Past Writers Experienced Rejection Too. Keep Applying.

Are you a writer facing rejection? Does that letter feel like the end? This article is for you.

Recently, I stumbled upon Albert Einstein’s rejection letter. It seemed almost unbelievable. Einstein’s work was once rejected. Yet he forged ahead anyway. Negativity became his fuel.

This discovery prompted me to research further. Many famous people have faced rejection. Their works were dismissed once, twice, or more. However, they never gave up.

Ursula Le Guin: The Science Fiction Legend

Perhaps you’ve read her masterpieces. The Left Hand of Darkness is brilliant. A Wizard of Earthsea captivates readers. The Dispossessed challenges conventions. Ursula Le Guin was undeniably a badass writer.

She worked mainly in fantasy and science fiction. Her stories depicted futuristic alternative worlds. Politics, gender, religion, and sexuality filled her pages. In 2016, The New York Times honored her. They called her America’s greatest living science fiction writer.

Nevertheless, fame didn’t come easily. In 1968, Le Guin suffered a crushing rejection. Editors deemed her work unreadable and airless. They said it lacked pace. The rejection came in an obnoxious manner.

Did she stop writing? Absolutely not. Instead, she forged ahead. Rejection became her motivation.

Jim Lee: From Rejection to Comic Book Legend

Comic and Marvel lovers know this name. Jim Lee is a brilliant Korean artist. He penciled X-Men: The Uncanny. He created X-Men No. 1 with Claremont. According to Guinness World Records, it’s the best-selling comic ever.

Recently, Jim Lee shared something revealing on Instagram. Marvel Editor Eliot Brown had rejected him. Ironically, Marvel later became his employer. Brown called his work low quality. He said it was plagiarized and imitated.

Did Jim Lee abandon his dreams? Obviously not. Numerous awards now bear his name. His success speaks for itself.

Andy Warhol: The Art Expressionist Who Persevered

There’s a fascinating diptych painting. Twenty-five pictures appear on the left side. Mesh and stencils create the weave. Oil and paint produce changing shades. This gives the piece multiple meanings.

Andy Warhol created this mysterious work. He became a renowned art expressionist.

In 1956, Andy tried something hopeful. He gifted the Museum of Modern Art some pieces. He hoped for acceptance and appreciation. Surprisingly, the museum rejected his gift. They did so in a colorful manner.

Today, the irony is striking. The same museum now holds 169 of his artworks. Some were even purchased. Andy made rejection his motivating drive.

Gertrude Stein: Turning Mockery Into Motivation

No one faced rejection quite like Gertrude Stein. Editors didn’t just reject her manuscript. They mocked it relentlessly. Her words became tools for ridicule. The editor returned her work completely rewritten. The rejection letter was a travesty.

Was she angry after reading it? Possibly, she was furious. Did she stop submitting her work? Not at all. She even submitted to the same journal again.

Fortunately, she persisted. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have become a celebrated art collector. She wouldn’t have become a modern playwright. Negativity fueled her success.

Clayton Conrad Anderson: The Astronaut Who Never Quit

Anderson is a retired NASA astronaut. He launched on STS-117 in 2007. On June 10, he replaced Sunita Williams. He joined the ISS Expedition 15 crew.

Here’s the remarkable part. NASA rejected Anderson fifteen times. Each letter seemed similar to the previous one. Nevertheless, Anderson kept applying relentlessly.

He saw applications as a necessity. They were like meals to him. Something you pursue without stopping. Fifteen applications, fifteen rejections followed. Finally, his persistence paid off. His hands felt the wind’s embrace.

The Truth About Perseverance

Great people not giving up isn’t a myth. It’s the absolute truth. Many unreported instances exist of human doggedness. Resilience and determination abound everywhere. We know some stories intimately. Others we can share. We see these people every day.

Your Turn to Persevere

As a writer, remember this truth. Eventually, the world rewards those who persist. I don’t know your suffering. I don’t know why you stopped writing. However, I know one thing for certain.

Whatever your reason, quitting isn’t worth it. Like Anderson, you’re destined for space. Your breakthrough is coming. Just keep applying.