Empty pens and rejections signify putting in the work
With varying degrees of frustration, I really dislike when I’m writing something while my pen runs out of ink. Argh! If I have another pen on hand (which is usually the case), it’s not the worst. If it’s my only pen without another one instantly available, that’s like Hulk Smash-level frustration. Sometimes, I’ll just keep writing with my inkless pen to finish my thought, hoping I can go back later and etch over it with a pencil, just like in the mystery and detective stories. And sometimes, I try to get to a new pen as quickly as possible to attempt tracing those letter impressions.