Rejection is an unavoidable part of freelancing, and in some ways, an even harder obstacle to overcome than learning to file your quarterly taxes or registering as an LLC.

We all experience rejection, but far too often we only talk about or celebrate the wins. The rejection is the stuff that happens behind-the-scenes, which can make it feel like you're the only one experiencing it. Take it from your fellow freelancers below: That is not the case. They've shared their stories of rejection, and how they've powered through it over the years. Hearing "no" may be painful, but without it, you never get to "yes."

“I have suffered more rejections than I'd ever recall. Back in the days of paper letters, I used to post them on my closet. There is really only one rejection that still bothers me, Scientific American, who I had reported for in the past. But my editor this time didn't think my bridge story was coming together. (I won't give more details since all research is fodder for future pitches.)

I moped around my late mom’s in Texas and she probably took me out for Mexican. It certainly helped several years later when BBC Travel bought my pitch and let me interview the late Dr. Jane Goodall!” - Laurie Wiegler

“Life and work are essentially baseball. If you can hit .300 or above you are in Cooperstown. You are Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, and Jackie Robinson. So although having a .300 batting average means 7 times out of 10 you didn't get a hit, you're still in the Hall of Fame.

So don't worry too much about the misses. You gotta keep swinging. However, do learn when not to swing and waste a strike on what would have been a ball. As long as you're above the Mendoza Line you're doing pretty good.” - Ben P.

“I believe I am one of the Most Rejected People in America. I was in sales for 16 years, have been an actor for 30+ years, pursued traditional publishing of multiple completed manuscripts for more than two decades and have been single for (mumble mumble) years after a divorce.

That means rejections from thousands of book and acting submissions, dozens of writing contests, a few thousand auditions, years on dating apps/going to singles events, submissions to storytelling shows and film festivals and more. Over time, I learned to let most rejections roll off like water on a duck, believe each no gets you closer to yes, share strategies by giving workshops on rejection, and use the persistence I developed working in sales and training to keep going. That being said, every now and again there's a rejection that sticks with me for a bit.” - Anonymous

“I find it so ironic that this business is practically built on rejection, right? So when one thinks about the reality of being in show business (and its “qualifications”) you have to know that auditioning and rejection are a major part of accepting this line of work.

Some days, some rejections are easier than others…I’ve matured through the years and thus my relationship with rejection has as well - I know that it’s not about me and my talent — sometimes it could be about what I’m wearing, who I’m standing next to, the casting person don’t like what I was wearing, they had a bad day, it’s a required call and the role is already filled - there are so many factors that go into the casting, and if you can maintain a sense of who you are and what your talents are, realistically, you learn to not let the rejection in and tear you apart. Know your worth. Know your value. There are SO many factors beyond our control.

Something else is always around the corner. Keep your chin up. Sing, dance, create — because you love to — don’t ever lose the joy of the craft and why you do it and what it means to you. It’s not always about whether someone else thinks you’re cast worthy.” - Valerie D.

“I handle rejection by not seeking revenge; I think positively about the future of the economy and entrepreneurship. Being creative in a professional way means recycling all of the rejections into a creative project. I go on the internet to regroup. I leave my house to seek new experiences to generate a new story.” - Anonymous

“I don’t even use the word ‘rejection’ anymore. In my opinion, there really isn’t any such thing as “rejection” - not in jobs, and not in personal relationships. If a job, client, or relationship doesn’t “choose” you – or it doesn’t work out long term- all it means is that it’s not the right fit for you. I’d say learn from the experience, and don’t get hung up on getting or achieving that exact thing or person. If you’re not chosen, or you’re let go after a time, it’s not a rejection: it just means the situation is a bad fit on a deeper level - on both sides.” - Rosie M.