Re-reading my rejected book proposal, I understand completely why it wasn’t accepted. Based on what I had written, even I would have turned it down.

Instead of telling an agent or publisher they needed to publish my book, I coyly asked them. Instead of giving them my vision I asked them to find one. I told them what I thought I could and wanted to do, instead of telling them what I had already done. On top, my proposal was weak, redundant, and lacked confidence.

It was hard to see that when I first wrote it because not only was it my first book proposal, it was my first major effort. I was so emotionally involved in it that I couldn’t step back and really look at it – or myself. I decided that the second proposal should not only be better, but be done a different way.

I re-wrote the proposal and still felt something wasn’t right. My judgement was impaired, as I had been staring at the same words for so long they had begun to lose meaning. I asked a good friend to read my proposal and give me some much needed feedback.

After reading it, she told me that I had some good lines in there and was on the right track, but said that I had failed to mention in it where I had kicked ass.

“It sounds a bit like you are trying to convince the reader that you will work really hard and try a lot and then you will become this thing that they want you to be.
You are already it!
You already rock the house!
You’ve already written a book!
You’ve already created several web sites that kick ass!
You have already created a HUGE fan base!”

Said point blank like that, her words hit me really hard. I hadn’t realised all that I had accomplished because I still thought of myself as still learning, not complete, not anywhere or anyone. Because I’m wrapped up in the process and work alone, it’s hard for me to step outside myself and really see what I’ve done. I forget that I have actually become something, rather than am still becoming.

With that kick in the ass I was able to rewrite my proposal from an entirely new angle – one with confidence.

I wrote exactly what my book was about, who I was about and why it needs to be published. I outlined all my success, my abilities, and my accomplishments. Tooting my own horn at first felt uncomfortable and I sometimes thought twice about doing so. However, I’ve been working hard for a year and a half and have made major headway and have amazing projects happening now that it’d be a lie for me to ignore them. After all, isn’t this what I’ve been working for?

My proposal is now almost complete as I just tweak the grammar and a few lines here and there. The difference between my first and second attempt is like night and day and I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished.

Instead of feeling like the rejection I received was the end of the world, I asked myself why it was rejected and what I could do to improve – and I did. This lifestyle is all about continuous learning and bettering myself because of that. Although it can be hard and frustrating at times, in the long run it’s a really amazing process. And instead of taking a step back when something doesn’t work out, I’m able to take two forward.

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