Rejection of Your Creative Work
Thirty-two ways to handle the rejection of your creative work, so your art survives the critics and you keep making it.
Creating means risking. Keep making, keep sharing.
40 tips that really help
These ideas come from Rejection Proof (Jia Jiang), Grit (Angela Duckworth), The Obstacle Is the Way (Ryan Holiday), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.
Creative work is personal, so rejection stings
When you pour yourself into a story, song or design, a no can feel like a no to you. Remember that creative judgments depend on taste, fit and timing, and many great works were rejected first.
Say, “This was a no to the work at this moment.”
Read the famous stories
Dr. Seuss’s first book was reportedly rejected by many publishers, and Stephen King has described how Carrie was rejected before it was published. These are widely told stories of persistence.
Look up one story.
Take a day to feel
Allow a day to feel disappointed. Creative people need space to mourn before they can create again.
Plan a gentle day.
Put the work away
Leave the piece in a drawer for a week. Fresh eyes see more clearly.
Close the file.
Reread with kindness
After a break, read as a reader would. Note what you love and what could improve.
List both.
Find the audience
Your work may suit a different publisher, gallery, label or reader. Aim at people who love your style.
Research three new targets.
Study who said yes
Look at what editors, curators or labels accept. Understand their taste without bending your voice.
Read recent releases.
Read submission guidelines
Many rejections are about format, not quality. Follow guidelines exactly.
Reread them.
Polish the first page
Gatekeepers decide quickly. Make your opening shine.
Rewrite it.
Send widely
Submit to many places, within guidelines. Numbers help.
Plan ten submissions.
Track submissions
Use a simple sheet with date, place, result and notes.
Create it.
Join a critique group
Other creators give feedback and support. Choose kind and honest peers.
Find one.
Hire an editor or coach
Professional help can lift your work and confidence.
Research options.
Share on your own
Self-publishing, exhibitions and social media let your work find audiences without gatekeepers.
Share a piece.
Create more
A new piece shifts focus from the rejected one. Keep making.
Start something small.
Create for fun
Play without expectations. Joy restores creativity.
Make something just for you.
Create daily
Short daily practice builds skill and resilience.
Set 15 minutes.
Separate making from selling
Making is for you; selling is business. Treat them differently.
Name the difference.
Define success broadly
Success can mean finishing, learning, moving one reader or enjoying the process.
List your measures.
Keep an inspiration folder
Collect works that move you. Review it on hard days.
Start it.
Scene: a publisher said no
Thank them and send to the next. Write the next piece while you wait.
Submit again.
Scene: a gallery declined
Show in cafes, online or in group shows.
Find alternatives.
Scene: a contest did not select you
Contests are subjective. Enter others.
Choose another.
Scene: your song got no plays
Share with friends and communities that love the genre.
Find your niche.
Scene: your design was rejected by a client
Ask for details; revise; keep your portfolio strong.
Seek clarity.
Scene: a reviewer was harsh
Pull out useful points; ignore cruelty.
Filter.
Scene: your video got few views
Learn from analytics, keep making. Growth takes time.
Review one metric.
Scene: your pitch to a producer failed
Prepare a shorter version and try a smaller team.
Refine.
Scene: your crafts did not sell
Test prices, photos and venues. Small changes matter.
Try one.
Scene: your family does not understand your art
Seek peers who do.
Join a group.
Guard against comparison
Others’ successes hide their struggles. Compare with your past self.
Review your growth.
Guard against perfectionism
Finished beats perfect. Release and learn.
Finish a piece.
Guard against burnout
Rest. Creativity needs space.
Take a break.
Guard against over-editing
Too many changes from every opinion can dilute your voice.
Keep your core.
Guard against bitterness
Celebrate other artists. Community lifts everyone.
Cheer someone.
Protect your voice
Learn from feedback but keep what is unique.
Write your style in a line.
Protect your time
Set creation hours that no rejection can take.
Schedule them.
Protect your joy
Remember why you started.
Write the reason.
Plan the next project
Having something new keeps hope alive.
Outline one.
Close with persistence
Say, “I am a creator, and creators keep creating.”
Write it.
Easy things to say
When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many everyday situations.
“Thank you for looking at my work.”
“Which part felt weakest to you?”
“That is interesting feedback.”
“I will revise and try again.”
“I made something, and I am proud of it.”
“I will keep creating.”
Your first week
One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.
Make it
Share it
Expect noes
Wait before reading
Sort the feedback
Revise
Make the next one
Further reading
- Rejection Proof (Jia Jiang)
- Grit (Angela Duckworth)
- The Obstacle Is the Way (Ryan Holiday)
The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.
