Ask the Author: Allison Pittman
Answered Questions (6)
Allison Pittman
So...I literally JUST found out this feature exists on Goodreads. And I feel like a heel for letting your question linger for a year, but then I couldn't let another minute go by without responding. (I guess I need to check in on Goodreads more often).
First--man, I hope you're still writing. Because I know exactly what you're dealing with. I've had at least 5 proposals rejected because somebody with a much bigger name than mine has a story releasing with the same theme, or setting, or ...something. It's a small playpen that we play in, so those overlaps can be killers. AND, I'm facing a bit of rejection for my next project now because...wait for it...I'm not visible enough on Social Media! (hint: I don't spend a lot of time on Goodreads). So, stumbling across your question right now is just like conviction for me in this moment. Look at all I miss out on because I get busy. I don't mean that i miss out on opportunities to promote myself and my books and my brand--I also miss out on opportunities to be encouraging to other writers who want to be where I am.
So--first. Don't let anything in the industry kill your idea. Ideas cycle. A few years ago publishers were like, "For the love of all that's holy, enough with the WWII books!" And, watch, in the next few years, everybody and their dog has a WWII book coming out.
All you can ever do is write what is in your heart to write. The story God plants in your brain is the story that will be fed by your soul and worked out by your hands and then, hopefully, will find an audience. If not--trust me. No amount of writing is a waste of time.
Are you a part of any kind of writing group? People who can give you more immediate feedback and encouragement? I could never have finished my first novel without a close group of fellow writers who encouraged me chapter by chapter.
Again--I am so sorry I didn't see this when you posted it, and i really, really hope there's some way that this timing is divine. Silence is the worst part of this business (saying this as someone who waited A YEAR to hear back about a proposed manuscript, and waiting now for one submitted months ago...) But, it's the worst part, and I feel like a creep for being an ambassador for the worst part. But the GREAT part is making connections between writers, so I hope i did just a bit of good today!
First--man, I hope you're still writing. Because I know exactly what you're dealing with. I've had at least 5 proposals rejected because somebody with a much bigger name than mine has a story releasing with the same theme, or setting, or ...something. It's a small playpen that we play in, so those overlaps can be killers. AND, I'm facing a bit of rejection for my next project now because...wait for it...I'm not visible enough on Social Media! (hint: I don't spend a lot of time on Goodreads). So, stumbling across your question right now is just like conviction for me in this moment. Look at all I miss out on because I get busy. I don't mean that i miss out on opportunities to promote myself and my books and my brand--I also miss out on opportunities to be encouraging to other writers who want to be where I am.
So--first. Don't let anything in the industry kill your idea. Ideas cycle. A few years ago publishers were like, "For the love of all that's holy, enough with the WWII books!" And, watch, in the next few years, everybody and their dog has a WWII book coming out.
All you can ever do is write what is in your heart to write. The story God plants in your brain is the story that will be fed by your soul and worked out by your hands and then, hopefully, will find an audience. If not--trust me. No amount of writing is a waste of time.
Are you a part of any kind of writing group? People who can give you more immediate feedback and encouragement? I could never have finished my first novel without a close group of fellow writers who encouraged me chapter by chapter.
Again--I am so sorry I didn't see this when you posted it, and i really, really hope there's some way that this timing is divine. Silence is the worst part of this business (saying this as someone who waited A YEAR to hear back about a proposed manuscript, and waiting now for one submitted months ago...) But, it's the worst part, and I feel like a creep for being an ambassador for the worst part. But the GREAT part is making connections between writers, so I hope i did just a bit of good today!
Allison Pittman
For real? Every time you see a character eating in one of my stories, chances are the food was my way of chipping the block away. Chances are I was eating a Twizzler at the time, too.
Allison Pittman
I love it when I hear from a reader who loved my book. A simple answer, I know. But when I think about all the hours spent pounding out those words, not able to see beyond the screen...that voice of a stranger is what makes me want to keep going.
Allison Pittman
Write what you love. Like, what you love to read about, what you love to dream about. Write stories where you can see a little bit of yourself, either in the characters or the conflict. We're best able to tell about the storms we've survived.
Allison Pittman
I honestly can't wait until I can give a full, detailed answer to this question. For now, I have to ask my readers to be a little patient for a little longer... Just let me say that I'll be taking you back to a place and time I've never visited in my writing. I'm so excited!
Allison Pittman
My biggest inspirations come from stories that I know are waiting to be told. I love the idea of working figures from real-life history and imagining scenes and scenarios that might have been. I love looking at old photographs, paintings, news clippings--knowing that those little bits of truth are just the tip of rich fodder for fiction!
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