United Skates of America (http://www.usa-skating.com/way) was THE spot to be when I was in my very early teens. I’d skate, play video games, and… work hard to muster the courage to finally ask my teen crush, Sharon, to skate with me. She was soooo cute. But, I could never get the words out. It felt and looked a lot like this: http://tinyurl.com/n3unqo

The fear and humiliation of rejection can be so powerfully paralyzing that dreams can go unrealized… like skating with Sharon. 

If baseball is America’s pastime, saying “no, it’s a pass” is Hollywood’s.

Rejection is and will always be part of your journey as a screenwriter. That’s simply a fact. But, you can use rejection to empower you instead of sabotage you.

Academy Award Nominated Screenwriter and ICON, Sylvester Stallone said the following about his view on the subject, “I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat.”

Here are a few tips on how to address rejection:

1. As Zig Ziglar says, “Every ‘no’ that you receive is one step closer to a ‘yes’” and more importantly closer to aligning you with the right executive, producer, manager, and/or agent.
2. You’ve said “no” in the past. So think of a time when you rejected an opportunity that was presented to you- what was going through your mind?
3. Be sure to put things into perspective. Avoid using ‘always’ or ‘never,’ when you’re talking to yourself about your career. For example, “Agents always reject me”/“I’ll never sell my project.”
4. Remember that each experience can be a lesson if you’re open to it.
5. Don’t take it personal. It’s business. Solely business.
6. Avoid phoning everyone you know to moan and prolong your suffering.
7. Instead of self pity, indulge yourself in a self-esteem ritual… do something which makes you feel great.

I hope these tips are helpful, they changed my life. It’s not going to be easy, it takes practice, it takes work, but doesn’t everything.