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Rejection: Surviving and thriving

  • ONLINE VIA ZOOM

In an industry where silences are long, rejection is common, and authors and illustrators often work in isolation, many will have asked themselves at least once: can I really keep doing this?

Fortunately, it’s possible for authors and illustrators to learn how to not only survive, but thrive, following rejection. One stellar example of such resilience is 2025 Miles Franklin Award-winning author, Siang Lu. 

Siang’s Miles Franklin-winning novel Ghost Cities was written over 10 years ago and rejected more than 200 times, in Australia and overseas. It was eventually published in 2024, was found by readers, and received literary acclaim. Join Siang in conversation with the ASA’s Kate Adams to find out how he has sustained himself emotionally, creatively, and professionally throughout his writing career, and learn how you too can use rejection as fuel to power you forward. Siang will answer questions such as:

  • How can you cope with the long periods of silence and repeated rejections that are considered a ‘normal’ part of the submission process?
  • How can you stay motivated when you’ve been published but still get knocked back and aren’t earning enough to make a living?
  • How can you prioritise your creative pursuits when there are so many competing priorities, like paid work and family?
  • What can you learn from rejection, and how can you apply these learnings to your work?
  • What shouldn’t you metabolise from rejection?

If you’re finding it difficult to stay motivated after hearing a ‘no’ from a publisher or agent, or questioning whether your passion for writing or illustration is enough to keep you going, this discussion will inspire you to stay determined in your pursuit of your creative goals.

There will be time for questions from the audience.

Who is this for?

  • Any author or illustrator who has experienced rejection and struggled to pick themselves up and try again
  • Authors and illustrators navigating the realities of pursuing a career in the creative industries
  • Authors and illustrators seeking inspiration and motivation from a real-life publication success story

About the presenter

Siang Lu
Siang Lu
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Can't make it to the live session?

No problem! Everyone booked in to this event will be emailed a link and passcode to access the recording afterwards. This recording will be available to view for 10 days after the live session. This also means that if you wish to revisit the session after attending it live to take further notes, you can do so!

After 10 days, the link will expire and the recording will no longer be available to view.