Don't Give Up

Sometimes writing can be a struggle, and many authors have felt like giving up.  When we are frustrated its good idea to seek out some inspiration, something to bolster ourselves so we can get back to work.  Have you seen this list? If not, it’s a good reminder that failure is not fatal and that even great artists and leaders have faced rejection, but they persisted until they achieved their goals.

Walt Disney - Fired from the Kansas City Star in 1919 because he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas." 
JK Rowling - Rejected by dozens, including HarperCollins, when a small publisher in London took a chance on Harry Potter. 
Oprah Winfey - Fired as an evening news reporter of Baltimore's WJZ-TV because she couldn't separate her emotions from her stories.
George Orwell - A publisher turned down his legendary novel, Animal Farm, with the words "It is impossible to sell animal stories in the USA". 
Jerry Seinfeld - Didn't find out he was cut from a minor role on a sitcom until he read the script and discovered his part missing. 
Elvis Presley - After a performance in Nashville early in his career, he was told by a manager that he was better off driving trucks in Memphis (his previous job). 
Steve Jobs - Fired from the company he started, Apple, but was desperately brought back in 1997 to save it. Apple is now the most valuable company in the world. 
Stephen King - His first book, Carrie, was rejected thirty times. He nearly threw the book out when his wife saved it from the trash and encouraged him to keep trying. 
Marilyn Monroe - At the start of her storied modeling and acting career, she was told she should consider becoming a secretary. 
Abraham Lincoln - Demoted from Captain to Private during war, failed as a businessman, and lost several times as a political candidate before becoming President.

(from Avery Clements post on Distractify http://distractify.com/people/famous-people-rejection-letters/)

Now get back to work - that novel isn't gonna write itself