“I long so much to make beautiful things. But beautiful things require effort and disappointment and perseverance.”
Why This Writer Will Give You A Reason Not To Give Up
Meet Deborah Crossland and her incredible book (pre-order here)! I might be tempted to eat my favorite winter hat if this thing doesn't get a movie deal.
First off: Not-so-humble brag. I'm freaking proud of the work Deb and I did together. I take no credit for her success because she is brilliant all on her own, but I am so honored that I got to walk side by side with her through such a significant part of her journey.
From initially working on her writing practice and holding her seat to getting an agent to getting a fantastic book deal...we have been through the wars and had a jolly good amount of fun, anyway. I mean, it's really not that often you get to be part of the whole second act arc of someone's publishing story.
I first got to read a bit of this book when Deb took my Writing Bingeable Characters course, which is now on-demand. Then, I got the pleasure of strategizing and brainstorming and plotting during our 1:1 coaching seasons, where I got to help her sort through subbing to agents (and holy shit, she ended up with * the * Molly Glick, aka President Biden's agent, what?!).
Then, I got to hear all about this novel going out on sub and how S&S picked it up in a sweet deal that made this writing coach mama proud.
And THEN I got to be part of her process of revising with her editor and building her brand and getting her cover (see below - gahhhhh). I got to write her a blurb and see her happy pics and send excited texts. All through this, Deb and I connected so much on mythology and spirituality and feminism and family of origin. (Of course she has a PhD in mythology. She is a literal book doctor.)
Sure, I want to gush and celebrate, but I tell you all this with the purpose of injecting some hope into any of you who are frustrated as hell with the state of publishing. I am, too. Those hearings were brutal.
And so I present you with this incredible woman, who simultaneously pursued her writing and academic dreams, never gave up hope, and worked hard to get better and better. Whether it was working with me or Bingeable Characters or doing writing sprints with women she'd connected with in The Well or going back-and-forth with CPs (and taking care of kids and partner and also teaching high schoolers), Deb never stopped. Not during COVID and the big and small terrors and griefs of life. Not even when giving up seemed the most sensible thing to do.
And here we are.
Not all of you will get this particular kind of happy ending.
Deb knows as well as anyone that the fates and furies play around a lot in the publishing world, so this story is far from over. Still, she got the champagne moment, and that's not nothing. It's a whole lot of something.
But guess what? That shouldn't stop you from living a fulfilling life as a writer who believes she and her writing are worthy of the champagne moments.
That worthiness comes from inner work, a strong writing practice, and the curiosity and courage to keep refining your craft: to see your writing as a spiritual practice and as a necessary component of your health and wellbeing.
Maybe our writing is the way we we say the quiet part out loud. And, every now and then, a whole lot of people get the chance to listen.
Y'all, I'm scared, too. I'm writing my next book under a pseudonym (what up, midlist authors)...despite the fact that Code Name Badass just received a lovely and important honor: Septima Clark Women in Literature recognition. I don't even know if this new book will sell, but I'm giving it my all because it's so very satisfying to hit the mark on the page. Whether or not it sells is above my pay grade. There is only so much I can do, and life is too short to do most of them (goodbye, social media).
So, I write. Writing is how I walk through this world. Writing makes me show up better. Writing helps me do right by the miracle. End of story.
Of course I worry about my graduate students and clients, who are facing a future with far less opportunities for traditional publication and may never have the shelf I have in my office, with an assortment of hardcovers bearing my name and another filled with translations of those books. I have been so, so lucky. And still, I'm scared. Just like you. (I also know that, ahem, publishing doesn't make you happy).
All of us are out in the cold.
I'm up here at the cabin, in the literal cold, wondering if I'm actually going to revise like I planned. Because I have Nina Lacour's new book in my bag, some sashiko stitching to do for a gift for my husband, my tarot cards. The cat - wonderful distraction!
But even just writing to all of you right now is reminding me how FUN it is to be a storyteller. And that this is reason enough to keep on this path.
We may be out in the cold, but this space, and Deb's news, and all bookish things - and each other - helps keep us warm. Instead of body warmth, we have word warmth. Which is really beautiful, because success is lonely and there are fewer people to cozy up to that very, very tiny fire.
Thank you for reading this and being a hearth I can warm my writer's hands at. I hope it gives you some nourishment back, too.
