--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By 17, I was submitting to publications…" description: "\"By 17, I was submitting to publications and collecting my first rejection slips.\" — Laurell K. Hamilton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/laurell-k-hamilton-199_collecting_by-17-i-was-submitting-to-publications-a_2894464.png" --- # By 17, I was submitting to publications and collecting my… ![“By 17, I was submitting to publications and collecting my first rejection slips.” quote by Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/laurell-k-hamilton-199_collecting_by-17-i-was-submitting-to-publications-a_2894464.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/laurell-k-hamilton-199_collecting_by-17-i-was-submitting-to-publications-a_2894464.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/laurell-k-hamilton-199_collecting_by-17-i-was-submitting-to-publications-a_2894464.png) > “By 17, I was submitting to publications and collecting my first rejection slips.” [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early career setbacks can be a catalyst for growth and persistence in creative pursuits. **In simple terms:** Rejection can motivate improvement. Key Takeaway Embrace feedback, keep submitting. Themes creativity perseverance career development Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - writing - publishing - career building - self‑promotion - handling criticism Key Concepts Resilience learning from failure Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn a rejection into a learning opportunity? - What strategies keep you motivated after setbacks? A Different Perspective Rejection alone doesn't guarantee success; market dynamics matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [17 Submitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/17-submitting-4082112/) [Collecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collecting/) [Collecting Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collecting-rejection-4082113/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Publication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publication/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Rejection Slips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection-slips-1262120/) [Slips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slips/) [Submitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submitting/) [Submitting Publications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submitting-publications-4082114/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't make the editor's decision for her by not submitting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-janssen/don-t-make-the-editor-s-decision-for-her-by-not-submitting/) [Victoria Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-janssen/) > [The only thing that matters is submitting to the will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-submitting-to-the-will-of-god/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I'm not here putting on razor-thin fights, I'm going there and submitting people in the first round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-m-not-here-putting-on-razor-thin-fights-i-m-going-there-and/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [Finish what you start. Keep submitting until it sells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/finish-what-you-start-keep-submitting-until-it-sells/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [When I started graduate school we did this publishing class where we learned about submitting and read interviews with editors from different magazines. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-started-graduate-school-we-did-this-publishing-class-where-we/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [“Submitting to Christ isn't a one-time thing, say a prayer, get dunked, and that's the end of it. For some of us, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-asay/submitting-to-christ-isn-t-a-one-time-thing-say-a-prayer-get-dunked/) [Paul Asay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-asay/) > [Submitting is always the most important thing to me. Victory first, but with a submission is what I always want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-maia/submitting-is-always-the-most-important-thing-to-me-victory-first-but/) [Demian Maia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-maia/) > [I like submitting guys, but if I see an opportunity for a KO, I won't let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-rodrigo-nogueira/i-like-submitting-guys-but-if-i-see-an-opportunity-for-a-ko-i-won-t/) [Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-rodrigo-nogueira/) > [Submitting myself for awards feels like a weird kind of horn-blowing that's not comfortable for me. I'm really happy when someone likes my work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-elliot/submitting-myself-for-awards-feels-like-a-weird-kind-of-horn-blowing/) [Jane Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-elliot/) > [To refuse has so many more consequences than submitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/to-refuse-has-so-many-more-consequences-than-submitting/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [“Submitting seemed to me a lot like giving up. If God gave us the strength to bail- the gumption to try and save ourselves-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/submitting-seemed-to-me-a-lot-like-giving-up-if-god-gave-us-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“To submit isn’t to be forced. It’s to yield to a force greater than your own, in order to become part of the whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/to-submit-isn-t-to-be-forced-it-s-to-yield-to-a-force-greater-than/) [Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/) > [Get an agent. Seriously, submitting stuff unagented means it will end up on the slush pile. An agent is the first quality filter, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lebbon/get-an-agent-seriously-submitting-stuff-unagented-means-it-will-end/) [Tim Lebbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lebbon/) > [“When you permit an outside agency to control your feelings and emotions at frequent intervals for a prolonged period, your system will soon get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-d-larson/when-you-permit-an-outside-agency-to-control-your-feelings-and/) [Christian D. Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-d-larson/) > [“He called to her primal side; the ancient aspect of her animal self that wanted to submit. It wanted to submit to him ;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/he-called-to-her-primal-side-the-ancient-aspect-of-her-animal-self/) [Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/) ## More by Laurell K. Hamilton > [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [So many wonderful books to write, and not enough hours in the day. An embarrassment of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/so-many-wonderful-books-to-write-and-not-enough-hours-in-the-day-an/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Money doesn't spend in hell… The devil deals in a different coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/money-doesn-t-spend-in-hell-the-devil-deals-in-a-different-coin/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I slowed, just a little, one to save energy, and one to let Russell catch up sooner. I took a big breath and prepared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-slowed-just-a-little-one-to-save-energy-and-one-to-let-russell/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“It wasn't just my beast's hunger, but Jean-Claude's blood thirst and Richard's craving for flesh. It was all that and the ardeur running through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-wasn-t-just-my-beast-s-hunger-but-jean-claude-s-blood-thirst-and/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Just another day in my life. This was one of those days when I thought that maybe a new life, a different life, wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/just-another-day-in-my-life-this-was-one-of-those-days-when-i-thought/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [...you don't need ghosts to be haunted. Memory does that just fine without any supernatural help at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-don-t-need-ghosts-to-be-haunted-memory-does-that-just-fine/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I hated missing the end of anything. I was always convinced that the bit I'd miss would be the best part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-hated-missing-the-end-of-anything-i-was-always-convinced-that-the/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He made a small sigh, as he swallowed the first blood, then his mouth closed over my earlobe, mouth working at the wound, tongue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-made-a-small-sigh-as-he-swallowed-the-first-blood-then-his-mouth/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He gave a small nod, and I smiled back, and that was it. He understood that I'd understood that he'd understood. It took us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-gave-a-small-nod-and-i-smiled-back-and-that-was-it-he-understood/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) [Explore all 921 Laurell K. Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More Collecting quotes > [I've always been interested in photographs, collecting them not systematically but randomly. They get lost, then turn up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-photographs-collecting-them-not/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [Taking photos is a form of collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/taking-photos-is-a-form-of-collecting/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [If you're feeling fancy free, come wander through the world with me, and any place we chance to be, will be a rendezvous. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/if-you-re-feeling-fancy-free-come-wander-through-the-world-with-me/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I found so-called great art too pompous, too stiff. What at this time was called minor art was freer, more imaginative, more open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lipchitz/i-found-so-called-great-art-too-pompous-too-stiff-what-at-this-time/) [Jacques Lipchitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lipchitz/) > [My real first job was delivering newspapers with I was 15. I would ride my bike around and chuck papers at people's houses. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/my-real-first-job-was-delivering-newspapers-with-i-was-15-i-would/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [I didn't really grow up a comic book fanatic. I was a big baseball player, and my passion in life, in third grade, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ritchson/i-didn-t-really-grow-up-a-comic-book-fanatic-i-was-a-big-baseball/) [Alan Ritchson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ritchson/) > [I don't know who had the training of you," he continued doggedly, "but your morals are shocking. You spent a night in my bed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/i-don-t-know-who-had-the-training-of-you-he-continued-doggedly-but/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [...You can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/you-can-go-your-whole-life-collecting-days-and-none-will-outweigh-the/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Instead of collecting things and staying in one space, I want to collect experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesh/instead-of-collecting-things-and-staying-in-one-space-i-want-to/) [Kesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesh/) > [I started collecting couture when I was about 10 or 11 years old, and the very first piece I bought was a Balenciaga suit from 1962.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamish-bowles/i-started-collecting-couture-when-i-was-about-10-or-11-years-old-and/) [Hamish Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamish-bowles/) > [I imagine the wave of water colliding with the rock and spilling over the tile floor, collecting around my shoes. Doing a little at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-imagine-the-wave-of-water-colliding-with-the-rock-and-spilling-over/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I needed more knowledge in rigging and knotting. I started collecting books on knots and really learning more and more. That's how it started.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-needed-more-knowledge-in-rigging-and-knotting-i-started-collecting/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Physics is the only real science. The rest are just stamp collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/physics-is-the-only-real-science-the-rest-are-just-stamp-collecting/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Some prescient American collectors, including Vicki and Kent Logan and Mera and Donald Rubell, began collecting Chinese art before 2000 with a genuine passion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-glimcher/some-prescient-american-collectors-including-vicki-and-kent-logan-and/) [Arne Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-glimcher/) > [If I collected all the diamonds in the world, I'd have no 'income' but I'd have a lot of 'assets'. Would my company be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/if-i-collected-all-the-diamonds-in-the-world-i-d-have-no-income-but-i/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) [Browse all 493 Collecting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collecting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By 17, I was submitting to publications and collecting my first rejection slips.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurell K. 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