Rejection does not Equal Failure

Can I be honest with you? I did NOT want to self-publish. The idea of managing the business of selling my book myself was so intimidating. I just wanted to write and have someone else take care of everything else for me.

I queried for a year and a half. I received 76 rejections (including rejections after partial and full manuscript requests - those rejections hurt the most). I even paid someone to review and edit my query letter after so many rejections. I was SO deflated. Crushed. Heartbroken. I thought maybe I’m NOT a writer. Maybe my writing sucks. Maybe I’m not meant to fulfill my lifelong dream. The imposter syndrome was crushing my soul to the ground and then stomping and spitting on it for good measure.

But one day I decided my dream was no longer going to sit in the hands of strangers. Who were these agents to decide if my story was or wasn't good enough to make it into readers' hands? I didn’t put my heart and soul into my novel for it to sit in the dark on my laptop for eternity. I decided to take my dream into my own hands and self-publish, even though the idea scared and intimidated me so much. Oh well. I'd figure things out along the way...

And now, less than a month after publishing, I have a dozen reviews on Amazon, all five stars.

So this is a PSA to my fellow dreamers: Do NOT let anyone else tell you your dreams are too big. Do not let criticism beat you down. Do not let rejections mask themselves as failures in your eyes. Repeat after me: rejection does NOT equal failure.

Rejection. Does. Not. Equal. Failure.

Don't give up on your dreams or yourself. Keep at it. Keep grinding. Keep dreaming.

Big or small, do whatever sets your soul on fire.

And as always, thank you to everyone for all the support and love. And now I can say thank you, also, for bringing Margaret into your homes and reading her story.

You are a part of bringing my dream to life. I cannot thank you enough.