Let me clarify. I have submitted proposals to several storytelling conferences and festivals for the coming year. Last week, I got my first rejection: 

"Thank you for your proposal. . .we had so many fine submissions. . .there are many factors that the selection committee must consider. . .we regret to inform you that your proposal was not accepted."

Years ago, I was selling big-dollar sponsorships for several conventions that our company was producing. I hated "cold calling." I would get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I picked up the phone, in fear that I would get a NO. Consequently, I was reluctant to make the calls and would put them off. A sales consultant came to the office to discuss the process and said,

"If you're not getting NOs, you're not making enough calls!"

I finally got it. It was a numbers game! I had to go through MANY calls with a NO in order to get to the few ones that said YES. I started seeing the NOs as a means to get to YES.

Many writers experience the same thing. Storyteller and children's book author Antonio Sacre talks about the many, many rejections he got before he finally found a publisher for his books. If he had stopped submitting after the first few NOs, he would never have had the success of The Barking Mouse, A Mango in the Hand and My Name is Cool.

It's the same with storytellers. The business side (as Sean Buvala continually reminds us) is an integral part of being a storyteller. We must sell ourselves. No one else will do it.

I must send out as many proposals as I can. . .
to get as many rejections as I can. . .
to eventually get to a YES.

SO BRING ON THE REJECTIONS!