Rejection is a blessing 🙌

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#WednesdayWisdom

"Align your personality with your purpose and no one can touch you." — Oprah

Morning Musings

Life has a way of coming at you fast. Just as I sending a friend a pep talk about "rejection being part of the writing process" after an essay she'd pitched was deemed "not a great fit," I received a rejection myself. This time from a literary retreat for writers of color I so desperately wanted to attend.

It was time for me to take my own advice and remind myself that not only is rejection part of the process, it's also almost always a blessing. Or, as my friend Chasity recently tweeted, "Rejection really is God's protection."

Thanks to social media, it's so easy to share our wins -- you know, the highlight reel. Heck, I did that very thing in last week's newsletter. But how often do we share the struggle, the so-called losses?

Earlier this year, another subscriber (hi, Sophia!), shared a powerful Instagram series with me. I'd recently bemoaned (yet another) rejection from a literary agent and she sent me a link to Mari Andrews' rejection series. 

Now, I'm not an illustrator by any stretch of the imagination, but Mari's vulnerability inspired me to be more transparent about my own rejections. So far, this year I:

• Have been rejected by FOUR literary agents (and counting!)

• Did not get TWO jobs I interviewed for 

• And, as I mentioned earlier, got rejected from ONE literary retreat

And that's not even counting all the pitches and book queries I've sent into the ether that received NO response. I think back to a post by a writer who aims for at least 100 rejections a year, because in order to obtain that number, it means they have to put themselves out there.

Being a writer is essentially rooted in putting yourself out there. Yes, it's hard. No, it doesn't necessarily get easier with time. But you cannot, in my opinion, become a "successful" writer (or successful anything, really) if you're afraid of being rejected. It's part of the process, my dear.

Throughout it all, I try to remind myself of something my mom has told me repeatedly over the years: "What God has for you, nobody can take from you." Sometimes rejections really are blessings in disguise. I'm learning to trust the process, enjoy the journey and share more about the struggle in the meantime (in real time).

What rejections are you proud of? Hit "reply," let me know and let's shout them from the rooftops! Because hey, rejection means you put yourself out there and, for that, I'm proud of you, friend.

Love,
L'Oreal

P.s. The biggest feedback from literary agents hasn't been that they don't love my voice, or the idea, but that my platform is "too small." If you'd be a doll and, share this newsletter with your friends and follow me on Twitter and Insta if you aren't already (and also share with your friends), I'd be sooo super appreciative. Real talk, I can't make this book happen with you. Thanks in advance!

P.p.s. Many thanks and much love to everyone who shared their recent accomplishments with me last week! Y'all are doing some really doing dope things, such as:

• writing your first TV pilot

• getting a new job with MORE pay

• investing in stocks and taking control of your financial future

• (re)starting a podcast

• getting in touch with your intuition

• relocating

• interviewing for an internal position

• sending pitches to Italian travel magazines

• volunteering for both Openhouse Milano 2019 and Openhouse Turin 2019

• "That's What She Said" performance at the Virginia Theater

• Continued growth and persistence of your Be The Benchmark program

ICYMI

Earlier this year, Vanessa K. De Luca, former editor-in-chief of Essence, announced that she was becoming the EIC of ZORA, Medium's new magazine for women of color.

Naturally, ya girl decided to shoot her shot once Vanessa announced a call for pitches (interestingly enough I submitted a pitch that had been passed over by other publications), and what do you know? I'm the newest contributor for ZORA!

This essay, about my life-changing experience at a yoga retreat for women of color, was truly personal and has been one of my favorite pieces to date. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

Illustration: Astrid Caballeros 

Links I Love

1. You're Doing Something Important When You Aren't Doing Anything

2. Not Great, Bob! The Case for Actually Being Honest When People Ask How You Are

3. The Pomodoro Technique Can Be an Act of Resistance

My Latest Obsession

This week's feature is more of a resource than an obsession. Since I started freelancing about 10 years ago, people have asked me a ton of questions about pitching editors and writing stories. 

Last week, my friend Melissa Kimble, founder of #blkcreatives, and Ashley Simpo, co-founder of KINDRD, announced First Draft, a guide for aspiring writers. It's 48 pages full of tips, tools and tactics on everything from 80+ content ideas to 12-month calendar to get you started.

I had the privilege of checking out an advance copy and 10/10 would recommend. Essentially, this is the guide I wish I had when I was starting out, and I hope you'll find it useful, too. Use the promo code LTINTHECITY to take $5 off your order...and get to writing!*

*Post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I get money, too (at no cost to you)! 

Now Hiring

1. Assistant Director, Communications, Marketing and Events for Open Heart Magic

2. Fall Internship for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

3. Writer and Communication Specialist for Healthy Schools Campaign

4. Senior Manager, Policy Communications for Amazon

5. Public Relations Associate for Girls Who Code

6. Head of Marketing for Basecamp

7. Senior Manager, Social Media for Share Our Strength

8. Content & Social Community Manager for New Teacher Center

Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this edition of LT in the City Weekly! Be sure to follow me on the Interwebs using the buttons below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!