In this episode Brenda Murphy—your NeuroSpicy writing coach—walks through how to handle manuscript rejection, especially for neurodivergent creators with rejection sensitivity. She explains why publishing decisions are business choices, how to learn from feedback, and why self-publishing is a powerful option.

Brenda offers concrete coping strategies: feel your feelings, limit reaction time, never rant publicly, celebrate submissions, always start a new project while waiting, and keep your creative identity intact. The episode emphasizes persistence, professional growth, and treating rejection as part of the creative journey.

Show notes

Thanks for listening!

Sign up for my writer’s newletter and get a free writers workbook here: https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Here are the episodes I mentioned in the podcast:

How to deal with RSD and working with other folks : https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-rdnsu-16ebfdf

Imposter Syndrome and Writers Block episode: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-24yrx-1625b05

Book Recs

We Need Your Art by Aime McNee

The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharpe

The Artist’s Way by Juila Cameron

Sign up for my writer’s newletter and get a free writers workbook here: https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Congratulations — your work was accepted! This episode walks neurodiverse writers through the emotional and practical next steps: celebrate, list your questions, understand your contract, and protect your professional relationship with editors and agents.

Learn how to manage imposter syndrome and rejection sensitivity, keep writing to avoid writer's block, start a newsletter, plan marketing, and handle reviews with support and perspective.

Short, clear, and encouraging advice to help you move from the excitement of acceptance into the next stage of your writing career.

Show notes Oh Dang it was accepted

Newsletter Ninja information is here: https://newsletterninja.net/resources/

Jen offers some solid advice geared for authors: https://jenndepaula.com

How to deal with RSD and working with other folks : https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-rdnsu-16ebfdf

Imposter Syndrome and Writers Block episode: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-24yrx-1625b05

Sign ups from my Newsletter and get a free Character Workbook https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Brenda Murphy explains the 10,000-hour theory and explains that mastery requires three things: a clear, controllable goal, deliberate practice focused on challenging skills, and targeted feedback. Time alone won’t improve your writing without intention.

She gives practical steps for writers, pick one craft area to improve (structure, dialogue, pacing, or character), study examples, apply techniques, and get specific feedback from readers or editors. For neurodivergent creators, harness hyper-focus to deliberately build skills.

Define success on your terms, set measurable goals, and keep practicing with purpose so your writing and your confidence can grow.

Find out more about Mind Mapping here: https://blog.writingwhiledistracted.com/?p=2274

Sign up for my Writer's Newsletter and received a free Character Workbook here: https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Brenda Murphy offers five practical, compassionate strategies for writers—especially neurodivergent and burnt-out creators—to protect their focus and revive their creativity amid constant chaos.

Learn how to create before you consume, set boundaries, unplug for sensory rest, use morning pages to clear mental clutter, and give yourself grace so you can keep writing, even in hard times.

Books Mentioned:

We Need Your Art by Aime McNee

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free workbook https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Welcome to "Writing While Distracted," a podcast dedicated to helping writers navigate the often chaotic world of creativity and distraction. I'm your host, Brenda Murphy, a NeuroSpicy writing coach, here to transform scattered thoughts into literary brilliance.

This episode focuses on those overwhelming moments when the urge to give up and "burn it all down" becomes too strong. Whether it's the daily challenges of life, mental health struggles, or external pressures, writers often find themselves grappling with despair and self-doubt.

Join me as we explore practical advice on how to stay focused and keep writing during tough times. Discover the power of rest, the importance of revisiting your creative "why," and the necessity of maintaining connections with others in your writing community. Let's tackle these feelings of isolation and keep the flame of creativity alive.

If you've ever felt like setting your manuscript on fire, know you're not alone. Tune in for supportive tips, encouragement, and ways to let your creativity thrive amidst chaos. Embrace the distractions and uncertainties; these are the stepping stones to mastering the art of writing.

Sign up for my newsletter take your pick of writing guides: https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Welcome to another engaging episode of "Writing While Distracted" with your Neuro Spicy writing coach, Brenda Murphy. In this episode, we delve into the emotional journey involved in submitting your creative work for evaluation. Explore the four stages of submission: elation, anxiety, anger, and relief. Brenda shares her personal experiences and strategies for managing the emotional upheavals that come with revealing your work to strangers. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting, gain insight into maintaining your writing momentum and embracing the positive aspects of the creative process. Join us as we uncover the challenges and triumphs in the life of a writer.

Resources for Writers

Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free workbook https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ofxxsx32dj

My podcast: https://writingwhiledistracted.podbean.com

My blog: https://blog.writingwhiledistracted.com/feed/

My website: https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Welcome to Writing While Distracted, where scattered thoughts transform into literary brilliance. Join Brenda Murphy, your NeuroSpicy writing coach, as she dives into challenges neurodiverse writers face, particularly in editing. Discover invaluable tips to conquer distractions and utilize your strengths for a compelling narrative. From reading aloud to tackle punctuation issues to ensuring pronoun clarity in complex stories, Brenda covers essential editing strategies to polish your manuscript.

Embark on a journey through proven methods to avoid common mistakes made by neurodivergent authors. Learn to identify sentence fragments, maintain tense consistency, and embrace active voice for engaging storytelling. With practical hacks like using highlighters for character clarity and employing global search to eliminate echoes and overused adverbs, editing becomes an achievable task.

Whether navigating homophone hurdles or varying sentence lengths for optimal rhythm, this episode equips you with 25 key tips to enhance your manuscript. Brenda emphasizes the importance of formatting, feedback, and taking breaks to refine your art.

Stay inspired through the chaos, as you embrace the unique creative process that fuels every writer's journey. Tune in to unlock the secrets of editing mastery and send your polished work into the literary world with confidence.

Show Notes

Free resources for writers

https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Character Workbook https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ofxxsx32dj

Newsletter Sign up link: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ik4sj696um

Shree Greer’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Baddest-Out-Your-Friends-Grammar/dp/1955629005/

Sandra Gerth’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Point-View-different-head-hopping-Writers-ebook/dp/B01LXFITOD/

Welcome back to "Writing While Distracted" with your NeuroSpicy writing coach, Brenda Murphy. In this episode, we dive deep into the revision process, exploring how to effectively collaborate with beta readers, developmental editors, and copy editors to refine your manuscript.

We begin by addressing Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), a common challenge for neurodivergent writers, and discuss strategies to manage these intense feelings during the revision process. Brenda shares personal insights and practical advice on how to maintain healthy professional relationships while navigating RSD.

Next, we break down the distinct roles of beta readers, developmental editors, and copy editors. Learn how each contributes to the manuscript's development, from providing reader-centric feedback to strategic big-picture edits and meticulous language polishing.

Brenda also offers best practices for working with your revision team, including how to find the right beta readers, the importance of clear communication, and the value of respecting their time and input. For those working with sensitivity readers, she emphasizes the importance of compensating them and valuing their unique perspectives.

Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, this episode is packed with tips to help you create the best possible version of your manuscript. Subscribe, leave a review, and join us next time as we continue to explore the writer's journey.

Until then, keep writing, keep revising, and take care of yourself.

Plays Well With Others Show notes

Sign up for my newsletter for free resources for Writers:

https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/

Follow me on my socials for quick tips and updates: https://www.instagram.com/writinghwhiledistracted/

Struggling with character development? Check out my free character building workbook: https://BookHip.com/HDPNDMX

Here is the free resource 60 Ways to Show Character Arc: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/xjcaam4085

This podcast is all about structure: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ckhgh-167fd45

Eileen Cook’s Build Better Characters: https://eileencook.com/non-fiction/

Debra Dixon Goal Motivation and Conflict: http://www.debradixon.com/index.html

Save the Cat: https://savethecat.com/books

Writing While Distracted Blog on Story Structure/Story ARC https://blog.writingwhiledistracted.com/?p=2295

My podcast about revisions and editing: Mastering Revisions: Turning Rough Drafts into Polished Gems https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xhk2p-167fa2b

Sandra Gerth’s fantastic book Show Don’t Tell: https://www.amazon.com/Show-Dont-Tell-descriptions-characters-ebook/dp/B01LXFJ0AC/

MIlianote

https://milanote.com

Scrivener

https://www.literatureandlatte.com

Revisions and Editing Steps

To recap the process, I use to get my rough as hell draft to a finished product to send to an editor, publisher, or out on submission is:

• Round1: Revisions: structure, pacing, character arcs, genre conventions, continuity, and attending to items that require research.
• Round 2: Language: word choice, refining prose, pacing, dialogue, scene descriptions, character descriptions, continuity. *At this point I send it to my beta readers.
• Round 3: Proofing: Suggestions from Beta readers, grammar, spelling, punctuation, copy edits, line edits formatting for submission or publication. Copy edits, line edits.
• Round 4: Final proofing read through before submission or publishing.