A Writer's Midnight Ramble

No sugarcoating. I’m going to be completely honest with you. Writing is a puzzle. Editing is difficult. And the publishing process is like waiting to speak with your mom while she’s talking to her best friend—it won’t happen, at least, not for a while.

I am currently in the editing process for my latest book. In twenty days, I’ll be flying to New York City for a writer’s conference. What does that mean? Well, I have to prepare a pitch, one-sheet, proposal, and finish my initial edits. That said, I’m busy. Very busy. And when I get stumped, I don’t have a ton of people offering advice. My mom, although brilliant, does not understand the current publishing industry. My mentor is a teacher and lives an hour away. My author best friend is busy being an author. I email them at least once a day—it’s no wonder they’ve stopped replying—but even with their council, I am on my own. To make my own decisions. To learn and prepare.

 

Writing is one of the loneliest jobs available to an eighteen-year-old girl.

 

At this exact moment, I’m listening to We’re On Our Way by Radical Face and trying to formulate coherent thoughts. It’s midnight. I should be in bed, but the caffeine from my English breakfast tea is keeping me alert and buzzing with ideas.

 

Last weekend, I attended freshman orientation at my college and registered for classes. While there, I met an English major named Gabriela. She is an aspiring novelist, like many of you, I’m guessing. I found her writing beneath a tree—anyone who picks writing instead of mingling is definitely my kind of person. In her, I saw a younger version of myself, an imaginative, determined girl with a passion for stories. She is an example of potential and eagerness. She is me. She is you.

 

In honor of Gabriela, I’d like to share three random tidbits of wisdom.

1.      Find a way.

I learned at an early age that success wasn’t going to be handed to me on a platter. People weren’t planning to give me their time because I was Caroline George, little girl with big dreams, who asked for it. If I wanted something, I would have to work for it. Relentless. Perseverant. If someone told me NO, I’d find a YES.

The publishing industry isn’t going to hand you an agent and contract on a platter. You have to work hard. Relentless. Perseverant. And if someone tells you NO, find a YES.

 

2.      Don’t let other people hurt your confidence.

Everyone experiences days when they feel inferior and unsuccessful. I often have these days.

Get up. Look in the mirror. Cringe.

Check email. No messages. Cringe.

Scan sales report. No sales. Cringe.

It’s easy to allow situations to injure your confidence, but in my opinion, people are the worst confidence-wreckers. One cruel remark will tear down any and all your self-esteem. And to be honest, there isn’t a foolproof way to prevent confidence-wrecking attacks. I can, however, advise you to keep your priorities in check. Believe in your purpose. Trust in the talent God gave you. Stay focused.

3.      Love what you do. Fight for what you love. And love the fight.

Thanks for reading my midnight ramble!

And to all the aspiring authors like Gabriela,

Don’t give up, kid. You’ll make it.

Join Me For The Ride

Hello, world.

I’ve never been much of a blogger. Reality has always seemed too dull, too average to write about. Until now, I’ve preferred to tell exciting, fictional stories—sometimes about myself in a fantastical world with talking animals and knights in shining armor, sometimes about genetically altered teenagers destined to save humanity. But I finally have a real story worth telling.

It’s mine.

I am an eighteen-year-old girl who drinks too much coffee, fan-girls about her characters, is obsessed with Peter Pan, and at age fifteen, self-published her first novel, The Prime Way Program: Be The Victor. Eleven months later, at age sixteen, I published the second installment of my trilogy, The Prime Way Program: Just Strength. I’m currently pursuing traditional publication for my latest book, The Vestige, and will be traveling to New York City in a few months to pitch to agents and publishers.

Stories are my life-long passion. I want to not only put my stories on bookshelves and television screens but also act as a career template for young writers desiring publication. The posts on this page are for them—to help, encourage, and show that with hard work and God’s blessing, all things are possible.

This blog isn’t a monotonous retelling of my day-to-day life or a stereotypical writer’s blog. This is about a teenage girl’s encounter with the world of publishing and her journey to success.

Join me for the ride.

Girl Meets Publishing World.