When Every Submission Feels Like a No: Reclaiming Your Writing Confidence

Send us Fan MailListeners, have you been struggling to pick yourself up after experiencing one—or maybe many—rejections of your work? It’s an experience that can make you feel so alone, but I want to be the first to say that we’ve all experienced the self-doubts and even shame a big rejection can create. In this week’s episode, Lynn Shattuck, Kristin Sancken and I share our personal rejection experiences, how to reframe the “no’s” you’ve received, and how to pick yourself back up when the writing life feels tough.Episode Highlights:3:12: Writing Rejection Stories12:06: Understanding the Tier of Rejection19:53: Capturing the Joy of Writing22:09: Navigating Our Disappointments36:11 What If The Work That’s Been Rejected Is Still a Yes for YouResources:Ditch Your Inner Critic NowThe Art of Intimacy: Crafting Connection in Memoir and Essay with Lilly Dancyger Giving Up on Giving UpHow To Read Between The Lines of Your RejectionsWhat Is Polyvagal TheoryThe Emotional Freedom TechniqueThe Loss of a Lifetime: Grieving Siblings Share Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope, edited by Lynn Shattuck and Alyson Shelton“Half-Life” by Lisa Cooper Ellison, published in The Kenyon ReviewKristin’s Bio: Kristin Thomas Sancken was born in Panama, raised in Mexico, and came of age in Minnesota before settling in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she lives with her husband, two children, and an exuberant Golden Retriever. Her writing has earned numerous awards and appeared in publications including The Guardian, HuffPost, and Columbia Journal. Lynn’s Bio: Lynn Shattuck writes on topics like grief, parenting and mental health. She was a columnist at Elephant Journal for ten years, where several of her essays on the topic of grief and sibling loss and parenting went viral. Lynn co-founded the website lossofalifetime.com, a hub of resources and community for those who’ve experienced sibling loss. She co-edited the essay collection, The Loss of a Lifetime: Grieving Siblings Share Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope, which was released in June of 2025.Connect with Kristin: http://www.sancken.com/Instagram & Threads: @ktsancken_writerConnect with Lynn: www.lossofalifetime.com, www.lynnlshattuck.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064888772287Instagram: @lynn_shattuckBuilding Better Memoir Scenes: https://janefriedman.com/building-better-memoir-scenes-with-lisa-cooper-ellison/Connect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Ditch Your Inner Critic: https://lisacooperellison.com/subscribe/Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedInProduced by Espresso Podcast Production