Grant Faulkner is a creative leader, prolific author, and the former Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). He’s seen rejection from every angle—both as an author and as someone who supports a global community of creators. With books like Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo and The Art of Brevity: Crafting the Very Short Story, Grant has helped thousands of writers navigate rejection, build resilience, and discover the power of their creative voice.
Grant has done extensive research on the topic of rejection for writers as part of his latest book, which is currently in the querying stage. From exploring the science of how rejection impacts the brain to celebrating rejection as a badge of honor, Grant shares groundbreaking strategies to turn failure into fuel.
Order Grant’s Books
Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo
The Art of Brevity: Crafting the Very Short Story
Learn More About Grant:
Grant’s Website:
https://grantfaulkner.com
Grant’s Substack:
https://grantfaulkner.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grantfaulkner
00:00 Rejection as a Primal Experience
06:35 How Rejection Hijacks Your Brain
12:18 The 100 Rejections Challenge
18:42 Transforming Envy into Motivation
24:10 The Emotional Hangover of Vulnerability
29:27 The Ripple Effect of Positivity
34:52 Researching Rejection for Writers
41:05 Building Resilience in a Creative Community
47:18 Practical Strategies for Reframing Rejection