Ok, so “The Call” didn’t end up being all that exciting after all. Basically, the editors said they loved the main character, that I “nailed” the voice, and that if I tweaked this and that and maybe re-envisioned the background part and maybe oh, thought about another angle to take the whole thing in, they would be happy.

Um.

Right.

Basically, it was a really nice, padded NO.

I can definitely say that as the years have gone by, I’ve gotten better at hearing rejections. This means that I no longer take to bed for 2-3 days, crying like I’ve just lost a parent, and consuming vast quantities of Ben Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream. I’m not that kind of person at all anymore.

Now, I sort of just stagger around the house, blindly picking up the thousand or so unmatched socks that seem to litter every available inch of every room, and try to convince myself that although I am the author of six books, not everything I write is going to be touched with the golden publishing wand. I will open the pantry door and take out the earless, tail-less six pound chocolate bunny left over from Easter and bite off one of its paws. Maybe a little angrily. And I will tell myself, as I am rewrapping the bunny in foil that I’m not a loser. And that eventually, I will write something else that will be deemed worthy enough to be put in print. Someday.

It’s funny how this rejection thing still stings. How, despite my modest modicum of success, hearing the word no can still put me back all the way at Square One again. The rational part of me (otherwise known as my husband) says, “But this is the business you got into! This is the way it works!” To which the irrational part of me (otherwise known as the perpetually six-year old side of me) juts out her bottom lip and says: “But I don’t care! It sucks!”

It does suck. Not having all your work embraced and loved as you do is never fun. But I told a friend of mine (during one of my more rational moments) that I had a feeling that this rejection was going to lead to something better. Which all rejections do, eventually. I just have to remember to be patient in the meantime. Have faith. Keep working.

And maybe hide that chocolate bunny a little better next time.

Onward, always!

CG

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