On Rejection
I have just had a couple of rejections following proposals for projects /residencies.
As we all know, this is part of the job.
At the start of the mentoring programme, I was advised to buy a book called Resilience, facing down rejection and criticism on the road to success, by Mark Mc Guinness.
I have to say the book has helped a lot, although I thought I knew the process, rejection still hurts and needs taking care of. I have , however, noticed some difference in the way they responded to me in the last two cases;
There was a positive note to the response; I was informed that they were, anyhow, interested in my ideas and were expecting me to keep in touch.
I want to take this as a mark of progress and put it on the fact that i am developing ideas much further since going through the mentoring process.
As well as the rejections, I have also had a few fantastic comments on my ideas and my work and am developing a new body of work related to Walking.
I had been wondering if adding up rejections would break me, create an artist block, get me to get a ” Proper job” or be part of my ride to success.
I still am unsure about what it is doing to me, how damaging and heartbreaking? how inspiring? How much hope and faith do I still have in stock?
To end on a positive note, I have just had my first paper published in the International Journal of Social , political and Community Agenda with Common Ground Publishing.
Hurray!
