THE DISSECTION OF REJECTION

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ~ Calvin Coolidge

“Some guys they just give up living, others start dying little by little piece by piece, some guys come home from work and wash up, and go racing in the streets.” ~ Bruce Springsteen

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." ~ Thomas Edison

There have been some wonderful posts in the kidlitosphere about rejection and persistence lately. Since it is definitely tough times in the publishing world, and the rejections you are receiving on your work (not you) may be more than a bit discouraging, I want to leave you with one thought today:

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

1. Andrea Brown Agent Jennifer Laughran's On Rejection
   
   
2. Books & Such Agent Rachel Zurakowski's Why are Great Projects Rejected
   
   
3. Writer/Agent Mandy Hubbard on her Agent Jenny Bent's blog Meet Mandy, the author (and her Agent) who Never Gave Up
   
   
4. NYT Bestselling Author Jay Asher's preserved post from the Verla Kay message boards Ready to Quit and the joyous 13 Reasons Why book sale post Break on Through
   
   
5. Author (big announcement coming soon) Robin Mellom's One Man's Trash
   

Keep Writing! Keep Creating! Keep Dreaming!
Click on the link above for Little, Brown editor Alvina Ling's amazing perspective on persistence.

Artwork by Troy Cummings
What a fab coincidence, Troy's newest PB The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out (Big Time) is featured today (4/29/2010) On Publishers Weekly Children's Bookshelf