Are you learning from rejection?
Being turned down is painful. It doesn’t matter if rejection comes at the hands of a crush, employer or editor, the sting can be as sharp as a scorpion attack. But it’s how you learn from failure that separates the despondent from the successful. As a freelance writer who emails more than 250 pitches a year, I recognize how overwhelming it can be to remain positive amid the No’s and It’s Not Right For Us’s. But the pain lessens over time, like how a stubbed toe can instigate a barrage of cursing but eventually the throbbing ache subsides. So does hearing from an editor who rejects a pitch. But if you read between the emailed lines, you can uncover ways to lessen the chances of being turned down next time. Editors may reply to a query with, “This doesn’t work for our audience/readership.” If they don’t share any more details, figure out if your pitch was truly tailored to that news network’s audience or if you didn’t dig deep enough into the outlet to discern what made this audience unique. Remember, a pitch for BBC News will be vastly different than one for Scientific American. I have also read rejections that told me I hadn’t found a strong news hook. I knew the story was intriguing, the characters were compelling, but I hadn’t convinced editors that this article had to be written now. Going back to the drawing board isn’t entirely necessary; rather, I found some timely studies or reports to strengthen the revised pitch, and if I recall correctly, more often than not the updated pitch would be more appealing to editors and encourage more commissions. Finally, is the idea meaty enough? If an editor doesn’t say so, review the rejected pitch and spot areas that were scant on details or light on statistical evidence to bolster your theory or theme. That doesn’t mean you have to add another 300 words to the pitch. More likely, you need to fill in a few blanks to carry the pitch over the finish line. If you have more questions about to successfully pitch editors and level up your freelance business, contact me anytime or learn more about my coaching programs.
Why every writer needs to have an Inspiration File
In a note on my Evernote app, titled Inspiration File, a list of random words and phrases might seem confusing to a stranger’s eye, but for me, they represent five years’ worth of curating the most intriguing pieces of writing I’ve come across. In both the fiction and non-fiction I read, I pay attention to any sentences or even verbs that cause me to crane my attention and think, “Hmm. Haven’t used/thought of that one in a bit.” I contend that every writer, no matter the vertical, should have an Inspiration File on their phone or notepad. We can’t rely on our memory to pull up that moving phrase we want to tweak with our voice; at least I don’t claim to have an impeccable memory, so that’s where my iPhone’s Evernote comes in. I’ve long had my phone nearby when I’m reading a book or article (which isn’t going to help you ignore texts and notifications, so adjust your settings when appropriate). When a certain phrase strikes me oh so splendidly, I head to my Inspiration File to input le mot juste before I can forget it, and I might even add a parenthetical note to it, such as “Use to describe next restaurant I profile,” or “Potential poem ending.” These standout words and sentences don’t have to be groundbreaking metaphors; they might something as simple as the verb “amplify” which I’m using more often in some copywriting for tech clients. It’s a chewy word when used appropriately, and it’s more succinct than, say, “make more prevalent.” My file contains phrases such as, “She noticed how manicured her life had become,” thanks to the unique adjective “manicured” peppering that sentence. I also remember swiftly writing down a Harlan Ellison line that struck me as potently apt when I read it: “She looked at me like a house that’s been on the market too long.” When it comes to exact metaphors or turns of phrases you crib down in the app, this tactic isn’t inviting you to plagiarize. A strong writer will see a phrase that speaks to them and find their own way to personify it, perhaps switching out one word for another or allowing that metaphor to inspire another thought. The more you can read with intention and flex your vocabulary muscle when it’s time to face the blinking cursor, you’ll have a deeper repository of interesting and evocative writing designed to elevate your work from great to memorable.