Rejection. Discouragement. Failure. Defeat. We've all dealt with hurt and disappointment at one time or another. But the key to winning or losing is how we negotiate those darts of despair when they come our way.  Initially, we feel the sting, the shame, the utter devastation. But it's what we do after the fact that either brings us over the top or causes us to plunge to the depths. 

 When John Riddle was a senior in high school he contemplated what he'd like to do in life. While watching the TV show, The Flying Nun, he noticed that the credits at the end of the episode were dedicated to a writer. 

 "A writer," he thought. "Sounds like a noble profession; I think I'd like to be a writer!"  

 He prayed and asked God to give him the gifts to become a writer and wrote a script for The Flying Nun. He took it to school the next day and showed it to his English teacher. The following is John's account:

 I told him I had finally decided what I wanted to do with my life. "I am going to be a writer," I said, with my head held high. He nodded politely, as he continued grading papers. "I wrote an episode of The Flying Nun. Would you like to read it and tell me what you think?" I asked him.

 His was very interested when I mentioned The Flying Nun. He said he would read it overnight and give me his honest critique the next day.

 The next day was the longest day of my life. Finally, when school was over, I went to his classroom and asked him what he thought about my writing sample. He told me, "This is the worst piece of garbage that I have ever read. Perhaps you should consider a career in manual labor."  I was shocked, and too numb to respond. He continued, "If your writing has no purpose, then there is no purpose in your writing."  Then he left the room.

 I'm not sure how long I stood there, but I remember vowing that one day I would see my name on the cover of "many" books and that I would travel the country, encouraging new writers to get published. 

 In the Bible, the book of Hebrews states: "Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded." 

 Instead of nursing the wound after his teacher's scathing remark, John rebounded. He refused to cave in to discouragement. He shook it off and continued to pursue his dream.

 John joined the Navy and worked several jobs that he didn't like before pursuing his writing career. Although he never took a writing course, today (thirty years later) he is a freelance writer of over 35 books, been published in major newspapers, newsletters, a dozen different magazines and over a hundred web sites. He speaks at writers' conferences nationwide encouraging others to write and sponsors the annual "I Love to Write Day" on November 15. He has a full-time freelance writing career, penning the book, "How I Made $66,270 in 9 Months Writing for Web Sites." He just celebrated the first anniversary of his web site at www.ilovetowrite.com.

 The excerpt of John Riddle's story was from his e-book, The PAC Method for Writers: How Prayer, Attitude and Confidence Can Lead You To A Successful Writing Career.