At this point, you've already had 8 other people tell you that your art is terrible, your music is a travesty, and your writing is a travesty of a travesty. But still, you're holding on to that dream, aren't you?
Well, congratulations! You've reached the 9th step in the 12-step program for the creatively inclined, but emotionally unstable. Here's where the real magic happens: accepting rejection.
Accepting rejection is like a thick, black, 4-pixel-wide hug for your fragile ego. It's a cold, hard slap in the face, but it's necessary, because, let's face it, you're probably never going to be famous, and your art will probably never be appreciated by more than 12 people.
Step 10: Acceptance is Optional (Because Who Needs Closure, Anyway?)
Step 7: The Seven Rejections and Counting
Step 11: Acceptance is Optional, But the Coffee Isn't
And that's it! You've made it to Step 9! Pat yourself on the back, or better yet, have someone else pat you on the back, because you're probably going to need it.
But wait, there's more! You can continue on to Step 10, where you get to pretend that acceptance is optional, but the coffee isn't.
Or, if you're feeling particularly masochistic, you can go back and relive the trauma of Steps 7 and 8, where you get to relive the agony of seven or eight rejections, respectively.
Or, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, you can try to skip ahead to Step 11, where you get to pretend that acceptance is optional, but the coffee isn't.
But don't do that. Don't do that. Don't do that.
Just stick with Step 9 for now. It's not like you have a choice, anyway.
Step 3: Maintain a Positive Attitude (When the Odds Are Against You, Which is Always)
Good luck with that.