I have been rejected before once or twice. Some outrightly and some subtly but they all count as Rejection all the same because I wasn't wanted or needed and though I was disturbed, I was able to move on.
But…
I got rejected recently prior to this contest and this seems like a good way to talk about it.
I normally write on other platforms apart from Hive to earn from my works and a lot of protocol goes in before one can actually get recognized enough to earn.
I came across an app which encourages writers to write stories and publish on their platform and get rewards for their stories in the form of payment.
But I can only get rewarded for my stories when my story application is reviewed by editors and approved.
It takes about a month for an application to be reviewed and looked at and after thirty days if a story is approved a contract will be sent to the individual and after both parties have signed the contract it'll be official and one can get rewarded for the stories published there.
I applied with one of my stories that wasn't quite completed and I was hoping to complete it on the platform if they agree to send me a contract.
I thought I applied with the best story, though it's not a bad or terrible story in the least but it wasn't the one they wanted.
I waited 30 days for feedback on my story application and when I checked back with them I was notified that my application had been rejected because it didn't capture the themes they had hoped to see in my story.
In the message they outlined the themes they wanted and the manner in which they wanted the story to be written and the story I submitted didn't have any of that so I couldn't get the contract until I review my story and apply again.
My shoulders fell while reading the message and I must confess it was a huge blow to me because it wasn't what I was expecting, no one expects to be rejected right?
I had a hard time accepting the fact that they didn't think my story had enough potential and it toyed with my mind for a bit so I decided to talk to someone about it.
I talked to my brother about it and he listened to me rant and pour out my heart about how the rejection of my book hurt my feelings.
It really hurt me.
I think this was how J.K Rowling must have felt when her book got rejected several times, it must have been devastating.
As I was talking to my brother it occurred to me that I had the option of applying again with a revised edition of the story or better yet another story altogether, one which will have everything they'd love to see in a story if I wanted to.
I wasn't totally rejected because there was still hope for me to apply again on the condition that I deliver exactly what they want.
With that thought, I made up my mind to prepare another story for the application and this time it was going to be the one that will get me the contract.
I felt alive as I began to plot a story and plan something new and different. I let go of all my limitations and I wrote from my heart.
Soon I got the story ready for application and I applied for a contract for the second time and I was told to wait for it to be reviewed as usual.
Now, I await a response.
Though I know this will be it for me, I don't want to count my eggs before they hatch.
I was able to overcome getting rejected by finding ways to not get rejected a second time. Though the story I applied with wasn't the one they'd like to promote on their platform, they were kind enough to let me know exactly what they wanted and gave me a chance to apply again.
If I hadn't been given a chance to apply again maybe I may have been greatly distressed and I may have lost confidence in myself but I didn't let that happen because I know that I am capable of giving them a story that they'd love.
Also, thinking about how many times the author of the Harry Potter stories got rejected and her unwavering confidence in herself until her story finally got to the world and we all know how successful she remains till this day boosted my confidence to another level.
As they say, there's no harm in trying again and that is exactly what I did.
As I wait for feedback on my application, negative thoughts creep in sometimes trying to kill my spirit but I don't allow them to fester and grow in my mind. I have no space for negativity and with that in mind, I am able to look past the rejection of the first story and focus on the acceptance of the new one.
We can't dwell on the past, right?
This is in response to the @HiveLearners weekly contest.
Thank you for reading! ✍️