Natania Barron talks about rejection
here:
http://aldersgatecycle.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/inspiring-bits-from-ira-glass/
The conversation we were twittering was actually about how rejection kills careers. Even people who have made it far, had books published, still find themselves eventually giving up due to rejection. And it’s all too easy to say such and such a thing is weak, or they deserved it, or whatever. But it happens. A lot. And is frustrating. Hell, just recently I’ve had that same thought flitter through my mind- that the rejection is just too much, too annoying. But then again, that sensation of selling- man. It makes it worth it.
I have read that one needs to work for about ten years in the arts to succeed. This is 24/7 kind of work.
I know that rejections have really brought me down in the past. Still plugging at it at a low simmer, though. I guess the focus has to be on the current art and not on past rejections.
But when does “working in the arts” start? For me, anyway, I’ve been plugging away at it since I was twelve or so…
I’m not sure if there’s a magic number, but I know it’s not an easy fix. There’s no magic potion, there’s no special card–it just happens when and if it happens. Sure, there’s plenty of stuff you come across and ask, “How the hell did that get published?” Sometimes, it’s just a mystery
I don’t buy that ten years in the arts thing. Or the idea that you need to write 10 million “bad words” before you’re writing gets good (since that doesn’t make any sense- why would producing that much shitty writing equal to automatic brilliance?)
It is a time thing, that we know. Some people, it goes faster (but peak earlier) and others have to wait wait wait before success comes to them (but last longer with brilliance).