Writing The Resilient Writer

Writing “The Resilient Writer: Tales of Rejection and Triumph from 23 Top Authors” (Persea Books) involved lining up more than 23 famous writers to interview. I expected a lot more rejection than I got: most of the authors were delighted to participate, and even a couple who had cold feet warmed up to the subject very quickly once we sat down with a tape recorder. For example, William Zinsser, who told me he had very little to say on the subject, was still talking when I flipped over the second side of a 60-minute tape. Likewise, Amy Tan went well over the half-hour she had originally allotted me. I think part of the reason for that is that talking about rejection inevitably leads to other important topics, like why do we want to write in the first place? What’s the point of it all?

The very few people who rejected me were so kind about it that I barely felt as if I was being rejected at all. Here’s an excerpt, from a rejection letter from the assistant to a Very Famous Author:

“Mr. X. thanks you for thinking of him, and wishes you all the best with your book. However, he must turn down your kind offer to be a part of the project.” etc.

I also found, during the course of the interviews, that everyone was eager to spread the news to newer or less experienced writers that rejection really is part of the turf, and it never goes away, even when people become rich, famous, adored, well reviewed, etc. So we all may as well learn to deal with it!