Write of Passage Weekly

Hey writers,

Welcome back to Write of Passage Weekly.  Last week, you learned why easy reading is hard writing. This week, consider why criticism and setbacks are actually key ingredients for success.

Obstacles or Stepping Stones?

Writing is like scaling the rugged face of a cliff, where every protruding rock seems to mock you with the threat of stumbling. Writing is a daunting trek, one that F. Scott Fitzgerald knew all too well when he admitted, “Work like hell! I had 122 rejection slips before I sold a story.” More than anything, Fitzgerald’s rejections are a measure of his perseverance, and every successful writer is someone who has persevered. Every rock between you and the summit is an obstacle, unless you treat them as stepping stones.

At first, each piece criticism or disapproval feels insurmountable, blocking you from climbing towards your goal. It’s easy to think of these as just instruments of pain and symbols of failure. However, the more seasoned the writer, the clearer it is that criticism and disapproval are the very things you need to reach success. As a writer, your path requires you to work like hell, not in spite of the jagged stones but because of them. They are essential. They hurt, they teach, and ultimately, they lift you higher. Feel their sturdiness, learn their lessons, and build your path upwards. Criticism is fleeting, the pain temporary. Persevere, and that obstacle becomes a source of lasting growth.

For Fitzgerald, each one of those 122 rejections was a jagged edge on the cliff that asked him, “Is this where you give it all up?”, and each one of them became a step towards literary fame. Each rejection proved to be an opportunity for him to grow into the renowned author of stories that would captivate readers for generations, like The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night.

Maybe you’ve been publishing for a while but no one reads your essays. Maybe your latest piece got torn apart in the comments section. Maybe something you posted caused people to unsubscribe. Whatever the misstep may be, it exists to test your grit and dedication. Through the cycles of rejection and revision, what was once a rocky, painful trek becomes a staircase built from your own efforts and insights. Each step up offers a better view, a clearer vision of the masterpiece that lies within you, waiting to be realized. The journey of writing, therefore, is not about avoiding failures but transforming them, by understanding their purpose and using them to ascend. 

Anyone can choose to quit and return to ground level, back to where they started. It’s the ones who persevere who become great writers. Embrace each rejection and setback as Fitzgerald did, as necessary parts of your path to the summit.

How I Write Podcast

From Struggle to Synthesis | Ana Lorena Fabrega

From frustrated middle school teacher to Chief Evangelist at Synthesis School. From 46 email subscribers to 165,000. From hating writing to publishing her first book with a major publishing house: The Learning Game.

What made all of this possible for Ana Fabrega? She unlearned how to write.

In this episode, Ana shares the seven writing principles you should unlearn if you want to fall in love with writing again and reach people with your ideas. Like Ana, your best ideas could have the power to impact hundreds, if not thousands, of people. You just need to share them in a way that resonates.

If you’re ready to start making an impact with your ideas, then come learn writing for the modern age. 

Listen Now: YouTube | Spotify | Apple

Thank you for reading Write of Passage Weekly. This week, climb a mountain (or write an essay).

Happy writing,

The Write of Passage Team