I got an interesting letter this week. The Nicholl Foundation, with The Academy Awards, informed me that my screenplay, Trading In Souls, has placed in the top 5% of 5000 scripts submitted. I didn’t know what that meant at first. Then one of my friends, a writer who encouraged that I enter, said, “Man, this is the most prestigious script competition in the world. You’re in.” Well, perhaps.
How does this relate to you, who create visually instead of with words? It has to do with the journey, and what you get out of it. Please let me explain.
I began writing short stories in 1980, in college. These were praised, but uniformly rejected by magazines. I wrote my first novel in 1983-84, and it was promptly rejected–with good reason. I went back to work, and over the next twenty-three years wrote six more novels, two works of nonfiction, and this script–adapted from one of my novels. Along the way I picked up a NY agent, then had to leave him when he grew inactive. I felt I could do better on my own, and managed to place Artist’s Life. This was a very good start.
How many times was I rejected over the years? 277. Did this depress me? Not as much as it pissed me off. I knew, at a certain stage, that my work had merit. My critics told me so. But because I had no connections, I got nowhere. Sound familiar? How many galleries have you been rejected from because you were an unknown? I can just guess.
But somewhere along the way I decided the journey was more important than the end result, so remained focused on the work, and living fully. It was my job to approach that blank page–or canvas–with the same passion each day, regardless of whether the work was ever recognized. After all it really isn’t about me; it’s about what I can give.
This achievement in LA humbles me, but whatever happens, the passion must remain the same. As artists, we aren’t born to this gig to work only for status and success, giving up if we don’t achieve it. Our nature usually won’t let us give up. We do our damnedest, with few of us “succeeding,” but giving our all is really what it’s about anyway.
I love that part of the journey. Living that way, I’ll always be able to look back and know I fulfilled my calling. Whether or not it’s recognized really isn’t my problem; my first job is to achieve mastery.
What’s the script about? A veteran of the current Iraq War who comes home wounded and suffering from severe PTSD, unable to pick up where he left off. Does he happen to be an artist? Damn straight.
So if you’re tired of being rejected, and don’t think you can take another bout of it, please let all that go. Just focus on the work, and see where that takes you. You may be surprised–provided you get it out there.
Congrats Paul……you certainly deserve this recognition. Rejection is such a difficult thing to deal with but after reading your fabulous book (that I have recommended to every artist I know) I feel I’ve grown a thicker skin. Here’s to going for it….the journey and the passion. No amount of rejection will ever stop me from creating what I was born to create.
WOW! Congratulations to you, and well deserved!
Thanks to you both. Here’s to a thick skin, and digging on the journey.
Hi:
That is tremendously great news and yea! To look at rejection positively, it is one of the great things that does give you the stubborness to keep trying and enhancing your efforts. I truly hope that one of your scripts will break through and make something great. There’s so many junky movies these days, it is always nice to see something that rings true and offers more interesting variety. Way to go!
Cheers to you!
My sister is also a writer (though not as far along in her journey as you) and I hear her trials and tribulations. Myself a painter, I have had my share of rejections, etc. The creative sort are infected with a wonderful disease usually a blessing thoughat times frustrating.
It makes us all feel good to hear that those things happen. (And those in the movie biz will call you an “overnight success”!) Thanks for sharing it!
Paul…You are definitely inspiring. I agree with you wholeheartedly that you need to hang in there for the journey. Things will eventually come your way if you try to stay in the game by creating and continuing to let people know who you are time and time again. It keeps us all going to know that someone we respect has the same issues as all of us lesser knowns.
Tracy: Please just tell your sister that all things are possible, as long as you stay inspired, and don’t give up. As soon as you give up, it’s over–and you’ll never know how close you might have been.
Susan: I’m not sure I’m worthy of the respect, and none of you are lesser-knowns. Pretty much we’re all equals in this gig, just with different struggles. And please don’t forget, while this will make it much easier for me to get a new agent, I still have a very long way to go in getting the script optioned, and produced. But man, that part of the journey’s going to be a riot either way.
Congrats, Paul! That’s fantastic! And you have a valuable way of viewing rejection…it does tend to get depressing after a point, but it is very true that the creating of the work is really the most important thing. Thanks for reminding me of that!