“The first time I read it, I was not in a place to receive it,” says—a title she’s read many times since, adding marginalia. She highlights a moment when Gilbert recalls receiving a rejection from an editor. Years later, the author submitted the story to the same editor, and they loved it. Utendahl has experienced similar scenarios. “Just because you have an intro call with someone, it doesn’t mean it leads to business right away,” she says. “It could lead to business a year from now. Just trust that whenever the timing is right for that person or that brand, if you have a strong kickoff meeting, it will find its way back to you.”
