It Hurts - Bret Lott

On Good Writing · Jun 20, 2026 · 8m

“It Hurts” is a kind of vignette of personal memoir Bret Lott shares on rejection. I think you’ll find it touches a deep place. Perhaps you will also hear an example of what it takes to keep at your craft, listening to rejection and receiving it as an essential form of instruction.

Bret Lott is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including the novels ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Highway⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hunt Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Song I Knew by Heart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (an Oprah’s Book Club selection). Formerly editor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Southern Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Lott was appointed to the…