Romantic/Suspense Author

Irene Estep

Rejection: The Nasty Villain

by Irene Estep

I'd like to share my own formula for overcoming the slump. When rejection really gets me down, I use what I call my RE-Evaluation (Rejection Encounter Evaluation). I begin by asking myself why I started writing in the first place. Was it for:

1. the money? (hearty-har-har)

2. the glory? (pleeeease)

3. the power? (keep going)

4. the accomplishment? (getting close)

5. the . . . fun? (EXACTLY!)

If I concentrate on the pleasure of writing, I soon return to normal after a nasty villain/rejection encounter and begin writing again.

The accomplishment and power are fun results I derive from my creativity. Oh how I enjoy getting that handsome hero to dance to the tune of my keyboard. He's intelligent, macho, brave, and best of all he falls in love with the heroine whether he wants to or not.

And the heroine; ain't she sexy/pretty, ain't she sour/sweet, ain't she vulnerable/independent, ain't she sloppy/neat. She's smart and witty as well. And why not, after all, I created her in . . . well, sort of, in my own image.

Let's not forget what I consider perhaps the most important character in the story, the antagonist: the nasty villain. He's the dark side of self. He's bitter, mean and crafty (Isn't he wonderful?) and best of all he hates the protagonist. Without him there would be no conflict, no obstacles for my hero and heroine to overcome to reach their goals.

Doesn't such creativity make you feel like God--er, well, at the very least, like a creator of something pretty doggone special. Hold that special feeling close and enjoy it because there's always a nasty villain waiting just around the corner. Whether rejection comes from an agent, editor, reviewer or would-be fan, it always brings you down--how long it does so is entirely up to you.

One way to deal with this vulnerable interval is to think of it as the nasty villain in one of your stories. You, the hero/heroine, are much too clever to let him defeat you. Study him, evaluate him, and then outwit him. Rewrite and resubmit, to another publisher if necessary. Or if you'd rather, put this story aside for a while and go on to another. There's lots of them in you. 

Repeat the formula as often as necessary and the next time you get a rejection, give that nasty villain an extra kick in the hind end for me.

There's a great power in words, if you don't hitch too many of them together. .............. Josh Billings

Next article: Building Characters Bit by Bit, Part I: Using Attitude

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