One of the (many) things
I like about
using a pen name (a brand)
is it puts emotional distance
between myself
and whatever happens
with the pen name.
I didn’t receive
a bad review.
The pen name
received a bad review.
I didn’t have
a story rejected.
The pen name
had a story rejected.
But that isn’t the truth
either.
The pen name
didn’t receive
a bad review.
The BOOK
received a bad review.
The pen name
didn’t have a story rejected.
The STORY
was rejected.
My activities,
the pen name’s activities
don’t represent
all of me.
Those are merely my actions.
“They didn’t reject you.
They rejected an application.
They rejected a business plan.
They rejected a piece of paper.
They don’t know you.”
YOU can’t be rejected.
Ever.
Because no one knows
all of you.
They only know parts.