Middle Grade Mondays
A Writer Writes
Burn the Candle at Both Ends if You Have To
By Natalie Bright
NYTimes and USA Today bestselling novelist and author of 37 books spoke at the Frontiers in Writing dinner in Amarillo this past summer, an event sponsored by Panhandle Professional Writers.
Jodi Thomas [www.jodithomas.com] talked about the changing landscape of writing. “I started a career as a home economics teacher, thinking that there would always be a need for Home Ec Teachers. Then I turned to writing. The first book I tackled was an historical novel, thinking that there would always be a fan base for that genre.”
Today she finds herself in the middle of fulfilling a contract for a contemporary series taking place in her fictitious Texas town of Harmony. What started out as a trilogy has turned into at least a seven book series, and possibly eleven.
Today’s changing landscape of the publishing industry offers many opportunities for writers and it all boils down to a writer writes. She encouraged us to treat writing like we would any other job. Set a schedule, make and meet daily writing goals, don’t complain that your family doesn’t understand. Jodi said, “If it’s important to you, then it’s your job to make them understand.”
Today’s changing marketplace is one of the best times to be a writer. The markets are exploding and the demand for creative people has never been greater. “Set your own time to write and burn the candle at both ends.” Jodi told us. “For some of us we’re not running away from life by writing—we’re running towards it. Do what you love even if it’s not going to be easy.”
She left us with a verse from a poem by Edna Vincent Millay:
My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night
But oh my foes and oh my friends
It gives a lovely light
Natalie Bright
Wordsmith Six 