A Patron Saint of Writers?

     I'd never heard of a Patron Saint of Writers before, but recently I came across a story that indicated that there was such a person. St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) is considered the Patron Saint of authors and journalists. He apparently had quite a life trying to 'reach' the people and his sheer grit and resolve to get the written word into the hands of those who needed it was admirable. What a lesson for writers today. Read the whole story here if you are interested: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=51 Here is a little excerpt that sort of prodded me into never whining about rejection again:

"For three years, he trudged through the countryside, had doors slammed in his face and rocks thrown at him. In the bitter winters, his feet froze so badly they bled as he tramped through the snow. He slept in haylofts if he could, but once he slept in a tree to avoid wolves. He tied himself to a branch to keep from falling out and was so frozen the next morning he had to be cut down. And after three years, his cousin had left him alone and he had not made one convert.

Francis' unusual patience kept him working. No one would listen to him, no one would even open their door. So Francis found a way to get under the door. He wrote out his sermons, copied them by hand, and slipped them under the doors. This is the first record we have of religious tracts being used to communicate with people."

  Now that is dogged determination at its finest. So I am thinking that the next time I feel rejected because an editor has indicated that my manuscript doesn't suit, then I will think of Mr. Francis and then go slip my submission under the door of another editor.

So how did you react to your first rejection letter?