Action Pulp!

By Adam Messer

Is it me? Is my work not good enough? Why?

These are some common questions creators ask themselves among the many questions they ask themselves.

Rejection, imposter syndrome, trolls, negative thoughts and negative emotions are all part of being a creator.

It is easy to fall into the spiral of rejection because it surrounds us. The market is over saturated; people’s attention spans are fixed on the next dopamine cycle; industry plants- all of it is true, but all of it has nothing to do with you and your art.

I like to use the word “art” for anything I create from poems, prose, photography, painting, and so on. The Arts. So when I say your art, I mean your art. Your creation.

I have had a lot of rejection in my life. Everything from outright “no”, to polite responses, to nasty insults and comments behind my back. I have had people hound me for attention when they wanted something from me, who never reciprocated anything.

I’ve fed people who would never invite me to the table.

And I’m good with that.

People are as different as each drop of water and people are as the same as the oceans are vast.

No one likes rejection. No one.

What I have found is rejection comes in many forms, including one’s own rejection of thoughts and feelings. I like to be honest with myself when I evaluate my work before I consider it to be a finished work.

I used to be a perfectionist, which caused a lot of indecision.

You know what’s better than perfect?

Done!

What I have found that works best for me is to finish a project in the best way I can for the moment I am living, and build from there.

For example, I have written hundreds of published articles for the local newspaper, written and published books, worked as a paid photographer, and have also helped businesses with writing publications and public relations campaigns.

One time I wrote 15,000 words for a novel in a single day typing every word. Other times I wrote a sentence. Still other times I wrote nothing. For months.

Rejection is a tool much like any other skill. If you can learn from rejection, you can grow.

One thing to remember is rejection does not mean your work is bad. There are many reasons why someone might reject, ignore, criticize or even insult your work. None of it has to do with you or your work.

Everything has to do with the audience.

Everything!

First and foremost, learn to not take anything personally, even insults. Look at the situation as if you are a third party observer. Consider the feedback and remove your feelings from what and how the rejection is. Look at rejection at a tool in your toolbox. What can I learn from this experience and how can I improve?

Then move forward or move on.

Rejection is also about validation. It may be the right work for the wrong audience.

Some people love a juicy cheese burger, while others love a juicy steak fresh off the grill. You are not likely to find a good steak at a hamburger joint, and I’ve never heard of someone going to a fancy steak house looking for a greasy burger.

Your work may not be what they are looking for, or might not be a good fit for them. Remember your audience.

Everyone likes to buy, but no one likes to be sold.

Take their feedback and use it to improve your next project. Even if the rejection is silence, you still received a message if you were listening.

It’s ok.

And it’s going to be ok.

I’ve been rejected by folks I admired. I took it kind of hard. I’ve had “friends” turn out to be folks who were there only when they needed something from me.

It is a gift when I find out their true colors because I disengage and no longer spend time, effort or energy with them.

I base my relationships with people as people first. Transactions are part of the world, but people who put transactions in front of people are the ones I have learned to stay far away from and at times had to tell them simply to stay away.

Go on, git!

Remove negativity from your life. Negative people, negative influences and especially your own negative thoughts and feelings.

As an artist, your job is to create art. Rejection is simply a tool. Nothing more, nothing less.

As you travel down life’s path, every day is a new opportunity for you to grow, learn, and build.

You are an artist!

Create!