A while ago I met an astronaut. He had given a presentation about flying the space shuttle at a meeting I had arranged. Afterwards, I introduced myself and told him I had applied for the astronaut program in 1979 and been rejected.

“Me too,” he said.”And again in 1980, and 1981, and every year for thirteen years until they accepted my application.”

While I was trying to process that, he smiled. “You screwed up, buddy,” he told me.

Yesterday I got another rejection for one of my favorite stories. I felt a little down about it, with many rejections and no acceptances in the last three months. Then I thought about the astronaut.

All authors say they have copied with rejection.  It feels personal sometimes, but I am determined to persevere. Someday I’ll be an astronaut.