Viggo Mortensen on Rejection

by Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor

Sherry Perkins has a great article in our Southern Writers Magazine May/June issue entitled Viggo Mortensen: On the Poet’s Road. Many of us know Viggo Mortensen as the actor of such great films as Witness, A Walk on the Moon, 28 Days, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Twin Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The King Returns,  Hidalgo, A History of Violence and many more. What many of us may not know is Mortensen’s talents as a painter, jazz musician, photographer, writer and poet. Sherry Perkins has brought out his writing talents and discussed with him many challenges writers face.

One thing Mortensen was asked about was rejection. Sherry asked,

“Before you were a celebrity, how did you deal with rejection?”

Mortensen pointed out that he doesn’t like them any more now than he did then. Mortensen went on to say one learns to take it a little less personally or to at least to recover from it a little more easily. We can only wonder how long or how many rejections it takes before it gets easier. It would be great to know the rejections we get will eventually be easier to accept. But we must realize, as Mortensen said, if we cannot learn to accept rejection we will end up trying another line of work.

Rejection is a personal thing each and every one of us must deal with. It can be hard for us to understand that an award winning actor continues to deal with it but it is there. It may become easier but it is there. If we are fortunate it will become easier but only if we continue to put ourselves out there. Here is hoping you continue and it does become easier.   

  

Mortensen’s insights on joining a writers group, his influences, writer’s block and other topics are of great value to writers and I hope you will take the time to give it a read. Sherry Perkins did a fantastic job with this article. Thank you Sherry!