Tate Taylor had a similar experience when he was adapting the novel and attached himself as director.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2024269/The-Help-Kathryn-Stockett-Tate-Taylors-friendship-took-book-big-screen.html

Hollywood came calling, and Mr Taylor was repeatedly asked what he intended to do with the coveted rights to the hit novel.
'I'd say, well, I've written the screenplay and I'm directing it,' he said, although his previous Hollywood experience was limited to a few small acting parts and a small independent feature he wrote and directed. 'They would look at me like I was nuts, and so doors shut.'

I forgot where I read this, probably a screenwriting book, but I remember the story of a real estate agent who had yet to sell a house that had been on the market for three months.

Her boss came up to her and seeing that she was dejected asked her how many people usually had to see a house before she sold it. Thinking about it, she guessed that it took usually 50 people.

He asked her how many people had seen this current house and she replied 10-20.

Her boss suggested that in that case she had a lot more rejections to get through before she found a buyer.

I always think back to this, the notion of EARNING rejections, of having to go and get your script rejected before finding the right person. And the quicker you get through the rejections, the quicker you get to a sale.

Obviously, it doesn't happen to everyone, but I always appreciate that take on it.