Hi everyone,
One of my favorite parts of being an independent journalist and author is the ability to write about what I want, when I want, and how I want.
From how cellphones are designed to how our trash is collected and recycled, I’ve done some amazing and incredible work, from some amazing and incredible places, and always, always, on my terms.
I believe in building a writing career around what’s important to us. And for me, the ability to share the stories that have touched my heart has always been incredibly important.
I write whatever I like, as often as I like—and because I always make decisions based on what is aligned for me—I’m not easily rattled, thrown off my path, or discouraged when an agent, a publisher, or an editor says no.
Rejection is protection, as they say.
Or, as Derek Sivers puts it, “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no.”
I’m not interested in working with an agent I’m not wildly, crazily, passionately happy to be working with.
I’m not interested in signing a book deal I’m not wildly, crazily, passionately happy to be signing.
I’m not interested in writing a novel, a short story, or an essay I’m not wildly, crazily, passionately happy to be writing.
This doesn’t meant there aren’t challenges. Of course there are.
I write novels around difficult subjects. Publishers offer low advances. Editors want you to change your story to make it more palatable to white readers.
Which is why it’s even more important that when I say yes to something, I do it from a place of empowerment, of joy, and of utter excitement, not from fear.
Saying yes to something out of fear is not an opportunity, it’s a compromise.
And I’m totally and utterly unavailable for that kind of compromise.
I’m not interested in the publishing industry’s stamp of approval. I don’t need anyone to tell me my work is worthy of publication. I already know my work is worthy of publication, of success, of creating a massive income, and of attracting a massive readership.
What I’m interested in is giving my books the best chance of success, both financially and in terms of impact. For some books, this means working with agents and traditional publishers; for others it means going indie.
So, when I went looking for agents (and now, as we look for publishers), it wasn’t a wait for someone to pick me and select me and deem me worthy of publication. It’s a process of digging through the haystack to find the perfectly shiny, sparkly needle who I’m wildly, crazily, passionately excited to work with. And who is wildly, crazily, passionately excited to work with me.
If it’s not a hell yes? It is automatically a hell no.
In relationships, in friendships, in the kind of clients I work with, in the kind of writers I’ll take on for coaching, in the kind of book deals I’ll sign, and yes, of course, in the agents I’ve selected, and trusted, to take my books to market.
My purpose and my commitment to this work is greater than my ego.
I have to put it first. You have to put it first.
Because if you compromise? If you keep giving away small pieces of yourself?
Then before you know it, you won’t even know who you are anymore.
If you want a writing career that you are wildly, crazily, and passionately in love with…
You’re going to have to get brave enough to stop making compromises and start making a daily decision to say no to the things you aren’t wildly, crazily, and passionately excited about.
It’s that easy. And that difficult.
Cheers,
Natasha