Success Story Spotlight with Nick Solis

Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc)!

I was the recipient of the 2018 Walter Dean Myers Grant from the amazing people over at We Need Diverse Books! 

How did studying/retreating at The Writing Barn support you in achieving this goal? What workshop/intensives/or classes have you taken with us?

Studying at The Writing Barn has had 100% to do with me achieving this goal. My good friend Erin Sewell told me I had to attend a class there about 5 years ago and said that it would be really beneficial for me. I was hesitant because I thought I knew everything I needed to know about writing a good book already. I was completely and utterly wrong! Since that Picture Book 1 class with Bethany Hegedus, I have attended and revisited all of the picture book classes and worked with some amazing authors like Cate Berry, K.A. Holt, and Hannah Barnaby. I have attended picture book weekend intensives and listened to some amazing lectures. Through all of the classes and intensives, I have not only improved my craft, but I have been able to make contacts with some amazing authors, agents, editors, and publishers in the industry. In fact, the only way I knew about We Need Diverse Books’ grants was because Lamar Giles took the time to speak to me after one of his lectures and encouraged me to check them out. 

How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal?

I have been writing my entire life. I used to write Encyclopedia Brown knock off stories when I was 8. But I have seriously been working on writing for about 5 years now, ever since I drove through the gates of The Writing Barn. 

 What fears/hopes did you have before attending the WB class, intensive/or working with Bethany privately?  

I don’t think I came in with many fears when I first started. I was pretty cocky and thought I knew it all. I was just hoping to clean up my work a little bit and then get an agent and then be super rich and famous. That’s how naive I was. I was sitting on something like a 2,000 word picture book, which is completely ridiculous because it wasn’t a biography and it didn’t have back matter. All the things I just listed in the last sentence is evidence of the knowledge I’ve gained from The Writing Barn. I had to learn the bare bones of it all from some pretty amazing and patient authors that truly knew what they were talking about. And if I’m being honest, I do have fears now. Every time I share a work I get incredibly nervous. You work so hard on a new piece and you want someone to like it. Exposing that writing can be terrifying, but I’ve always felt incredibly supported and comfortable with the writers I’ve met a The Writing Barn. It’s a community of authors that truly want you to succeed.    

How did the atmosphere of The Writing Barn aid you in achieving this goal?

The atmosphere at The Writing Barn is amazing! It’s this little oasis in the middle of the city. There are quiet places to just leave the rest of the world behind and focus on your craft. And when you’re at The Writing Barn, you know that the goal of every single person there, whether staff or fellow writers, is to make your work better. 

Have you made friendships/colleagues as well? How has that supported you?

 Yes, tons! My critique group is comprised of all writers I have worked with before at The Writing Barn. Each one comes with a different viewpoint and set of skills that I simply don’t have so I love it when I get their feedback. I have worked with numerous authors who have answered those ‘behind the scenes’ questions all new writers have. I have even been fortunate enough to become a Writing Fellow at The Writing Barn, so I have had the opportunity to TA classes and support newer writers as well. It is this community that helps to make my work better and listen to heart break when a rejection comes back. You need those people in your life because they live those high and lows as well, and can empathize on a level others might not be able to. 

Why do you think attending workshops/classes is important to writers at all stages of their career?

Every field of study changes, and writing is no exception. The industry shifts constantly and has new likes and dislikes, so you must be aware of what is trending and what direction you should move in. But there are also constants, rules that help you navigate the craft. I like attending the classes because I am not only learning something new, but I am also being reminded of things that I have forgotten. I am one of those people that has to do things over and over again until it becomes habit. Writing is no exception. 

  What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build an develop your career?

I will always be a part of this writing community. Life may sometimes get in the way, but I will find a way to surround myself with amazing writers.  

Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course in pursuing their goals?

I’m a full time teacher and finding time to write is hard! Stay the course! Some authors set aside a certain time of the day to write or a minimum number of minutes to devote to writing. I find that if I surround myself with writers I write. I take the classes, I try to hit my deadlines with my critique group, and now I TA for some of the classes. DO WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU! There is no one right answer. Find what works for you and make it a habit. 

More about Nick: Nicholas Solis is an award winning elementary teacher with a Master in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas and a Master in Educational Administration from Concordia University. He was born to teach, but has an unmitigated passion for writing. Thank goodness he found the Writing Barn to help him improve his writing skills, a passion that began at the age of 8. Nick writes middle grade novels, picture books, and poetry about farts