When I wrote my last blog about my first official rejection, I promise I was not looking for sympathy or even encouragement. I just felt like it was finally time for me to be willing to do the work and be honest with what it is like inside my head (spoiler alert: it is really, really loud).

I needed to get my process down, because as an off-the chart extrovert, it isn’t actually real unless you tell someone about it. What I did not expect was those “someones” would comment and email and text words of support, advice, and love. I was overwhelmed with wisdom and compassion.

I want to share a part of what I sent to the agent tonight. As background, please know her rejection was so kind and thoughtful, I felt like I should apologize to her for having to give me bad news.

“…to say your note triggered an emotional landslide would be only a bit of an overstatement. That sounds traumatic, but in fact you gave me an unexpected gift with your very soft no…

I promised myself since I finished my MFA that when I got my first rejection letter, I would print it out, frame it, and put it on my wall instead of my (basically useless) diploma. Because then it would mean I was actually doing the work to be a real author…

I hope our paths cross again… and until then, know your honest words will be hanging on my wall, reminding me to be brave.”

And now, sweet blog friends, I have your words, too…