Cheesemeister, I’m glad, too.

And you’re right — I come from a different school of thought in terms of submitting vs. self-publishing. For me, rejections are expected in the literary world, especially early in your career. As such, rejection slips are trivial — like junk mail. Unlike junk mail, I keep a file of my rejections because when I receive an acceptance, it shows me how far along I am. My first pay stub is still tacked onto my bulletin board!

Being part of a group of writers you trust (folks who read your work and DON’T tell you it’s all wonderful but DO show where you can improve) is a source of support if rejections start to get you down, because they get them, too. Even the ones who’ve published several books (with intros by Pulitzer-Prize-winning authors) and hold tenure-track positions in creative writing programs get them, too! I know this firsthand!