When Heartbreak, Losing, and Rejection Is a Win
Also: Wasn’t November Supposed to Be the Paid Tier Launch?
Well, the World Series sure didn’t turn out how I hoped.
But that doesn’t change the fact that it was filled with memorable, exciting games and that the Toronto Blue Jays had an inspiring year. Most importantly, it doesn’t change the fact that there’s another season to look forward to.
Maybe that’s the real takeaway for someone like me, a writer who can’t help but look for deeper meanings in everything.
Lessons from Baseball and Rocky Balboa
Most people like clear beginnings and endings, so we treat a baseball season like a self-contained story, but it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes the real lesson comes from how the story continues.
Take the original Rocky. Spoiler alert for a 1976 movie: Rocky doesn’t win against Apollo Creed. His victory comes from proving he belongs there; that an unknown, perennial loser could go the distance with the world champion.
At the start of this season, many predicted the Blue Jays would finish last in their division. Instead, they stretched the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers to seven games and extra innings in the World Series. That’s not a loss; that’s proof they belong. An inspiring story about believing in oneself and not giving up.
Remember, Rocky had sequels. Oh, so many sequels. There’s always another round.
Finding Wins in Rejection
If I’m drawing parallels between the Blue Jays and this humble, quirky, neurodivergent writer; there are victories hiding in what can feel like failure.
No, I don’t have big-name, high-paying clients right now. A new post on Beyond the Balcony rarely hits 100 views on its first day. This Substack has 12 subscribers, a 60% open rate, and just over 300 views its first month. I’ve sent out dozens of pitches this year, with many ignored, others rejected (some with kind encouragement).
It’s easy to let those numbers define me as a failure.
But my story isn’t over.
There are wins here too. I have a consistent gig with The Video Librarian, where I get to write about movies for an editor who’s one of the kindest in the business. I recently landed a pitch with a respected Canadian magazine that could open many new doors.
Beyond the Balcony saw a huge spike in views this summer (several thousand a day at one point), and even though it’s dipped, that showed me what’s possible. It still averages around 500 views a day, and many of my older pieces consistently rank on Google. It may not be Rolling Stone, but it has an audience.
Rejection, Perseverance, and Growth
The Blue Jays’ perseverance, their refusal to give up despite the critics, is something I need to remember every time another pitch comes back with a “no.”
I read an article recently about a writer who aimed to get 100 rejections in a year. That struck me as genius. In this business, rejection is part of the job. The key is to keep sending the work out anyway, and learning, growing, and building resilience along the way.
Stephen King used to nail his rejection letters to the wall until the nail couldn’t hold them anymore, so he replaced it with a spike. Things turned out pretty well for him.
A Different Kind of Victory
2025 hasn’t been an easy year. I often feel like I’m struggling as a husband, father, and writer, like I can’t do the simple things others find natural.
But this year also brought clarity. I was diagnosed with AuDHD, and I’m finally slowly learning how to work with my brain instead of fighting it. I’m discovering that it’s imaginative, creative, and full of unique insights. The struggles and challenges gave me the voice I have and led to the one that’s helped others feel seen.
Even when heartbreak and defeat feel heavy, there are still moments worth celebrating. Growth is happening, lessons are being learned, and I’m still showing up. That’s a win.
About That Paid Tier...
You may have noticed November is here — which I had originally promised would be the launch of the paid tier. That was ambitious.
Right now, my focus is on building trust by showing up consistently, crafting quality newsletters, and finding this space’s distinct voice.
Beyond the Balcony will remain the home base: the podcast, article links, essays, and reviews. But here, I want to experiment more with serialized fiction, short stories, deep-dive review series (like going through every MCU and Disney animated movie), and more personal essays like this one.
Once this newsletter grows and I’ve proven I can be consistent, I’ll revisit the paid tier, probably in the new year. When that happens, there will be some fun, exclusive goodies waiting.
How to Support
If you’d like to support my work now, you can:
Subscribe or pledge (you’ll automatically become a paid subscriber when the tier launches).
Most importantly, keep reading, sharing, and showing up. I’ll keep being vulnerable and trying to create work that matters.
If I’ve pulled that off, your support, in any form, means the world.
I love the goal of 100 rejections! That's something in your power to keep submitting and knocking on doors. I may have to take that goal (with a much more modest number!) myself!