I remember one time getting a notice for registered mail. Now, I NEVER get registered mail, but this one happened to come at about the time one waiting period was coming to an end. I convinced myself it could BE the letter of acceptance I had been dreaming about and longing for. I ruled out every other possibility: being sued, being served a subpoena, winning Publishers’ Clearinghouse, being called to jury duty….So I "logically" concluded it was a letter saying my book was to be published AND given a obscene budget for marketing.
You all know I self-published and thus it was NOT that coveted letter. The reason I tell this story is to help you understand the agony and devastation we artists feel when our work is “rejected.” We do want the feedback and we strive to perfect our work, but these pieces, whether written, illustrated or both, are truly our blood, sweat and tears. Which is to say, they are a piece of us.
So, these waiting periods become unbearable at times. This is very 1st-world melodramatic, but it’s a simple fact I wish I could rise above. What I have done well with is to move on. There’s one piece of advice I can sink my teeth into!