Rejection Collection?

The conversation was with a PhD candidate in their third year who is pursuing a PhD by publication and has experienced two paper rejections (one at the start of the year and another last month) after spending six months on the paper and three months refining it.

Key points from the interview:

The participant rated their distress level as 8/10, noting significant impact on their ability to work and negative effects on mental health. They experienced loss of motivation, difficulty with daily routines, and no longer wanted to write or think about their research topic. They haven't spoken to family or friends about their feelings as they don't want additional pressure or to disappoint them. Their primary coping mechanism was taking time away from thinking about their PhD. They identified determination as their key strength for overcoming this obstacle. They've been receiving support from their university psychologist.

Key learning: rejection is a common obstacle that all academics face. Their perspective has shifted to not taking rejection personally and understanding it's not necessarily a reflection of their abilities.

Future strategy: looking for a variety of journals to publish in, not just Q1 journals.

Advice for others: "Don't give up. Believe in the significance of your work. Believe in your abilities as a researcher. Don't be ashamed to talk about the obstacles that you face. All successful academics have faced rejection."

The participant noted feeling "a lot more positive after reflecting on my experience."

Favorite food: Almond croissants.