Introductory Approaches

Creative people have a record of sharing their successes, awards, grants, exhibitions, and milestones, but they fail to discuss one of the biggest hurdles in their work: rejection. Rejection is a frequent companion for artists and other creative professionals, whether due to an unsuccessful fellowship application, a grant rejection, or an inability to publish their manuscript or have their work exhibited to the public. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

The road that the artist takes on the journey of artistic achievement is rarely linear, being filled with unknowns, obstacles, and disappointments. Still, those times of uncertainty usually provide the beginning of new growth, innovation, and long-term success. 

This is a story about creative professionals’ experiences with rejection, how professional artists develop their careers, and how resilience is necessary to move forward in their pursuits. 

The impact of the modern creative economy has created unprecedented opportunities for creative artists (musicians, researchers, writers, independent creatives, etc.) to expand their careers through digital platforms and by applying to grant programs, fellowships, residencies, and collaborative projects. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

However, as opportunities have increased, the number of artists applying for these grants has risen significantly.

More than ever before, thousands of highly qualified individuals apply each year for prestigious fellowships, grants, and creative programs. Given the number of applicants and the very low acceptance rates, many talented artists have been unable to secure grants or other funding to support their work. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

Creatives frequently feel that their work, which reflects their identity, experiences, and vision, is personal. Rejection can be especially tough for creatives because the submission process often represents a significant investment of time and energy to create the piece (sometimes several years). As a result, it is much harder for artists to cope emotionally with rejection. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

The Emotional Effects of Rejection on Creative People

As an artist, you will have a wide variety of emotional responses related to dealing with rejection. These include disappointment, frustration, self-doubt, and anxiety, all of which can lead to feelings of emotional distress. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

Many artists experience thoughts like:

• Is there something wrong with my talent?
• Is my work worth anything?
• Will I be able to get by down this road?
• What am I doing that is not working?

These thoughts are perfectly normal but can be extremely damaging if they become the focus of an artist’s mind. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

There is a growing recognition that an artist’s mental health is an important factor in supporting a long-term creative career. As an artist, you will regularly find yourself under constant scrutiny and competing with others. This can add to the already present stress level and potentially lead to emotional exhaustion. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

By recognizing the challenges associated with coping with rejection, artists can begin to develop healthier response patterns.

“When Big Opportunities Don’t Happen

There are many creative people, including those in the visual arts, music, and performing arts, who want to be involved in high-visibility programs/institutions that provide recognition, money, mentorship, and professional development. At TopTrendingHub, examples include major fellowships awarded by the arts, university-level research grants, interdisciplinary artistic programs (such as the Nasir Jones Hip Hop Fellowship at Harvard’s Hutchins Center), and community-based programs designed to support artists at various stages of their development.

There can be feelings of greater disappointment when a person receives a rejection letter from one of these programs, as these are usually very important opportunities.

However, a rejection does not indicate a person’s total value or potential.

The decision-making process for selection committees is usually difficult, as they have limited space, predetermined project-related selection criteria, limited funding, and competing priorities within an institution. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

A rejection very often reflects more about the circumstances of the program than an applicant’s abilities.

What You Don’t See Behind the Success of Creative People

When looking at the success of many creative people through social media and other professional networks, you see their accomplishments, but you do not see the countless times they were rejected before achieving success.

For example, you will probably see a post from a visual artist announcing that they received an award for an exhibition or have been accepted into a fellowship. What you will not see is that before receiving the award or acceptance, that same artist submitted dozens and dozens of unsuccessful applications.

Behind many artists’ successful creative careers is a long history of rejection.

Many authors who have written bestselling books have had their book proposals rejected numerous times before finding a publisher willing to publish their work.

Many times, visual artists represented by prestigious galleries have had to endure years of rejection before being represented.

Many musicians have a long history of rejection before building a faithful fan base.” Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

How Freelancers Manage Rejection

Because freelancers and independent artists routinely pitch ideas, seek funding, and look for clients, they experience more rejections than employees do.

Successful independent creatives have developed systems that help them deal with disappointment. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

Some typical systems include:

1. Separating Yourself from the Outcome

Being rejected by one of the proposals means that you (the artist) are not a lesser (or greater) person.

2. Having More than One Opportunity Available to You

Many creatives work on multiple submissions simultaneously rather than focusing on a single one.

3. Having Records of Your Applications, Submissions, and Accomplishments

Documentation helps put things in perspective. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

4. Acknowledging Your Effort

Submitting an application is an act of bravery and commitment; the effort put into it is an important factor.

5. Using Your Rejections for Creative Growth

One of the best ways to recover from creative rejection is to change the way you think about it.

Instead of viewing a rejection as a closed door, think about it as information.

This will lead to supporting questions that will help you process the rejection and grow from the experience.

Some of these questions may include, but aren’t limited to:

• What could I do better?
• What have I learned?
• Can I take another path toward my goals?
• What can I do better in my future submissions?

This growth-oriented approach to rejection will turn these types of setbacks into opportunities for future development. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

The Importance of Community Support

The act of being creative can often feel solitary, especially when times are tough and rejections come.

When you reach out to your peers, you can find the support and encouragement you need to keep going.

Creative communities help artists:

• Share Experiences
• Exchange Resources
• Provide Constructive Criticism
• Celebrate Successes
• Normalize Rejection

Understanding that others are facing similar difficulties can help minimize your feelings of discouragement. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth. 

Takeaways from Fellowships.

• Preparing to apply for an arts fellowship.
• Applicants must spend a large amount of time writing a proposal and developing a project Plan.
• Even if applicants are not selected, they can still gain many benefits from the application process.

The benefits of applying for a fellowship may include gaining:

• Clearer project goals,
• Strengthened portfolios,
• Improved writing skills,
• Increased confidence in professional abilities,
• Greater understanding of funding requirements.

The benefits derived from applying will remain available long after the applicant has been notified of their application status.

The Value of Peer Support

• During periods of rejection, creative artists may feel their work is isolated.
• Connecting with other artists, or creative peers, may give artists encouragement and perspective. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

Creative communities provide many opportunities to:

• Share experiences,
• Share resources,
• Provide constructive feedback and celebrate the successes of the creative artist community,
• Normalize rejection.

When creative artists know that other artists have faced or are facing similar rejection challenges, it helps them feel less discouraged.

In conclusion

Confession of rejection is essentially a confession of resilience.

All artists, writers, researchers, or musicians encounter setbacks; it’s not the fact that they’ve experienced one that determines how successful they are, but how they respond to it.

Creatively, setbacks can cause distress, but also serve as a catalyst for new growth, learning, and discovery.

Creatives can successfully turn their setbacks into stepping stones by embracing resilience, supporting their mental health, continuing to seek meaningful opportunities, or even starting new ventures/businesses.

Opportunities can come when you least expect them; your next proposal/application may be successful, and your next project may open new opportunities beyond what you ever considered possible. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

Common Questions About Creative Careers

1. What should I do as an artist when faced with a rejection?

The first thing to do is accept your feelings about the experience you had while creating. Once you’ve done this, take an objective look at what happened, get constructive criticism from others, then move forward and create more art. Getting rejected is just part of growing as a creative person. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.

2. Why do creatives experience so much rejection from opportunities?

One reason is that the creative fields are highly competitive, and most funding opportunities or job openings receive hundreds of applications.

3. Can rejection make my creative work better?

Yes! The process of reflecting on your rejection will often lead to developing better skills or improving the overall project and the application.

4. What do I do after being rejected for a fellowship?

Review your application, identify weaknesses, and update your portfolio. Don’t forget to continue searching for more opportunities to apply.

5. How do creative people stay motivated after being rejected?

Keep your long-term goals in mind, celebrate what you have achieved, participate in creative networks, and continue creating.

6. Does being rejected affect the well-being of an artist?

Yes, repeated rejections can lead to increased depression and a loss of confidence in your abilities. It is important to take care of yourself and have a strong support system.

7. What is creativity-based career resilience?

Creativity-based career resilience is the ability to change your course of action, bounce back from disappointment, and keep working toward your creative goals. Remarkable Confessions of Rejection & Growth.