Such a good post and so relate! I’ve had a long career writing personal growth books and a ton luck with all that and proud of that work but now after many failed attempts - including sending the first 40 pages of my novel to my agent TWENTY THREE YEARS AGO and having her say “great writing hate your main character” and then never rewriting the book (why??? ) at 61 (just to make you feel good about your age) I’m halfway through a novel that appears- if my book coach is right - to be really working. I too have spent those years studying. I think I was cocky when I was younger because I studied screenwriting at USC and thought I knew story structure cold. Ha! Anyway, excited for you and also I live in Colorado as well, near Boulder. Waving hi.
Waving back! Your story totally resonates with me. I got a lot of praise for my writing when I was younger. Writing a novel was a rude awakening! Do you have the same agent who hated your MC?
Congratulations on your debut! I know there are tons of us out here who will eagerly be awaiting your future posts to hear about what it's like debuting.
I just signed with my agent last week, after nine long hard months querying! What made that time less hard, though, was connecting with fellow writers and queriers about the ups and downs. Thank you for creating another space for us to connect!
Congratulations on your debut! It sounds so good, I can't wait to read it. And omg I'm so excited for this newsletter! I'm 42 and just started querying my first novel (upmarket fiction). It's going...ok? Actually that's a lie, it's so brutal, ha. Anyway, I knew all of this was going to be a long haul, but I'm starting to realize it's an ultra-marathon haul. (Also, I have twins too! And a third. The twins are in kindergarten and the little guy just started preschool, so I'm finally coming up for air). Your story is so inspirational, can't wait to read more about your publishing journey.
!!!!!!! So much overlap, that's actually crazy! I'm going to post about this next week, but querying is soul-sucking for EVERYONE. I really believe that if it seems too easy, you're doing it wrong. (With the exception of celebs and those blessed ppl who wrote something that went viral.)
I have a writer friend who talks about rejections as "earning your stripes," which I really like. It turns something embarrassing into a mark of respect for your own resilience.
Same! I don't know a single writer who didn't endure a lot of rejection before getting a yes. I think it's comparable to drafting--getting it wrong over and over is a step towards getting it right. Sending all the zen vibes your way.
I think many writers will relate to where you’ve been, especially those who spent years prioritizing caregiving and/or careers that earned a living wage. I’m peeking over the horizon at 60 and finally admitting to friends and family that I’ve been working on a novel for the past two years. I’ll be cheering you on your journey, Laura!
Congratulations on your debut Laura! I, too, will publish my debut next year. And I'm a young 66. Even writing that number is surreal. We are not alone, are we? Such a great community of writers here. Thank you for getting out there!
Right there with you, Joan! I'm 65 and just signed the contract for my debut novel -- a romantic suspense novel I started . . . um . . . . a decade or more ago??? Like Laura, it got put away while I dealt with kids, career, life. When I finally pulled it back out last year, I had to update all the references to technology because everything had changed. (Head banging on desk.) Talk about a reminder of just how long I let this thing languish. BUT I'm here now and that's what matters. Moving forward and working on Novel #2! Here's to 'digging in' !!
Yay congrats Laura, this is so heartening to read! I've spent 10+ years writing, querying, scrapping, starting over. I'm currently editing my 3rd (4th?!) novel and hope to be back in the query trenches in 4-5 months (god help me). What you said about being able to write a great sentence but having no idea about structure, pace, plot really resonated. That was definitely my issue for the first few books. I think (/hope) after years of practice and workshops and learning I'm much better than I was... really excited to follow your journey! x
My debut novel--which I started writing in 2015, but shelved for years due to child-rearing, work, death, life, etc. etc.--will be published in October. So, I see you, I feel you, and I eagerly await future posts from you! Congratulations!
I honestly feel that the novel benefitted hugely from lots of time to sit and breathe, and for me to deepen my understanding of my characters and what the book is doing (I hope so anyway!)
I’m just about to finish (hopefully in a week or two)the 4th draft of my novel which will be my debut (being optimistic here) Ive also had to teach myself how to write a novel and I SO feel you when you said you had to learn about plot and pacing. Those have been my huddles too. Im very excited to read more about your journey!
ooooh, I am going to do a post about the resources I used to teach myself. I can't wait to see if we used the same ones! And I think I've done 12 drafts!
Relate to this hard. Even after my debut was published with good trade reviews, the sales numbers were modest and it felt like such a failure that I didn't tell people about it. I didn't call myself a writer, dreading the inevitable questions about what I wrote and where people could find it (at the time it hadn't yet earned its place on bookstore shelves--that came way later). I thought I'd peaked at 25 and my career was over, so I pivoted to academia, wanting to forget the whole thing. It feels weirdly embarrassing to admit you're chasing something with such long odds. And it doesn't, of course, help that half the people who find out you're a writer will tell you they always meant to write a book but just "haven't had time," like it's a cute little hobby anybody could pick up in retirement. I've only gotten comfy calling myself a writer now that I've been paid as a writer for a whole-ass decade and I'm finally doing it full-time. People still make it weird, but not always in a bad way. I told someone recently I was a writer and she said, "Wow, I feel like you don't hear people say that anymore." I don't think it's because there are fewer writers--the opposite, if anything--but we all have this instinct to keep it a secret.
For whatever it's worth, I find it cuts back on the awkwardness to have a canned follow-up for when people ask what you do, because the next inevitable question is "What kind of stuff do you write?" An elevator pitch is worth its weight in gold.
Laura, big congratulations and an even bigger thank you! Thank you for sharing this journey with us and allowing us to tag along. I'm working with a book coach on my memoir-in-essays about life with an invisible disability. I plan to begin querying within the next month or so.
Thanks so much for sharing! This week's post will be about querying, and I hope it resonates with you. One of the most important things (ive found) is to have readers you trust, so it's great you have a book coach.
Wow! This feels like kismet coming into my life right now. I’m 44 and I’m just about to start querying my first novel. I’m terrified! I’ve always been a writer but took the more financially stable route for a while in public relations, then I started teaching writing at the University of Denver. I finally realized if I don’t get this book out of now, I may never. Excited to follow along!
Hi!! I love that you’re in Denver too!! This week’s newsletter will have some tips for querying. I hope it will help a little-- let me know what you think on Wednesday
So relate to this...I’m 43 and my debut (nonfiction) book will be out in May. It’s been so hard and terrifying and doesn’t get any easier, especially when it comes to promotion 😨
this is so helpful and generous! I'm a bit farther out--spring 2025 for my next book, The Good Mother Myth, which isn't my first, but the others were all poetry with independent/university presses, and nonfiction with a big press is a whole different deal! very excited to learn along with you!
I can’t believe it took me this long to find you! I am so looking forward to catching up with everything you’ve written and promise to be active in my reading. I finished a first draft of my first novel around about Easter 2024, but then a whole pile of life just keeps getting in the way. We’re ticking it all off and there’s really only one more biggy (scheduled at least) that I can use as an excuse and do really need to get on with my first edit. I know I’ve a couple of gaps to fill, so new chapters to write, but my biggest concern is that it’s really ‘just’ a nice story. A Sunday afternoon film kind of story. And I’m not sure who would buy it. If I’m honest, I’m not sure it’s my kind of book (although I would watch the movie), but it’s the story that I have to tell. So I’m hoping that in my edits and rethink, I can fill it out a little more; although I’m mindful of adding substance/plot twists or whatever just gif the sake of them when they might just jar and spoil the ‘nice’. Because after all, there’s nothing wrong with nice other than it can be a little tame. Working on it and very glad to see where you give me food for thought. Thank you for writing this 👍
Love this so much! At 43 I’m currently revising my debut (again!) after querying rejections and am sick of working on this novel which feels like forever. I can resonate with the DIY MFA route and balancing kids. Stories like yours give me inspiration to keep going!
Echoing the "feels like forever" thing. I should be knee deep in another revision (also after putting a pause on querying) and instead all I want to do is to finish my halfway finished second book and just write other new ones EVEN THOUGH I love this story... I'm just over working on it!
Congratulations on your debut! It's a lot of hard work, anxiety, and hopes rolled into one when you're awaiting the day your book makes its appearance to a wider audience. My first novel, The Garden of Second Chances, came out in June 2023 (SWP, a fantastic press), and it felt like a year-long pregnancy after querying for three years, so pace yourself and include days of self-care. Now that my second book comes out in May (from a different publisher), I am more relaxed because I know what to expect (more or less). Enjoy the ride!
Such a good post and so relate! I’ve had a long career writing personal growth books and a ton luck with all that and proud of that work but now after many failed attempts - including sending the first 40 pages of my novel to my agent TWENTY THREE YEARS AGO and having her say “great writing hate your main character” and then never rewriting the book (why??? ) at 61 (just to make you feel good about your age) I’m halfway through a novel that appears- if my book coach is right - to be really working. I too have spent those years studying. I think I was cocky when I was younger because I studied screenwriting at USC and thought I knew story structure cold. Ha! Anyway, excited for you and also I live in Colorado as well, near Boulder. Waving hi.
Waving back! Your story totally resonates with me. I got a lot of praise for my writing when I was younger. Writing a novel was a rude awakening! Do you have the same agent who hated your MC?
My agent became a big time
Thriller agent so I will talk to her when ready to query but she’s not right for the project. It’s a contemporary fantasy with a climate angle.
Congratulations on your debut! I know there are tons of us out here who will eagerly be awaiting your future posts to hear about what it's like debuting.
I just signed with my agent last week, after nine long hard months querying! What made that time less hard, though, was connecting with fellow writers and queriers about the ups and downs. Thank you for creating another space for us to connect!
Congratulations on signing with your agent!
Thank you so much! Can't wait for your next post!
Congratulations on your debut! It sounds so good, I can't wait to read it. And omg I'm so excited for this newsletter! I'm 42 and just started querying my first novel (upmarket fiction). It's going...ok? Actually that's a lie, it's so brutal, ha. Anyway, I knew all of this was going to be a long haul, but I'm starting to realize it's an ultra-marathon haul. (Also, I have twins too! And a third. The twins are in kindergarten and the little guy just started preschool, so I'm finally coming up for air). Your story is so inspirational, can't wait to read more about your publishing journey.
!!!!!!! So much overlap, that's actually crazy! I'm going to post about this next week, but querying is soul-sucking for EVERYONE. I really believe that if it seems too easy, you're doing it wrong. (With the exception of celebs and those blessed ppl who wrote something that went viral.)
Really looking forward to this post! My soul is a little RIP right now. The rejections are hard, but the waiting part is so excruciating.
I totally understand. Don't give up!
I have a writer friend who talks about rejections as "earning your stripes," which I really like. It turns something embarrassing into a mark of respect for your own resilience.
I love this! I’m a zebra
Same! I don't know a single writer who didn't endure a lot of rejection before getting a yes. I think it's comparable to drafting--getting it wrong over and over is a step towards getting it right. Sending all the zen vibes your way.
I think many writers will relate to where you’ve been, especially those who spent years prioritizing caregiving and/or careers that earned a living wage. I’m peeking over the horizon at 60 and finally admitting to friends and family that I’ve been working on a novel for the past two years. I’ll be cheering you on your journey, Laura!
Thank you! I'm cheering you on, too!
Congratulations on your debut Laura! I, too, will publish my debut next year. And I'm a young 66. Even writing that number is surreal. We are not alone, are we? Such a great community of writers here. Thank you for getting out there!
Congratulations on your debut, and thanks for sharing! The best is yet to come :)
Right there with you, Joan! I'm 65 and just signed the contract for my debut novel -- a romantic suspense novel I started . . . um . . . . a decade or more ago??? Like Laura, it got put away while I dealt with kids, career, life. When I finally pulled it back out last year, I had to update all the references to technology because everything had changed. (Head banging on desk.) Talk about a reminder of just how long I let this thing languish. BUT I'm here now and that's what matters. Moving forward and working on Novel #2! Here's to 'digging in' !!
Yay congrats Laura, this is so heartening to read! I've spent 10+ years writing, querying, scrapping, starting over. I'm currently editing my 3rd (4th?!) novel and hope to be back in the query trenches in 4-5 months (god help me). What you said about being able to write a great sentence but having no idea about structure, pace, plot really resonated. That was definitely my issue for the first few books. I think (/hope) after years of practice and workshops and learning I'm much better than I was... really excited to follow your journey! x
Ooooh I feel you. My next newsletter is about querying. I hope it resonates with you.
My debut novel--which I started writing in 2015, but shelved for years due to child-rearing, work, death, life, etc. etc.--will be published in October. So, I see you, I feel you, and I eagerly await future posts from you! Congratulations!
Congratulations to you, too!! I LOVE this story, and I bet a lot of others will too. There’s no extra prize for doing it FAST, right?
I honestly feel that the novel benefitted hugely from lots of time to sit and breathe, and for me to deepen my understanding of my characters and what the book is doing (I hope so anyway!)
The time to sit and breathe ---> SO TRUE.
I’m just about to finish (hopefully in a week or two)the 4th draft of my novel which will be my debut (being optimistic here) Ive also had to teach myself how to write a novel and I SO feel you when you said you had to learn about plot and pacing. Those have been my huddles too. Im very excited to read more about your journey!
ooooh, I am going to do a post about the resources I used to teach myself. I can't wait to see if we used the same ones! And I think I've done 12 drafts!
12! Wow!
Relate to this hard. Even after my debut was published with good trade reviews, the sales numbers were modest and it felt like such a failure that I didn't tell people about it. I didn't call myself a writer, dreading the inevitable questions about what I wrote and where people could find it (at the time it hadn't yet earned its place on bookstore shelves--that came way later). I thought I'd peaked at 25 and my career was over, so I pivoted to academia, wanting to forget the whole thing. It feels weirdly embarrassing to admit you're chasing something with such long odds. And it doesn't, of course, help that half the people who find out you're a writer will tell you they always meant to write a book but just "haven't had time," like it's a cute little hobby anybody could pick up in retirement. I've only gotten comfy calling myself a writer now that I've been paid as a writer for a whole-ass decade and I'm finally doing it full-time. People still make it weird, but not always in a bad way. I told someone recently I was a writer and she said, "Wow, I feel like you don't hear people say that anymore." I don't think it's because there are fewer writers--the opposite, if anything--but we all have this instinct to keep it a secret.
For whatever it's worth, I find it cuts back on the awkwardness to have a canned follow-up for when people ask what you do, because the next inevitable question is "What kind of stuff do you write?" An elevator pitch is worth its weight in gold.
So true!!! It’s real work! Even if you’re not (yet) getting paid for it. It’s so hard to talk about w people who aren’t in it, right?
Laura, big congratulations and an even bigger thank you! Thank you for sharing this journey with us and allowing us to tag along. I'm working with a book coach on my memoir-in-essays about life with an invisible disability. I plan to begin querying within the next month or so.
Thanks so much for sharing! This week's post will be about querying, and I hope it resonates with you. One of the most important things (ive found) is to have readers you trust, so it's great you have a book coach.
Wow! This feels like kismet coming into my life right now. I’m 44 and I’m just about to start querying my first novel. I’m terrified! I’ve always been a writer but took the more financially stable route for a while in public relations, then I started teaching writing at the University of Denver. I finally realized if I don’t get this book out of now, I may never. Excited to follow along!
Hi!! I love that you’re in Denver too!! This week’s newsletter will have some tips for querying. I hope it will help a little-- let me know what you think on Wednesday
I definitely will! I just submitted for author to agent meetings at AWP so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
So relate to this...I’m 43 and my debut (nonfiction) book will be out in May. It’s been so hard and terrifying and doesn’t get any easier, especially when it comes to promotion 😨
this is so helpful and generous! I'm a bit farther out--spring 2025 for my next book, The Good Mother Myth, which isn't my first, but the others were all poetry with independent/university presses, and nonfiction with a big press is a whole different deal! very excited to learn along with you!
Yay! Congratulations! I'm super interested in the small presses too--I'd love to hear what you've found different and similar.
I can’t believe it took me this long to find you! I am so looking forward to catching up with everything you’ve written and promise to be active in my reading. I finished a first draft of my first novel around about Easter 2024, but then a whole pile of life just keeps getting in the way. We’re ticking it all off and there’s really only one more biggy (scheduled at least) that I can use as an excuse and do really need to get on with my first edit. I know I’ve a couple of gaps to fill, so new chapters to write, but my biggest concern is that it’s really ‘just’ a nice story. A Sunday afternoon film kind of story. And I’m not sure who would buy it. If I’m honest, I’m not sure it’s my kind of book (although I would watch the movie), but it’s the story that I have to tell. So I’m hoping that in my edits and rethink, I can fill it out a little more; although I’m mindful of adding substance/plot twists or whatever just gif the sake of them when they might just jar and spoil the ‘nice’. Because after all, there’s nothing wrong with nice other than it can be a little tame. Working on it and very glad to see where you give me food for thought. Thank you for writing this 👍
Thank you for finding me!!!! There is plenty of room for “nice stories” just make sure your nice story is the best it can be 🥰
Love this so much! At 43 I’m currently revising my debut (again!) after querying rejections and am sick of working on this novel which feels like forever. I can resonate with the DIY MFA route and balancing kids. Stories like yours give me inspiration to keep going!
Echoing the "feels like forever" thing. I should be knee deep in another revision (also after putting a pause on querying) and instead all I want to do is to finish my halfway finished second book and just write other new ones EVEN THOUGH I love this story... I'm just over working on it!
Congratulations on your debut! It's a lot of hard work, anxiety, and hopes rolled into one when you're awaiting the day your book makes its appearance to a wider audience. My first novel, The Garden of Second Chances, came out in June 2023 (SWP, a fantastic press), and it felt like a year-long pregnancy after querying for three years, so pace yourself and include days of self-care. Now that my second book comes out in May (from a different publisher), I am more relaxed because I know what to expect (more or less). Enjoy the ride!
Thank you!! Congrats on BOTH your books! Do you swear I’ll feel relaxed at some point in the future?? Haha
Well, more relaxed than now!