I've continued to love and appreciate your honesty about and insights into your experience and process, especially when social media these days is filled with what feels like overnight success stories! If you're ever willing (or perhaps you've done so and I just need to search better!) I'd absolutely love to hear what books/podcasts/resources you felt helped you best as you honed your craft.
Just wanted to leave a note to say how incredibly encouraging these posts have been for me, as someone who has been trying to break into publishing for over 15 years and, somehow, just keeps going. I appreciate your openness and compassion so much. I hope those old books, the ones you loved so much but didn’t make it through, find a home one day too.
I totally get this, my dad was similar. I can remember going to the local amusement park for the first time and my dad clocking how scared I was to ride rides. It's a bit tough, but he made me ride the biggest one first, and every time we went back we rode it regardless of the fact it scared me. He would always say like, you just have to ride it one time to show yourself you're capable of it and then you don't have to go again until next time. Sometimes when I tell people they think that's such a harsh parenting style, but it definitely developed some sort of strength. When I was a teenager and went with friends I did it on my own.
He was the same about games though. It took a long, long time to beat him at Mario Kart, or 1 on 1 basketball.
Congrats on busting your ass for so long that they finally had to notice you! I hope the book sales go well.
I didn’t play sports or video games as a child and let me tell you, I am a terrible loser. I could’ve used more practice losing and being rejected. I think it’s only through sheer stubbornness of just really wanting to do the thing (be a writer) that I write at all.
Laura, you have always been a winner, I knew it from your first novel. I'm excited that everyone else has caught up! ✨
Also my kids are at sports camp right now and this newsletter really made me feel so much better about watching by them lose 😂 I wavered for a moment, but I'm glad I listened to my gut and here you are with confirmation! To be a winner, you have to know how to lose. It is the way of nature
this just popped up on my feed so i read it. as an independent musician i feel the sting of gatekeeping every so often, too.
also thanks for reminding me of when I'd ask my dad to help me on difficult levels in Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. eventually one day he said "you're better at these than me now" and I had to get through the difficult parts myself!
Wow. You just pumped my own engines! 🙌🏽🥂😎
I've continued to love and appreciate your honesty about and insights into your experience and process, especially when social media these days is filled with what feels like overnight success stories! If you're ever willing (or perhaps you've done so and I just need to search better!) I'd absolutely love to hear what books/podcasts/resources you felt helped you best as you honed your craft.
Just wanted to leave a note to say how incredibly encouraging these posts have been for me, as someone who has been trying to break into publishing for over 15 years and, somehow, just keeps going. I appreciate your openness and compassion so much. I hope those old books, the ones you loved so much but didn’t make it through, find a home one day too.
I totally get this, my dad was similar. I can remember going to the local amusement park for the first time and my dad clocking how scared I was to ride rides. It's a bit tough, but he made me ride the biggest one first, and every time we went back we rode it regardless of the fact it scared me. He would always say like, you just have to ride it one time to show yourself you're capable of it and then you don't have to go again until next time. Sometimes when I tell people they think that's such a harsh parenting style, but it definitely developed some sort of strength. When I was a teenager and went with friends I did it on my own.
He was the same about games though. It took a long, long time to beat him at Mario Kart, or 1 on 1 basketball.
Congrats on busting your ass for so long that they finally had to notice you! I hope the book sales go well.
I didn’t play sports or video games as a child and let me tell you, I am a terrible loser. I could’ve used more practice losing and being rejected. I think it’s only through sheer stubbornness of just really wanting to do the thing (be a writer) that I write at all.
Laura, you have always been a winner, I knew it from your first novel. I'm excited that everyone else has caught up! ✨
Also my kids are at sports camp right now and this newsletter really made me feel so much better about watching by them lose 😂 I wavered for a moment, but I'm glad I listened to my gut and here you are with confirmation! To be a winner, you have to know how to lose. It is the way of nature
Much love, always --Francina
this just popped up on my feed so i read it. as an independent musician i feel the sting of gatekeeping every so often, too.
also thanks for reminding me of when I'd ask my dad to help me on difficult levels in Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. eventually one day he said "you're better at these than me now" and I had to get through the difficult parts myself!