My Rejection Story

Grant Faulkner is a creative leader, prolific author, and the former Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). He’s seen rejection from every angle—both as an author and as someone who supports a global community of creators. With books like Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo and The Art of Brevity: Crafting the Very Short Story, Grant has helped thousands of writers navigate rejection, build resilience, and discover the power of their creative voice.

Grant has done extensive research on the topic of rejection for writers as part of his latest book, which is currently in the querying stage. From exploring the science of how rejection impacts the brain to celebrating rejection as a badge of honor, Grant shares groundbreaking strategies to turn failure into fuel.

Order Grant’s Books

Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo

The Art of Brevity: Crafting the Very Short Story

Learn More About Grant:

Grant’s Website:
https://grantfaulkner.com

Grant’s Substack:
https://grantfaulkner.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grantfaulkner

00:00 Rejection as a Primal Experience
06:35 How Rejection Hijacks Your Brain
12:18 The 100 Rejections Challenge
18:42 Transforming Envy into Motivation
24:10 The Emotional Hangover of Vulnerability
29:27 The Ripple Effect of Positivity
34:52 Researching Rejection for Writers
41:05 Building Resilience in a Creative Community
47:18 Practical Strategies for Reframing Rejection

Courtney Maum is an accomplished author, writing coach, and publishing industry insider who’s been through it all—devastating rejections, canceled book deals, and the highs and lows of a 15-year career. She’s the author of Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book and a champion for writers navigating the tricky waters of the publishing world.

For anyone listening, you can order a copy of "Before And After The Book Deal" here:  https://books.catapult.co/books/before-and-after-the-book-deal/

Subscribe to Courtney’s Substack: Before And After The Book Deal

https://courtneymaum.substack.com/

To find out more about Courtney Maum, her book, coaching, writing retreats and classes, visit: https://www.courtneymaum.com/ 

Follow Courtney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbmaum

Chapters

00:00 The Early Memories of Rejection

05:53 Navigating the Publishing World

11:51 The Long Game in Writing

17:53 The Impact of Current Events on Publishing

23:57 The Importance of Patience in Writing

36:16 Creative Promotion Strategies for Authors

44:29 Maintaining a Positive Attitude in Adversity

53:27 Understanding Rejection: The Rejection Hierarchy

58:32 Transforming Hardships into Strengths

This episode features EbonyJanice Moore, an activist, author, and thought leader, as she delves into her journey of overcoming rejection, breaking generational cycles, and reclaiming softness as a revolutionary act. EbonyJanice discusses her childhood experiences, personal revelations, and professional successes, offering deep insights into healing, growth, and liberation.

Chapters:

00:01 - Welcome & Introduction

03:10 - Childhood Rejection: The Kickball Memory

03:34 - The Role of Colorism in Family Dynamics

12:08 - Reclaiming Body Autonomy: A Personal Revelation

17:38 - Coming Out Theologically and Spiritually

23:44 - The Greatest Grief: Living Inauthentically

29:38 - Breaking Generational Cycles: A Family's Evolution

37:49 - Reimagining Softness for Black Women

43:25 - The Rejection of Rest: A Systemic Issue

47:45 - The Story of the Ham: Inherited Beliefs and Change

50:31 - Generational Revelations: Learning from the Next Generation

1:00:43 - Professional Rejections: A Journey Through Self-Publishing

1:07:33 - MySpace Author to Bestselling Author

1:11:42 - Advice for Growing a Podcast

1:13:41 - Closing Reflections

Links & Resources:

EbonyJanice’s Website: www.ebonyjanice.com

Her Book: All the Black Girls Are Activists

Purchase here: www.ebonyjanice.com/alltheblackgirlsareactivists

Instagram: @EbonyJanice

In this dynamic episode of My Rejection Story, Alice Draper brings together highlights from past interviews with thought leaders who’ve transformed rejection into resilience and success. Through inspiring stories and actionable advice, this episode dives into how to turn setbacks into opportunities, rewrite your personal narrative, and embrace vulnerability as a strength.

Geraldine DeRuiter, a James Beard award-winning writer and author, discusses her experience with a negative review of her book and how her community turned it around to make it a bestseller.

Geraldine also reflects on her ambition as a child and the importance of perseverance and authenticity in her writing journey. Geraldine shares her experience of how her blog gained traction and how she navigated rejection in her writing career. She emphasizes the importance of putting yourself out there and not being afraid of rejection. She also discusses the fear of stating what you want and offers advice for aspiring writers and creators.

To find out more about Geraldine and read her award-winning blog, visit: https://www.everywhereist.com/about/ 

Follow Geraldine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheEverywhereist/ 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:33 The Negative Review and Emotional Impact

16:00 Childhood Ambition and Writing Journey

29:58 Traffic Increase and the Power of Authenticity

33:50 Gaining Traction and Overcoming Rejection

36:06 Transitioning from Anonymity to Recognition

37:29 The Impact of Viral Success

38:24 The Condensing Timeframe of Success

40:19 Dealing with Rejection in Personal Life

43:19 Protecting Oneself from Rejection

46:21 The Fear of Stating What You Want

48:06 External Motivation and Accountability

50:18 The Love of Having Written

52:58 The Fear of Rejection vs. Actual Rejection

54:24 Setting Audacious Rejection Goals

59:06 Reaching Out to Influential People

This episode originally appeared on The Best Advice Show hosted by Zak Rosen. Find the original episode here: https://bestadvice.show/episodes/you-need-to-get-rejected-a-lot-more-with-alice-draper

In this episode, Zak speaks with writer and publicist Alice Draper about the transformative power of embracing rejection. Alice shares how taking on the "100 Rejection Challenge" not only improved her freelance journalism career but also revolutionized her personal life, from dating to building resilience after her father's dementia diagnosis. Learn how seeking out micro rejections can build your rejection resilience muscle and lead to unexpected successes.

To check out The Best Advice Show: https://bestadvice.show/

Follow The Best Advice Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestadviceshow/

Support The Best Advice Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bestadviceshow

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
01:01 Why Alice used to avoid rejection at all costs
02:11 How Alice's ambition fueled her rejection resilience
03:01 Discovering the 100 Rejection Challenge
03:41 How rejection shaped Alice's personal and professional growth
04:26 Why rejection leads to better work

In this episode of My Rejection Story, host Alice Draper speaks with Rohit Bhargava about his experiences with rejection, the importance of non-obvious thinking, and the journey of founding Idea Press Publishing. They discuss how childhood experiences shape our relationship with rejection, the impact of confidence on overcoming challenges, and the significance of storytelling in conversations. Rohit shares insights on hybrid publishing, marketing strategies for authors, and the value of networking through weak ties.

Find Rohit Bhargava here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohitbhargava/

To find out more about publishing with IdeaPress, click here: https://ideapress.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Rejection and Non-Obvious Thinking

02:52 Childhood Experiences of Rejection

05:58 The Impact of Rejection on Confidence08:51Career Choices and the Fear of Rejection

11:46 Building Resilience Through Life Experiences

15:04 Networking and the Power of Weak Ties

17:59 The Journey of Idea Press Publishing

20:59 The Benefits of Hybrid Publishing

23:58 Marketing Strategies for Authors

26:49 The Importance of Timeliness in Publishing

29:50 The Role of Confidence in Dealing with Rejection

33:06 Storytelling Questions and Active Listening

35:58 The Concept of Option C in Publishing

38:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Alice Draper reflects on the journey of her podcast, celebrating its recent award while grappling with feelings of imposter syndrome. She discusses the importance of agency and resilience in the face of rejection, emphasizing the need to embrace vulnerability in content creation. Alice shares insights on navigating the challenges of low status and self-sabotage, encouraging listeners to pursue their passions despite fears of failure.

Substack post mentioned in episode: https://usefulfictions.substack.com/p/how-to-be-more-agentic

In this episode of My Rejection Story, host Alice Draper interviews Nick Courtright, the CEO of Atmosphere Press, a hybrid publishing company, and author himself, who shares his journey through rejection and the lessons learned along the way. Nick discusses the impact of rejection on his career, the importance of hybrid publishing, and the support authors can receive in this model. He emphasizes the emotional journey of writing and publishing, the significance of audience engagement, and the need for authors to take charge of their creative destinies. Nick also explores the themes of his latest book, 'The Forgotten World', which reflects on American identity in a global context.

Do a free author interview with Atmosphere Press here: ​​https://atmospherepress.com/free-author-interviews/ 

Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press here: https://atmospherepress.com/call-for-submissions/

Chapters:

00:00 Nick’s Rejection Story

04:11 Building a Hybrid Publishing Company

11:00 Author Questions About Hybrid Publishing

20:23 The Support Offered By Hybrid Publishing

27:16 Navigating Thoughts on Hybrid Publishing

29:47 Choosing the Right Publisher

32:08 Resilience in the Face of Rejection

33:58 Craft Improvement and Taking Risks

36:43 Nick’s Writing and Influences

53:07 Taking Charge of Your Creative Destiny

In this episode of My Rejection Story, Alice Draper speaks with Sarah Bullen, a multi-published author, writing coach, and literary agent. They discuss the journey of overcoming rejection in the writing process, the importance of developing a thick skin, and the role of literary agents in navigating the publishing world. Sarah shares insights on market trends, the unpredictability of novel success, and the significance of genre in writing. They also explore the challenges of writing standout books in a saturated market, the realities of book sales, and the value of writing as a passion project. The conversation concludes with Sarah's commitment to promoting her new book and the vulnerability that comes with putting creative work out into the world.