How to Handle Disappointment and Keep Writing
Written by Rebecca Rijsdijk
As poets, we often pour our hearts and souls into our work. We craft words and phrases that seek to capture the essence of our experiences and emotions. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, our poetry falls flat. It may not resonate with readers or critics, or it may simply fail to meet our own expectations.
Failing as a poet can be deeply disappointing and frustrating. It's natural to feel a sense of disappointment when our work isn't received well or doesn't meet the standards we set for ourselves. But it's important to remember that failure is a normal and necessary part of the creative process.
One of the most important things to remember when facing failure as a poet is to not give up. It can be easy to get discouraged and lose motivation, but it's important to keep writing and experimenting with new ideas. Even the greatest poets have experienced failure at some point in their careers. The key is to not let it hold you back, but rather to use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Here are some more tips for handling disappointment when things don't go as planned:
Take time to process your emotions: It's natural to feel upset or frustrated when we face disappointment, and it's important to allow ourselves time to process these emotions. This might involve taking a break, journaling, or talking with a trusted friend.
Practice self-compassion: It's important to be kind to ourselves when we face disappointment. This might involve reminding ourselves that failure is a normal part of the creative process and that it's not a reflection of our worth as a person.
It's also helpful to seek feedback and support from others. This can be in the form of a writing group, a mentor, or even just a trusted friend or family member. Receiving constructive criticism can be difficult, but it can also be incredibly valuable in helping us to improve our craft.
Reflect on what you learned: Rather than dwelling on the disappointment, try to focus on what you learned from the experience. What can you take away from it that will help you grow as a poet?
Keep writing and experimenting: It's important to not let disappointment hold us back from continuing to write and experiment with new ideas. Even if something didn't work out as planned, it doesn't mean that all of our work will fail.
By following these tips, you can learn to handle disappointment in a healthy way and continue to grow and improve as a poet. It's important to remember that failure is a natural part of life, and it's something that we all experience at some point.
Finally, it's important to remember that failure is not a measure of our worth as poets. It's simply a part of the journey. So when we fail, it's important to not let it define us, but rather to use it as a chance to learn, grow, and become better writers. So, failing as a poet is a normal and necessary part of the creative process, and it's important to not let it hold us back, but rather to use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
REBECCA RIJSDIJK is the author of several poetry collections, including Portraits of Girls I Never Met and The Lady from across the Sea. Besides writing poetry, Rebecca works in healthcare and lives in Eindhoven with her partner and a bandit dachshund called Bobbie. She is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sunday Mornings at the River.