Perseverance For Writers: Finding the Write One When the Others Won’t Work

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

Thomas Edison supposedly once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.” Some question whether the statement is based on facts or legend, and the number often waffles between 10,000 and 1000. 

Nevertheless, the inspiring quote motivates the would-be inventor, the wanna-be writer, the aspiring artist. 

Let’s hope your book pitches and article queries haven’t surpassed even 100 “this one doesn’t work” rejections, but we can certainly be encouraged by those who have faced rejection and yet persevered. 

A favorite motivational quotable in the writerly world often centers around a particularly successful children’s author, Dr. Seuss. The highly successful (though some of his work has recently come under scrutiny) author faced 27 rejections before his first book was accepted. 

In case you’re thinking of giving up, let me encourage you with others who faced rejection and kept plowing through darkness, marching towards the flicker of hope in their hearts. 

You may have heard some of these rejection-turned-into-success stories, but I hope they’ll inspire you on the journey. 

Even though I’ve never watched an entire episode, let alone an entire season of American Idol, I’m always fascinated by those rejected that go on to do great things. 

For examples of the show’s success stories, and accomplishments in other arenas, check out these stories of perseverance: 

• Moriah Peters, wife of For King and Country singer Joel Smallbone, met rejection on the show’s tryout, reportedly because she shared some of her Christian commitments during the audition. Several successful albums later, she’s still singing!

• Christian singer Colton Dixon, a favorite on the show for part of the 11th season, was eliminated before the season ended. When faced with the rejection, he told US Weekly, “I know God will use me to do other things.” He was nominated for New Artist of the Year just one year after his elimination from the show, and his Christian songs top charts and win awards consistently.

• Lauren Daigle, with three rejections from American Idol a decade ago, just recently returned to the show to perform and serve as a mentor to other contestants. 

• Finishing third in her season on the show, Melinda Doolittle is a singer, writer, and philanthropist whose backup singer credits include Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans. 

• Mandisa, eliminated from the 2006 show, released her first full-length album one year after the Idol rejection. It debuted in the number one spot on the Top Christian Albums charts, marking a first-time accomplishment for a new female artist. 

• One of Oprah Winfrey’s first professional positions, a primetime co-anchor role, ended in the failure of the news show.

• Two studios rejected George Lucas’ Star Wars space fantasy before 20th Century Fox agreed to take a risk on the movie pioneer. 

• Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team as a sophomore in high school. He didn’t make the varsity team, but honed his skills on the junior varsity team that year instead.

• J.K. Rowling received dozens of rejection letters from notable publishing houses before she found one to publish her first of many Harry Potter novels.

• Milton Hershey failed miserably, several times, to successfully operate a candy factory. 

• Stephen King’s first work, Carrie, received 30 rejections before receiving a nod for publication.

• Walt Disney’s newspaper career ended when he was told he wasn’t creative enough, and his Mickey Mouse cartoons were rejected because they were “too scary for women,” reportedly. 

How’s your rejection status going, dear friends? Have you accumulated a wealth of rejections thus far? Then, you must be on the right path to find that successful “yes,” because you’ve already found most of the ways that won’t work, right? 

Don’t give up. 

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

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Julie Lavender, author of 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell), loves sharing God-stories in her paper and has written over 1000 newspaper articles thus far. Connect with Julie on social media – she’d love to help you earn writing credits by submitting to your local paper!