That's at least the opinion of agent and writer John M. Cusick.
"Yes, some people have an innate knack for telling a story or writing a pretty sentence. But in my experience, the relationship between talent and success is slim. It’s the hard-workers, the grinders, the folks who write a lot, then listen and take criticism and grow, that make it.”
(“Am I any good? Taking the Measure of Yourself as a Writer" by agent and writer John M. Cusick.)
Many beginners expect praises and encouragements when they first submit their work.
Although some of the things they do are great, others need work.
It is not going to be awful. It will just need more research, a lot more. Everyone is on the same boat!
I refused to continue critiquing someone's work one day because I sensed the writer was a beginner and she had a lot of potential, but I was not the right person to critique and I was afraid to discourage her.
I am a tough critique, and I am even tougher on myself.
She did not take it well.
Being able to humbly accept a critique is an important step of being a writer. Usually more seasoned writers are more humble. It seems like the more we write, the more awful our writing gets. Maybe it is because we listen more and we realize we are still a work in progress.
Thousands of beautiful books are published every year. It is hard to feel unique in a sea of so many talents combined. However, we've got to believe we have something unique to offer, something no other writer can give.
Keep submitting your work everywhere.
Yes, rejection is humiliating.
Yes, rejection is crippling.
Yes, rejection makes us feel lost and isolated.
Still, rejection is a great thing.
Rejection gets you closer to success.
Rejection makes you hone your skills.
Rejection prevents you from being satisfied with the skills you have.