What a Rejection Letter Taught Me About Arrival
June 3, 2025 | theunraveling.ca
I got my very first rejection letter from a literary journal today—and I couldn’t stop smiling.
That sentence might sound strange to anyone who’s ever poured their soul into a piece of writing. But for me, it felt like a kind of arrival. A confirmation that I’m not writing into a void anymore. That my words are being read, held, weighed—even if they’re not yet chosen.
The email came from Grain Magazine, a Canadian literary journal I deeply admire. I had submitted my piece, To Heal, a poetic reflection born from the innermost parts of my healing journey. It was raw, vulnerable, and deeply personal. I expected silence. Or, if anything, a form rejection months from now.
But instead—I got a reply.
They had read my work.
They had considered it.
And while it wasn’t selected for publication, they took the time to respond. That response meant more to me than I can express. It meant my voice was heard in a room I wasn’t in. It meant my story mattered enough to be read all the way through. It meant someone saw me.
And I realized something in that moment:
This journey I’m on—the one of unraveling old narratives, reclaiming my voice, healing from religious trauma, and stepping into the world as a writer—is not about applause or accolades. It’s about presence. It’s about choosing to speak, even when I’m unsure who will listen. It’s about honoring the courage it takes to show up in truth.
So yes, I’m celebrating this rejection.
Because rejection is not the opposite of success. It’s part of the path to it. And even more than that—it’s a sign that I’m in the arena now. I’m no longer hiding.
There was a time I would’ve taken a “no” like this and turned it into silence. But not today. Today, I’m writing about it. Today, I’m claiming it as a sacred marker of progress.
And if you’re reading this—if you’re on a similar path of sharing your truth after years of being silenced or afraid—I want you to know that rejection doesn’t mean you failed.
It might just mean you’re finally being seen.
With a full, open heart,
Meagan
theunraveling.ca