Rejection letters are the black eyes and broken teeth of a boxer. They are the skinned knees and bent fingers of a gymnast. They are the cheap beer and drunken heckles of the bar band.

In short, they prove you have gotten in the ring, are willing and able to take your scrapes along the way and an understanding that your first effort, though sincere, doesn’t immediately mean you’re a hit.

But, that you did it, you’re doing it and you’re not done yet.

Now, eventually, a boxer who nets only broken noses may try accounting, or a bar band stop gigging if the bills never get paid. But, ultimately, you can only be rejected if you’ve brought something to the table, and though a rejection says you are not yet successful, it also says you had the guts to try.

It doesn’t pay the bills, but it still has value. How much value depends on how you handle it, and use it, like the boxer, the gymnast or the bar band, to better yourself and further your work.

K

Eric: Shit, man, good for you. Good not only because you’re getting requests, but because you’re doing it in the first place. High-five.

– c.

K

Graduates of the Wendig School of Fecal Studies.

Paul, hilarious.

That is all.

– c.

Shit happens. Today shit happens to you. Shit may not normally happen to you, but you have to deal with this shit now. You can go apeshit…you can be a chickenshit…or you can just shrug it off and not give a shit. At the end of the day, though, this doesn’t change the fact that we thought your work was complete shit. We’re sorry if this makes you feel like shit, but we figure you’ll just think that the whole situation is bullshit anyway.

Kindest regards.

I am only a legend in my own mind, I’m afraid.

Scionic:

Add that one to the list: Binging! Also: purging! Rejection demands that you damage your esophagus with fresh, hot vomit! (You comment was hilarious, by the way. Disturbing, but hilarious.)

– c.