Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc)
I signed with an agent – Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic Inc – this past November for a middle-grade fantasy called THREE FEATHERS.
How did studying/retreating at The Writing Barn support you in achieving this goal? What workshop/intensives/or classes have you taken with us?
I participated in the Write Submit Support for Novelists online class last year with Carrie Jones. It was an amazing experience! The class gave me a tangible reason to make my writing a higher priority and I LOVED being able to focus on my story and writing craft in general. Carrie’s feedback was brilliant and insightful and delivered with such kindness and supportive encouragement that I felt inspired every month. And my classmates were the best cheerleaders, giving me courage to keep trying when I worried maybe I would never find an agent.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal?
I’ve been writing short pieces for years and noodling around with novels on and off, but only seriously started querying an adult novel back in 2017, I believe? I received overwhelmingly positive responses, but everyone pretty much said the same thing: “We love it, but don’t think it will sell.” I finally decided it was time to focus on something new and began concentrating on a middle-grade fantasy when I started the WSS class.
What fears/hopes did you have before attending the WB class, intensive/or working with Bethany privately?
Well, I was afraid that maybe I was deluding myself to think that I could ever sell a book. I thought maybe I might be a good writer but a terrible storyteller. I worried that no one would ever want to read the stories I wanted to tell. But I hoped – oh, I hoped so hard! – that I could learn how to level up my writing so that someone somewhere would find it impossible to resist.
How did the atmosphere of The Writing Barn aid you in achieving this goal?
It was so supportive and friendly, so encouraging! Carrie’s lessons let me dive deep into my own story as well as peek beneath the layers in published novels to see how they worked. My classmates all brought such creativity and enthusiasm to our class discussions that I always felt energized and inspired afterward. They gave me courage to keep trying.
Have you made friendships/colleagues as well? How has that supported you?
Yes! And it’s so nice to be able to discuss everything from books we enjoy to pieces of our writing that we’re struggling with, to celebrate good news or support each other through disappointments. Writing can feel solitary when you’re staring at a blank screen and wondering if anyone cares which words you type, but building a community of passionate creatives is a true joy. Knowing you aren’t really alone can make it easier to slog through slow days of writing!
Why do you think attending workshops/classes is important to writers at all stages of their career?
Well, honestly the thing I love most about writing is that there is always something else to learn, a new skill to hone, a new story or structure to explore. Every project brings a new challenge, so I think it’s vitally important for writers to keep pushing themselves.
What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build an develop your career?
I am a very introverted, shy person in real life and it’s easy for me to settle into my solitude, even if that’s not always the best creative environment. But WSS really showed me the importance of community and how that support can be a source of great courage. I intend to lift up other writers whenever I can, to share the feeling of camaraderie and community that the Writing Barn and WSS gave me. And I also realized how powerful it is when you make your dreams a priority rather than a second thought. I have changed my life completely by focusing on the stories I desperately want to tell and by giving myself the time and space to write them.
Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course in pursuing their goals?
Be brave! Be kind – to yourself as well as to others. Be open to possibility and flexible when things don’t go according to plan because sometimes those real-life plot twists bring the best rewards. Do work you care deeply about because even on hard days you’ll feel the satisfaction of pursuing something that matters. If it feels like you aren’t getting anywhere, hang in there! It’s hard to predict when the door will open, so keep knocking – even if you have to look for other doors.
More about Jennifer:
When she’s not feeding cats or riding wild horses on her husband’s family farm, Jennifer Adam can be found surrounded by books and fountain pens. She is passionate about hiking through the woods, ancient history, ballet, and classical music. Her short stories and poems have appeared in a number of magazines, and her first story for children – “Carrots for Ranger” – can be found in the July/August 2018 issue of CRICKET Magazine. She is represented by Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc and is working on her second middle-grade novel.