Chasing a dream is hard—especially when it feels like obstacles just keep showing up.
When I first wrote Beyond Every Sunset, I sent it to publishers and agents. Most didn’t respond. A few did—but not in the way I hoped. One person told me it would never work because it “wasn’t realistic.” A young man as a prodigy director? Impossible, she said.
But… it’s fiction. Since when do stories have to fit neatly inside someone else’s idea of “realistic”?
That moment stuck with me.
Recently, I heard about a movie called Backdoor, created by a young filmmaker with no Hollywood backing—just friends and a vision. And guess what? It made millions. Completely shattered expectations.
Now, my book hasn’t made millions (yet 😉), but it was published. And that’s the point: you can’t let critics decide your story. People will always have opinions—but if God has placed a dream in your heart, don’t let someone else talk you out of it.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” — Proverbs 16:3
I was reminded of Walt Disney—before Mickey, before the magic, before the empire. He faced failure, loss, and people telling him he was crazy. At one point, he even lost the rights to his own work. But he didn’t quit. He kept going… and eventually created something bigger than he imagined.
Gone with the Wind was rejected from publishers 38 times before it was finally picked up and is now one of the most well-known stories/movies.
Nicholas Sparks sent his book The Notebook to 24 publishers and was rejected by each one. The 25th publisher found the book in a slush pile only after the agent had tragically passed away and the new agent discovered it. She then got him published and he became a leading author of romance books and movies that subsequently came from them.
Rejection isn’t the end of your story. Sometimes, it’s just part of the process.
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9
That’s the reminder we all need:
When it feels like everything is against you—keep going.
When it doesn’t make sense—keep going.
When people doubt you—keep going.
The next verse is my very favorite verse and is a daily reminder for me as well as one I write every time I sign a book hoping it will bring someone else the same encouragement. Faith to keep going.
“Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
Dreams aren’t usually handed to us. They take grit, patience, and as my grandma would say… a whole lot of SISU—that fierce determination to keep moving forward, even when it’s hard, even when you fail, and even when no one else believes in you yet.
So don’t let setbacks stop you. Gather your sisu, take the next step, and keep chasing what God placed in your heart.
Because the only thing that can truly stop you… is giving up.
angelaschmeling 