Writers And Performers Divulge Their Worst Rejection Stories

They can't all be winners...

Part of being an artist or creative of any kind is getting used to rejection - and a lot of it. Your family may not "get" what you do. Your friends aren't likely to be super supportive and buy your work. Most publishers and record companies only want re-hashes of things that have been successful in the past. Even J.K. Rowling was rejected a kajillion times before Harry Potter made it to the public eye.

Writers and performers are going to get rejected. It's just a fact. Twitter has been having a good time with rejections lately, though. The hashtag #ShareYourRejections has turned into a strangely inspirational, often hilarious, celebration of failure.

And yeah... it's both epic and really helping people remember the wise words of Dory the fish... just keep swimming. Here are some of our favorites.


Phil LaMarr Gets A Do-Over

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I played a character on a TV show. The next time the character appeared, they put out a casting notice to replace me. But they said I was welcome to come audition again. I thought "hey, I've sucked before but never gotten a do-over!" I re-auditioned & got it! #ShareYourRejections

- Phil LaMarr

This Author Decided To Decorate

This Book of Life's Best Rejections

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I was fired from a Disney show as a character designer. I deserved it.

We had 5 pilots at WB, Disney and Nick that did not go to series.

The Book of Life was rejected by every studio except for Fox.

Sandra said no the first time I asked her to marry me. #ShareYourRejections

- Jorge R. Gutierrez

This Poets Bloodbath

Subjective Rejection

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While querying, I once got a rejection that said they, "hated the voice but loved the plot". In the SAME DAY, I got a rejection saying they, "loved the voice but hated the plot." You guys, publishing is SO SUBJECTIVE. #ShareYourRejections

- Samantha Joyce

Savage-ly Rejected

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Every single label, company, publisher and manager in Australia rejected Savage Garden until one man, John Woodruff, took a risk. It only takes one believer. #ShareYourRejections

- Darren Hayes

Frame It!

My Big Fat Greek Reject

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My agent told me I wasn't pretty and dumped me, my manager told me actors can't be writers and dumped me. A year later I starred in my first screenplay, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. #ShareYourRejections

- Nia Vardalos

Rejected For Not Knowing Yourself?

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I had a paper rejected once because I "didn't seem to know the work of Jo Sharp well enough" - I am Jo Sharp!!! #ShareYourRejections

- Professor Jo Sharp

H/T: Twitter

Employees At Fancy Hotels Divulge Their Best Secrets

Reddit user akumamatata8080 asked: 'People who work at super fancy hotels, what kind of stuff happens that management doesn’t want people to know about?'

Gold chandeliers at hotel
Photo by Rodrigo Curi on Unsplash

Most of us who have not worked in hospitality have dreamed of having a nice getaway for a weekend, or staying in a top-rated hotel, and relaxing in one of its best suites.

But those who have worked in hospitality are ready to point out some of the unexpected features and oddities that circulate around these fancier accommodations.

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hotel room discoveries

Historical Events That Are Hard To Believe Happened

Collection of maps and atlases
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

While we may not all enjoy studying history, we all have certain types of stories that interest us, and one that seems to catch everyone's attention are the hard-to-believe, almost far-fetched tales.

Interestingly enough, history is full of these stories, leaving many to believe that reality is truly stranger than fiction.

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historical facts

People Confess Which Things They'll Never Forgive Their Parents For Doing

Man looking out window
Hamish Duncan/Unsplash

Anyone raising children can attest to the difficult challenges involved with being a parent.

And despite every intention of getting it right by doing the best job they can, not everyone is a perfect at being mom or dad.

Hopefully, people will be able to look back on their childhood and recognize that everything their folks did for them was all out of love.

If only that was the case.

Unfortunately, there are those who were never meant to be parents and have scarred their children with bad memories.

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parenting

Companies That Shamelessly Make Terrible Products

Outdated Apple Printer
Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

Be it for clothes, household appliances, or food, sometimes you know you can be one hundred percent confident with certain brands or companies when shopping that you will be getting a quality product.

Unfortunately, this goes both ways.

Some companies have a reputation for exclusively selling and manufacturing low-quality products.

One would think that these companies might reflect on poor sales and bad customer feedback, and attempt to improve their brand with each passing year.

Unfortunately, even if they still get items on the shelf, reviews on Amazon and elsewhere still seem to remain at two stars or less.

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bad products