Hating the Writing and Persistence

One of my favorite books to re-read when I’m out of sorts is the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Stephanie and friends always lift my spirits. I laugh out loud at something on every other page! Last year I was happy to hear about Evanovich’s newest books, The Unmentionables series, featuring the oh-so-hot character Diesel from the Plum books. This new series is pretty much written in the same voice, tone, and style as the Plum series, except it has a paranormal twist. 

In the series’ first book, Wicked Appetite, the main character, Lizzy Tucker, is a pastry chef who makes especially delicious cupcakes. Since she inherited an old dilapidated house, Lizzy is also writing a cookbook with the hope that the money from that will help pay for some home repairs. Lizzy’s cookbook dream is a very minor part of the novel, but of course I latched on to it because I was interested to see how Evanovich would have Lizzy handle rejection. 

At first, Lizzy is optimistic. When she gets home from some wildly hilarious adventure with Diesel and Carl the monkey, she checks her mail in which there is inevitably a rejection letter. She sets the letter aside and firmly says, “Persistence.” She’s determined. She is going to sell that cookbook.

Sometime later (page 310 in the mass market paperback edition), it’s this reaction after reading an agent’s rejection letter:

“Damn, damn, damn!” I said. “I’ve had it, I’m done. What the heck do you have to do to get published anyway? I bet this guy didn’t even read my proposal. I hate him. I don’t even know him, and I hate him. I hate the whole publishing industry…”

I tore the letter into tiny pieces, threw them on the ground, jumped up and down on them and kicked them around. I stopped jumping, closed my eyes, and counted to ten.

Sound familiar, anyone? I imagine Janet Evanovich might’ve been writing from experience, and I know I’ve had moments like Lizzy’s! Afterwards, Lizzy admits she didn’t mean a thing she said, but still, we writers sure do think it.

The key to opening what you want is persistence. Sure, it’s okay to hate everything about writing and everyone in it sometimes. Then let it go and embrace persistence again. That’s the important part. As long as you’re venting about rejections in the privacy of your own home and NOT on the internet (or in a publisher’s face) then it’s okay. Let it out. Shout. Cry. Jump up and down and pretend you’re kicking a certain someone. But then take a deep breath and count to ten and get back to writing.

Persistence.

What has been your worst reaction to too many rejections? Have a happy weekend, Zigzaggers, and I hope it’s full of acceptances, in writing or otherwise!