Who are we and why do we write?
My name is Hannah Elizabeth—Writer, Baker, and Queen of Sarcasm.
What do I write? Fiction in the ranges of New Adult and Young Adult so far, but I haven’t cut out the possibility of Middle Grade. I believe Good Writing should say something meaningful and reflect real life, which; as we know, contains: Romance, Tragedy, Family, Comedy, Drama etc. The best writing not only tells a Good story, but tells it Well.
· What made me a writer? Simple answer—I was born one. Some people were born with Boxing gloves on, others with Math brains, and some with a Basketball. Me? I was born with a desire to tell stories—my stories. Unlike my sister (The Alcott to my Austen), I wanted people to see what I was writing (whether they wanted to or not). I pestered my family to read my stories from an early age, whereas my sister hid her work from even me until she felt called to share them. Our inspiration for writing came from the same places (though we write very differently): Superhero Movies and TV shows, Old Movies, Disney, and the Kings of Comedy, not to mention the Classic Novels of Shakespeare, Poe, Shelley, and Dickens, to name only a few of my childhood friends.
Good Writing feeds my creative powers, and superheroes represent the metaphoric struggle to do right in a world of wrong. Personally, I don’t see this struggle portrayed very well lately. We’re losing the ability to see what makes a hero, and heroines are vastly under portrayed for lack of knowledge on the subject and the grit to take it up in the first place. We’re so afraid of portraying women wrong now or offending people that we just don’t make any heroines at all. Not that we don’t have the material, the comic books are full of that.
· Who’s my favorite female character in Literature? My middle name is a hint… Elizabeth Bennet. The lady who gives her opinion so decidedly and goes head to head with my Mr. Darcy. I relate to Elizabeth’s strong personality and her close relationship to her sister. I also see any romance in my future as being a battle of contrasting strengths. I have to meet my match as Elizabeth does. My favorite depiction is the Black and White 1940 version with Greer Garson and Lawrence Olivier, the perfect blend of comedy, romance, and being true to the book. I’ve seen it about a dozen times. The Progressive, more action packed 2016 version of Pride and Prejudice Zombies is now a favorite as well. Zombies, swords, and the proposal scene being an all out fight between Darcy and Elizabeth…In my strange mind, these things just go together.
· Who are some if my favorite authors? Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, Rick Riordan, Edgar Allen Poe, and Suzanne Collins. My favorite poem is The Lady of Shallot by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
· What am I reading right now? The Kane Chronicles: The Serpents Shadow by Rick Riordan, Jane Austen’s Emma, The Holy Bible, and Arthur W. Pink’s The Sovereignty of God (some deep Theology here). I like to change things up and I like variety. Children’s books are not just for children and neither are cartoons. Walt Disney said, “I don’t make Children’s Movies,” and he was right. Everybody loves Disney—you see things in it you never saw before the older you get. That’s the beauty of something being for all ages. A child can get it, but the older you get it doesn’t stop being good or teaching you something. I’m always reading something at and under my level, as well as something spiritually uplifting. All reading should teach you something. If I want to challenge myself, I’ll read Classics. If I want my brain to take more of a break, I’ll read a Children’s book.
· What am I watching? Other than what my sister mentioned, we just re-watched Monk season 6, The Cosby Show, and BBC’s Victoria season 1. I love Comedy shows like F-Troop, Gilligan’s Island, Get Smart, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and The Lucy Show.
· Where am I in the writing Process? I am finishing my second manuscript, editing my first manuscript, and drafting a script for another project I just haven’t been able to get right. I’ve submitted my first manuscript to agents who’ve told me the same thing they’ve told my sister—I have talent but no dice.
· Takeaway: I’m a writer no matter what anyone says. It’s hard work, it’s a lot of no’s and it’s figuring out what works and what doesn’t. If you’re a writer, or you want to be one, or you like good stories, or you just want to know what makes a good story—tune in—we’ve got a lot to say.
Jubilee
I’m an author like many others— the world just doesn’t know it yet. What do I write? Primarily Young/New Adult heroic fiction but I’ve also tasked my hand at a middle grade recently and found it very personally rewarding. I think the best of material can be funny, touching, sad, action packed, and romantic—as long as it nails what it’s trying to do in that moment.
What made me want to write about heroic characters? I grew up watching classic cinema as well as the best that the animated Marvel and DC worlds had to offer (Batman the animated series, Justice League, Teen Titans, X-Men Evolution, X-Men the animated series etc.). I like characters that give us an example to strive for. They step up to do what no one else will, and encourage us that it’s possible to do the same.
Who’s my favorite fictional lady in literature? The character in literature I identify most with is Joe March from Little Women. The book is one of my favorites (as is the 2020 movie) and I’d never read a character that felt so much like the author was reading my mind, which is one of the reasons I love to write. That book is decades old, but I picked it up a few years ago and it resonated with me.
Who are some of my favorite authors? Rick Riordan, Suzanne Collins, and Charles Dickens. I also enjoy reading classic and romantic era poetry.
What am I reading now? In fiction, I’m reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelly (some fantastic language and great philosophical questions there). I’m also reading books by Joanna Penn on publishing, the book of Isaiah, and the five point guide to Calvinism.
What am I watching? I just finished re-watching Stranger Things season 1&2, Nikita Season 3, and finishing up Justice League season 2. I also watch a lot of old classic comedy shows.
What am I writing? Currently I’m writing a sequel to my magical realism, action romance YA novel, a short story, and I’m making changes in a MG.
Where am I in the publication process? Currently, I’ve submitted to various agents and publishing houses and received a slew of rejections (so if you’re a writer and have had this experience don’t be discouraged, you’re not alone I promise you). I’m in the process of having my debut middle grade novel edited and plan to self publish in 2022.
What are the agents saying about the books I’ve submitted? Usually it goes something like this: You have an interesting concept here and there’s clearly talent but this isn’t what I’m looking for. Best of luck with your publishing journey…. Or, your premise is original and intriguing but I have to be very careful in the projects I choose right now, I’m passing with some regrets but I hope you find an agent who has the same vision for your work….
I believe these agents have their reasons for not taking up my books, but I don’t believe it’s because my work isn’t quality, or isn’t entertaining, I think it has to do with what the market wants at this moment and my novels don’t fit the bill. I believe however, that people will always enjoy what’s good regardless of the current trends. So if you have a story, whatever it is—it doesn’t matter if the public isn’t asking for it, or doesn’t know they need it yet, keep working at your masterpiece. I guarantee you it will mean something to someone. You’re book could be the thing that gets them through a rough season of life, or helps them to better enjoy a happy one—whether it’s read in a library, at a job cubicle, or on a break at a minimum wage job—your book will resonate with someone and if it does it was worth writing.
So the bottom line, everyone has a story—the only difference between most people and writers is we take the chance of putting our thoughts and feelings on paper so that the world can question, scrutinize, or be inspired by our journey and the way we choose to view the world. In doing so we run the risk of having people publicly hate or love your work (which hey, words of encouragement: the greatest works of art are often also the most hated by someone so don’t let it bother you).
If you have something to say, or a story to tell (and I know you do), then write it. I promise you, if it’s your story no one else is capable of telling it but you.
