Brad Meltzer replays the day an agent rejected his book with 'sorry, kiddo' every morning as a writing ritual. He says reliving that failure keeps him grateful and hungry after decades of success.
I was in law school debt and college debt. I had debt accruing all over. My agent said to me, they like the book and they're going to buy the book and they're going to call me at 4 o' clock and I'm going to tell you how much the book sold for. And I picked up the phone, all excited to find out how I was going to get out of debt. And I'll never forget. I picked up the phone. She said, sorry, kiddo. My heart just sank down. And here's the thing. Every day that I sit down to write, I replay that moment. That's my ritual. I replay the worst moment of my career. I picture the phone I was holding. I picture the desk and the little swivel lamp on my left. And then I say those words, sorry, kiddo. Because I never, ever want to think I made it. I never want to be not thankful for this life I have. I never, ever want to think I figured it all out. And for 27 years now, every day, I sit down to write. Sorry, kiddo. Sorry, kiddo. Sorry, kiddo.
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