How I Became a Writer: A Series
A treat for paying subscribers
Dear Readers,
I’ve been thinking a lot about how this newsletter can function, both as a way to follow along with my daily reading of short stories but also as a resource for readers and writers. I have a lot of ideas, but something I’ve realized is that a format without content made specifically for paid subscribers isn’t sustainable. In order to support myself as a writer I have to incentivize paid subscriptions. It’s capitalism and I hate it, but I also love that Substack has made this possible.
I have two questions for you: what do you want to know about the writer’s life and becoming a writer? And what do you see as valuable when it comes to paying for a newsletter?
I have a lot to offer as a writer and human. My path to writing was circuitous and I overcame a lot of obstacles. I was raised by two parents, both of which didn’t graduate high-school, one of which left middle school and was mostly absent from my life. I was the first person in my family to graduate college but didn’t really get to college until I was 32 years-old. For most of my life I didn’t dare think of myself as a writer. I held odd jobs, work as a stripper, and spent seven years working as a wildland firefighter. As a nanny, I helped raise countless (20? 30?) children.
I was always a reader, though. Books gave me hope. Books taught me how to imagine myself out of my world. My mom and I moved a lot when I was little— so often that I lost count. Once, she dropped me at my grandparents house without telling me I was going to be living with them. I stayed with them for three years.
To be clear, once I was past the age of eleven I was sure I wouldn’t live past the age of twenty-one. I ran away for the first time at twelve years-old and spent time in a youth homeless shelter in Seattle, then ran away again and again. Somehow, I found firefighting, which saved me and traumatized me.
We wore yellow Nomex shirts and in my front pocket I’d always have a tiny notebook. I took so many notes in that little notebook. I always had a book in my backpack; was always reading. I had this vision of myself as a writer, writing about the experiences that had saved me and destroyed me.
And now I am that vision.
That’s easy to forget.
I’d love to tell you more about how I made my way from there to here and finally found my voice, confidence, and way as a writer in the world.
Is that something you’re interested in? Please become a paying subscriber so you can access all that I have to share!
In other news, I am leading a twelve-week long book proposal class, starting March 6th. I am so excited to lead a small group of writers on the journey of writing their book proposals! This is a process I did by myself, and through trial and error I learned what worked and what didn’t. In 2019, I sold my book on proposal to Grove Atlantic. I’m in the process of revising that book with my editor right now and will soon have a publication date.
I look forward to hearing your input, either in the comments or in replies to this email. I value you as readers and as community, and I know this newsletter has a lot of potential to be a great resource for both readers and writers!