What I Learned in June 2016: Lesson 2
6:00 AMAuthors are people too.
*gasp*
Shocking, isn't it? It's true though.
Before going to the Minneapolis Young Writers Workshop, I had 1) never met a published author, 2) never heard an author speak on their craft, 3) never been to a book signing, and 4) never been in a class with an author.
BUT LOOK HERE I MET AUTHORS AHHH. *spams you with pictures*
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| Jacqueline West and me |
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| Bribing Jonathan Friesen with pizza |
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| Getting my books signed by Jen! |
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| All the fantasy writers (about 11) were in a private class with Jennifer Nielsen and it was FABULOUS! |
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| And then I got my picture with her! *fangirls* |
There are a lot of other things I had never done but did over the workshop (LIKE MEETING SOME OF MY ONLINE WRITER FRIENDSSSSS AHHHHHHHHHHH), but these are the main ones I want to talk about today.
I think it's safe to say we've all struggled with this at one point. Authors seem so BIG, right? Before I started writing, this was the reason I hadn't tried. I mean, come on? I was a little christian home-school girl from a small town. Surely I wasn't 'author material.' Authors are so big and cool, right? Their names are printed on books that sit on shelves in book stores–Book. Stores.–all over the country, and even the whole world. They have their own websites. When you look them up, you find their fancy author pictures.
What's more, a LOT of people know their names.
J. K. Rowling, for instance. EVERYONE knows that name. (Unless you've lived in an underground bunker for ten years, cut off from all outside communication, in which case you probably wouldn't be able to read this post.)
Yet if you were to meet her and talk with her, you'd probably come to the same conclusion I did over the workshop. Since, you know. It's kind of true.
Authors are people too.
They, just like you, have fears and doubts and insecurities. Believe it or not, THEY WRITE TERRIBLE FIRST DRAFTS TOO. (or so they say)
They've had failures just like they've had successes. They've faced challenges they had to overcome. They've pushed forwards. They've fought for what they do.
These writers? They're people like you and me. They started out bad, just like everyone else. But they got better because they tried. And they kept trying until they succeeded.
Never stop trying. The moment you give up is the moment you lose. You'll never see your book on a shelf, with your name printed all fancy on the cover, if you stop.
Keep writing. Keep trying. Become one of those author people. Don't give up.
Have you ever met an author? Was it like you expected, or were you like me and surprised to find they were actually humans? XP
25 comments
Yaaas! I met Nadine Brandes that same week at my conference and she was like normal! It's crazy!
ReplyDeleteI know, right? XP I'm so happy with my new perspective. It really changes how I view myself and my writing.
DeleteI've never met an author before, but I have e-mailed a few to let them know how much I love their work, and it was a great surprise when one e-mailed me back and said thank you. It was kind of a surreal moment, but a great reminder that authors are human. XD
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this is so true! I've attended around 8 book signings and met around 11 authors (unforgettable ones being Marie Lu's and Sarah J. Maas'). The first weekend of July, I was able to meet Amy Zhang and Andrea Portes :) I honestly couldn't believe they were real humans, like ACTUAL ones and started freaking out even though I'd been to signings before.
ReplyDeleteYes, I totally agree. They're human too. I asked both of them how I could pursue writing with school getting in the way of life, and they both admitted in a way that it would be hard. Especially for Amy as she wrote her books in high school as well!
A side note : I LOVE JACQUELINE WEST'S MG SERIES! It's the Books of Elsewhere, right? I grew up reading that and now I can't wait to get my hands on her YA!!! It's not out where I am so I'll be patiently waiting as I dislike reading ebooks. That's just me. Being picky.
So OFF TOPIC AGAIN BUT HOW IS NATASHA? I get the Avengers reference, I truly do.
WOW! That's amazing! I need to look Amy Zhang up. Did she write the books she's published when she was in high school? That's so cool!
DeleteYASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS JACQUELINE WEST'S SERIES IS AMAZINGGGGGGG. I have yet to read Dreamers Often Lie but I've heard such good things and reallyyyyy want to! I wish I had a copy so I could have gotten it signed ... *siiiiigh* She is sooooo amazing though. I love her voice and her countenance. *whispers* I don't like ebooks eitherrrrr. XP
NATASHA IS WELL! FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND BEING PUT TO VERY GOOD USE XP
Yes, Amy Zhang wrote Falling Into Place (her debut) in high school! :-)
DeleteAHHH I WISH I COULD GET MY HANDS ON DREAMERS OFTEN LIE RIGHT NOW! I hope she comes out with more YA because I'd literally read them all.
ME TOO, MAN. I need to see if my library has it because ... #money XP
DeleteI MUST CHECK OUT AMY ZHANG AHHHH *swoons*
I'm so jealous! That's awesome! I tend to think that famous authors are perfect writers, and this is a great reminder. Great post! :)
ReplyDelete~Megan <333
(megans-journals.blogspot.com)
YESSSS THEY ARE NOT PERFECT. They make mistakes too. And that's so important to remember when writing. They started where we are, so why shouldn't we be able to get to where they are?
DeleteThis is what I needed today since I have a headache and feel like hibernating instead of doing anything remotely productive ;) I just went to my first writing conference, too, and it was GREAT! I loved it, even though all the people there were new to me. You're right, authors are humans just like us and I think that's why we like them so much ^.^
ReplyDeleteAhhh that's exciting! Was it an actual conference or a workshop? Were there ... *whispers* lots of adults? *shudders* (mine was a teen workshop so LOTSA KIDDOS YAY!!!!!!!!!) DID YOU MAKE ANY FRIENDSIESSSSS??? *is totally all in your business SORRY* *goes to check you blog to see if you've posted on this*
DeleteAh, this is such a good post! It can be easy to forget that these published authors are human too, and that they once had an awful first novel and many awful first drafts after that. :P
ReplyDeleteYesssh. *nods vigorously* Gives such hope, doesn't it? ;P
DeleteAye, that is does. *nod* :P
DeleteIM JEALOUS. I have never ever met a published author in person. You're very lucky...
ReplyDeleteYAYY YOURE BACK. (right??!?!?!?) *gives cookies and coffee and hugs*
Awwwwww I hadn't either, till the workshop! But you will eventually! :D
DeleteYES I'M BACK! My posts will probably be pretty short for a while since I'm still so busy, but I will still post! <3
This is so true.
ReplyDeleteIt really sucks when I feel that my writing just isn't good enough. This is partly because I have never won a writing competition that I was a part of. However, I need to keep going, get off my butt and actually WRITE something.
I have seen an author talk about their work. However, I never really met them. I saw Sophie McKenzie when I was younger but I don't read much of her work.
DeleteAHHHHHH GRACE. *clears throat* Don't fall into that trap, okay? Because when you say, "My writing isn't good enough," what exactly does that mean? What standard are you holding for "good writing" that you are trying to reach? What, exactly IS "Good enough"?
DeleteYou're constantly growing and maturing, both as a person and a writer. The reason you feel like you're not "good enough" is because there IS no "good enough". Just like there is no perfect way in art. Saying you're not "good enough" is not realistic and it's unfair to you. Your writing may not be ready to share yet, but the more you write the better you will get. That applies even after you get published. Jennifer talked about you WANT to look back at your old writing and find where you could do better. Because if you don't see where you could have done better, you haven't gotten better. And since there is no "mark" we are aiming for, no "perfect writer" we can achieve, we'll just keep growing until we die. Now it may just be me ... but isn't that beautiful? <3
This post is awesome.
ReplyDeleteEveryone starts somewhere, and it's encouraging to know that all those 'famous worldwide authors' are just people, like us.
I've never met an author, but I'd love to, someday.
Great post. :)
-T.
x
IKR? Yes, you will eventually! I'm not sure how one finds out about book signings, but that's a great way to meet an author. Plus, you get your book signed! :D
DeleteI really want to meet some authors. It's nice to know that they had their moments of failing too.
ReplyDeleteYessss. It's so comforting and encouraging. No one is perfect!
DeleteI have never met an author *sniffs*. SOMEDAY I WILL. I basically just stared jealously at your pictures all throughout this (really awesome) post XD.
ReplyDeleteAWWWWWWWWWWWWW. This was my first time doing ANYTHING like this, so I can definitely sympathize. *hugs* You will someday, God willing! <3
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