3 PFOs and a maybe*

*the maybe being a slightly nicer version of a PFO - ie you were nearly there, but other people were more there than you (if only those 5 or ten feckeens had been out wastin time, cleaning windows or shooting pool or doing anything else, instead of intentionally contributing to your dissappointment by writing something better than the thing that you submitted) - actually the maybe came in separately anyway - a few days earlier - so let's not worry about that, let me instead just tell you about the 3 PFOs

When all the pfos come in on one day it's kind of funny.

First one comes in, you say - "ah well", sigh aloud, look sorrowfully at the little pen clasped in your tough little hand and slow down with the writing a little, maybe go for a break, have a cup of tea, feel it, at your leisure, like the mean little punch in the gut that it is.

Second one in - feels like they're ganging up on you, they've compared notes, the editors of all the magazines are taking about you over their G&T's laughing into their hands, the bullies, determined to knock you off that writing path. You almost agree, well two heads are better than one, maybe they've got something.

When the third PFO in one day drops into your inbox it just makes you laugh, you actually realise - they are seriously trying to stop you, because:

a) you're so brilliant that you are a massive threat to the entire literary universe and you must be stopped

b) they're all remarkably rejectiony of a Monday

or

c) what you've been writing up to now wasn't good enough - you have to write more to get something that is good enough.

Whichever it is, the third rejection of a day can kind of balance out the second gut punch, like by the time the third one comes, you've gotten up off the floor, spat out your teeth and you're ready to go, the fight just got serious, it's time to write.

You turn your email off, for at least 10 minutes, and write the best itty bitty bit of a story you've ever written..... that day so far.

Rejection - better than coffee for lighting a fire under you, and only twice as bitter.