Getting through rejection as a freelance writer

If you a freelance writer, you can often face a situation when your services are rejected. It is difficult to avoid self-doubt and depression when you bid for an online project and don’t win the contract, or when you write an ideal article and it is returned. Rejection is a painful experience that can lower your self-confidence and kill the desire to write. On the other hand, rejection can help you become an expert in freelance writing and boost your career. 

Expect rejection
Toughness is a necessary quality of any freelance writer. You should understand that rejection is a natural part of the working process - as coffee and Google. Freelance writing is a very competitive business. For every writing job out there, there are dozens of people who want to get it, and only one of them will win the contract.  

Imagine that you have baked a wonderful chocolate cake and offer it to your guests. You probably have spent a lot of time cooking it, but some guests will say, ‘No, thank you.’ The reasons can be various - maybe they are on a diet and think that your cake is too fatty. Or maybe they are allergic to chocolate and prefer fruit cakes!

Either way, you are unlikely to take offence at their refusal. But next time when you invite these people, you will not bake a chocolate cake, right? You will offer something else, for example an apple pie. The same situation is with freelance writing. You are offering your services to a publisher and sometimes they say, ‘No, thank you.’ 

Just as with the guests refusing the tasty chocolate cake, the publishers might turn down your articles because they don’t like your style or the content was not what they were looking for. Or maybe they can’t explain exactly what they are looking for! You need to respond with a smile and offer your services to the next person around the table. 

Analyze your mistakes
Go back to your bid proposal, resume or the article that you sent. What was wrong? Maybe there were some mistakes in your resume or your article didn’t draw attention because it was too short? Analyze all possible mistakes that you could make in order to avoid them in future. Ask your good friend to read your article, resume or project bid and ask what he/she thinks about it. Their honest opinion may surprise you!

It is also possible that your rejection was not your fault – the publishers simply liked somebody else. In this case, think how you could do better next time. For example, you can improve your portfolio by writing more sample articles on various topics. And make sure that every bid you make addresses the individual needs of the publisher. 

Look for support

It is difficult to be in good spirits when you bids for writing articles receive more rejections than contracts. Remind yourself that even the best and most successful writers have been rejected. For example, J.K. Rowling offered “Harry Potter” to several publishers and they turned it down! Do you think that you are more talented than J.K. Rowling?

 
Another way to keep a positive attitude to your work is to talk to other freelance writers and ask about their experience. Most freelance sites have forums where writers can talk to each other. You can ask questions and find out that every freelance writer has felt the same at least once in their life! 

Don’t stop

Do you want to know a secret to success as a freelance writer? Keep on applying for writing jobs even if you receive rejections! Of course, it is hard to bid for new projects when you are depressed, but it is a necessary process for your business to be a success. Keep in mind that rejections can’t ruin your dreams of working as a freelance writer. It is quitting writing that can kill your dreams! 

Apply for freelance writing jobs on a regular basis no matter how low you are feeling. For example, you can put forward one proposal every morning, or four proposals twice a week. The more writing projects you bid for, the more chances you have to get a job.