Rejected Emotions

Embracing one's downfalls

Recently, I posted an article for the monthly contest. I was very proud of this article and hoped that it would help at least one other person out there. However, the next day I checked my stats and realized that not only had the article not helped anyone, it was a total failure. It was sitting at the bottom of my hubpage and had the lowest of my hubscores. On top of that, it was given not one, but two negative votes. I was crushed.

My first instinct was to remove the article before anyone else had a chance to see it. I wanted to remove all my articles and just leave with my head hung low and my tail between my legs. I felt worthless and even questioned my abilities as a writer. I could hear the voice of my high school speech teacher who had told me many years ago that becoming a writer was a wasted dream, and that I should consider a more lucrative vocation.

Then, I heard that inner voice that has lead me down this road of freelance writing. That voice reminded me that nobody is perfect and that the only way we can continue to grow is to once in a while get knocked down. I had to be reminded that no matter how much I've learned over the years, there are hundreds out there who know a lot more than I do.

The only way to continue to achieve my goals as a writer is to embrace my downfalls and to learn from them. So, to the people who gave my article the negative votes, thank you for bringing me back down to Earth. Thank you for giving me a reason to try harder and for reminding me that I've still got a lot more to learn. Thank you for validating my life as a writer.

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jimmythejock says:
3 years ago

what i find is that people are quick to give negative votes on hubpages but slow with the positive votes,i have alot of posts here where i have alot of positive comments but without the useful box having been used i find it strange that i get positive comments and negative votes lol.....jimmy

sapheyerblu says:
3 years ago

Thanks Jimmy. This was the first time I'd gotten negative votes, but it now just makes me want to do better, if for no other reason than to be able to go "Nanner, Nanner, Nanner". LOL. Thanks for posting.

brendalarsen says:
3 years ago

Hi! I too have had negative votes but I have far more positive ones. I found when I got my first first negative comment my heart fell to my stomach, no one likes rejection. I just keep going on and learn from my mistakes not everyone is going to like you. Keep trucking.

Brenda

sapheyerblu says:
3 years ago

Thanks Brenda. As a freelance writer, I could probably wallpaper my bedroom with rejection letters, but there was something about these negative votes that just shook me to the core. Yet, I've come to embrace them as much as my physical rejection letters. Only makes me want to try harder.

livelonger says:
3 years ago

I also get them (inexplicably!) from time to time. Anyone can register a negative vote. I've had a few of my articles still get up high in the rankings despite a number of negative votes (like my gaydar one), which almost has as many negative as positive ones!

Keep on writing, Saphyreblu; you have a lot of fans out there. ;-)

Paul Edmondson says:
3 years ago

I think I actually have the record with a Hub with the most "No" votes. When we created "Yes" | "No" votes the intention was for it to be very polarizing in terms of helping us identify spam. We believe that people use it differently then we intended. Like placing "No" votes when they don't agree with the authors opinion. We are working on different messaging. Love to hear suggestions.

Sapheyerblu, I think it's pretty obvious that you are one of the highest level writers we have and all your contributions are greatly appreciated:) You also have a great attitude that I'm sure serves you well and is a great example for others.

sapheyerblu says:
3 years ago

Ya'll are gonna make me cry. Livelonger and Paul. Thank you both for your kind and inspiring words. This is why I continue to write for this site. Everyone here goes out of their way to keep others on the up side of life. I hope you all realize, I'm a fan of each of you as well. :o)

Madame Sosostris says:
3 years ago

Dearest sapheyerblu,

Hello! I am so sorry I have not met you before today, for you seem a true delight! This site is growing so large, it is hard to keep track of all the wondrous members who daily add much to all of our lives. I will get me to your pages today, and read carefully. And do not let those negative votes get you down. I find it is usually done out of sheer maliciousness by just a very few bad eggs, not here per se, but at other places I have been. A pox on them all!

Yours in New Friendship,

Madame S.

Denmarkguy says:
2 years ago

Part of having an authentic voice and staying true to oneself involves the risk of exposing ourselves to moments where that voice isn't what "others" want to hear. I know this feeling well, because much of my writing on self-growth and awareness subtly rattles people's cages... and few want to be stirred from their spiritual/intellectual slumber. So they retailiate, rather than pause to contemplate if there is wisdom in the proferred message.

This was written a long time ago, so hopefully your writing has since become more appreciated, and has found more of a following.

Poetic Knight says:
2 years ago

there are a great many truths in life. Being knocked down is not always a bad thing. As long as we get back up an persevere. Creating magic with words is an art. One which I am always striving to achieve. This is a very good wisdom on this site, thanks.