My daughter did a maths test the other day and she thought it had gone quite well.

The teacher handed back her paper and it said she had scored 35 out of 49.

She was really disappointed.

I tried to reassure her, said this was still a good score, that she’d done well, but she couldn’t let it go.

The next morning, I found her going back through the test paper and tallying up the score.

It turns out the teacher had miscounted. She had actually got 46 out of 49.

She asked me to check it, and I did.

I’m not sure if I would have thought to do this, as a child.

I’m not sure if I’d think to do this now, as an adult.

But it’s reminded me that if you think you’ve done well with something, and the feedback doesn’t match what you were expecting, don’t give up.

Check back through, ask for someone else’s opinion.

As a writer, I’ve failed and been rejected many times.

I wonder what would have happened if I’d continued pitching that manuscript or proposal?

Next time, I will.

Annie x