Dear Creatives,
We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into your art, your words, your creation. You put it out into the world, vulnerable and hopeful, only to face rejection. It stings. It can feel as though the universe is telling you to give up.
But I’m here to tell you: Rejection isn’t the end of your story. It’s the beginning of your next chapter.
When I Stopped Believing in Myself
My first novel was published in 2003 with a mid-size publisher. But I wanted a different publisher for my next novel. In 2007, after years of writing, rewriting, and sharing drafts of my novel UnAuthored Letters, I sent my manuscript to a top editor at Putnam Berkley. He’d asked to see it. I was ecstatic—a dream within reach! But when his letter arrived, it wasn’t the dream come true I hoped for. It was a polite rejection.
That letter hit harder than I expected. It wasn’t just one “no.” It felt like all my effort, passion, and belief in myself had been for nothing. As more challenges followed, I decided to put my writing on hold. I convinced myself it was temporary. But deep down, I felt lost about my dream of being an author.
I hit a place where I stalled. Eventually, I decided to drop my website, thinking I’d simply pick up my author domain—www.taracallred.com—when I was ready again.
But life has other plans. Since I purchased my domain in 2003 (during the early years of website addresses), it got snatched up and used for other purposes. When I discovered this, I tried to repurchase the domain address, but first, it was not for sale, and then later, it was listed at an impossible price. It now felt like my author's online identity had been taken and held for ransom.
The Price of Giving Up
Letting go of my dream came with an unexpected cost—not just the thousand-dollar price tag of my domain but the emotional weight of rebuilding from scratch. In time, I started over, building a new website under a new address—www.taracallred.net—which meant being at ground zero for all the backend value of a website. Regularly, I received notifications of the status to reclaim my .com address. Continuously it remained out of reach, a powerful reminder of the long-term ramifications of surrendering my dream.
However, during this time I also learned this valuable truth: We can lose belief in ourselves temporarily, but the creative spirit never truly dies.
The Comeback Miracle
In December 2024, over 14 years after I gave up my original domain, a miracle happened. Out of the blue, I got an email from GoDaddy. Thanks to them working with me on this since 2013, my original domain, taracallred.com, was back in my possession. I couldn’t believe it! After years of setbacks, heartache, and rebuilding, it felt like the universe was saying, “It’s time to step fully into your dream.”
Still in a bit of shock, I called a GoDaddy representative to confirm, and he told me how rare this was. Most domains don’t come back like this. But mine did. It was a second chance—a symbol that I’d reclaimed not just my URL, but also a renewed belief in myself and my work over the years.
What You Can Learn From My Story
Here’s the truth, my creative friend: Your dream is worth fighting for.
Rejection is a redirection. It doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It means there’s more to learn, refine, and grow before your big breakthrough.
Giving up has a cost. When you stop believing in yourself, you lose momentum. But even if you stumble, you can always get back up. It’s never too late to start today.
Miracles happen when you’re ready to receive them. Sometimes, the universe gives you a second chance. But you have to work hard and show up for it.
Your Next Step
So, what’s one thing you can do today to reignite your creative passion? Write a single paragraph. Sketch one idea. Submit to one contest. Take one small step closer to the dream you thought was out of reach.
You are more resilient than you know. You have a gift the world needs, even if the world doesn’t know it yet. Keep going. Your comeback story is waiting to be written.
Love,
Another Creative, Tara
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