriage for a lifetime, in-laws for a lifetime, since I promised to love my husband, I also want to love the family he loves.

The rejection also made me reflect more deeply on why I write. The decision to be serious about writing was not to fulfill a youthful dream or make up for shortcomings; nor was it to enter the literary world and be arty. It’s because I have received love and grace from God, and I want to share it with more people through words, so that more people can know God and receive God’s love and grace. Words are just "soup" to express my love and concern. The editors may not like my article, but I cannot stop writing because of my love for God and people urging me to continue working hard.

The first time my manuscript was rejected was the first milestone in my writing marathon.. A senior author once described his experience on the road of writing as "sharpening a sword in ten years". I have only participated in my first writing camp and have only been writing for three months. There is still a long way to go!

The Bible says: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) God has prepared for me water stations along the road, people cheering me on along the way, and seniors. footprints. More importantly, He will run with me and prepare a reward for me at the end, which is the crown of righteousness. Let me set my sights further, aim towards the goal, and keep writing!

Author profile

colorful clouds, currently lives in South Florida and loves reading and classical music. I have rich experience in rejecting manuscripts, but I have been “suffering from repeated failures” and am willing to continue to serve God through writing.