For those of you who don't know...
I write literary fiction. Short stories mostly, but I'm working on a novel now.
As of yesterday I was offered representation by an agency in New York.
They have sold books by actress-turned-activist Ashely Judd, comedian Kathy Griffin, and a few other NY times bestselling authors.
I've been writing for 10 years and have gotten NOWHERE.
I was literally on my last breath....about to give up, and then this happened.
This is a blessing from God.
For those of you who don't know, the most difficult step as a writer is finding an agent.
Agents won't take you on as a client unless they think they can sell your work.
The next step is to package my work and sell it to a major publisher (Random House, etc.) and then my book will be released into the world.
I'm only halfway into my journey but I can already tell you that if you have a dream...GO FOR IT.
Believe in yourself. Make a vision board. Pray to god. Whatever you need to keep going.
As a queer brown writer I've had my fair share of rejections and discouragement. But I kept going because I felt I had something to say, something to share, and now it's all coming together.
I hope one day you can read it, and, perhaps, you might relate to it. :stressed:
That's great man. congrats
Did u get ur money back from ur roommate
Omg congrats!
I knew that feeling is amazing
Good luck luv
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:05:52 AM
That's great man. congrats
Did u get ur money back from ur roommate
cccc
thanks...and no.
He apologized profusely, asked for forgiveness, but didn't offer the money.
I could have demanded it, taken him to court, etc.
But at the end of the day, I feel very blessed and I know karma is real and I don't need the money and obviously he did, or felt like he did...
And I'll let God do his work. :letsmessfag:
Quote from: GRAND SUPREME MARSHALL on January 08, 2017, 03:09:19 AM
Omg congrats!
I knew that feeling is amazing
Good luck luv
Thank you!!! :wub: :wub: :wub:
Go have random sex and do drugs to celebrate
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:10:27 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:05:52 AM
That's great man. congrats
Did u get ur money back from ur roommate
cccc
thanks...and no.
He apologized profusely, asked for forgiveness, but didn't offer the money.
I could have demanded it, taken him to court, etc.
But at the end of the day, I feel very blessed and I know karma is real and I don't need the money and obviously he did, or felt like he did...
And I'll let God do his work. :letsmessfag:
And that's completely understandable. This is so dope tho. Do u plan on relocating to NY ? I guess u really don't need to huh? U can write anywhere
This is amazing!!! So happy for you :stressed:
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:13:41 AM
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:10:27 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:05:52 AM
That's great man. congrats
Did u get ur money back from ur roommate
cccc
thanks...and no.
He apologized profusely, asked for forgiveness, but didn't offer the money.
I could have demanded it, taken him to court, etc.
But at the end of the day, I feel very blessed and I know karma is real and I don't need the money and obviously he did, or felt like he did...
And I'll let God do his work. :letsmessfag:
And that's completely understandable. This is so dope tho. Do u plan on relocating to NY ? I guess u really don't need to huh? U can write anywhere
I'll stay in L.A.
The publishing industry is in NY but you don't really have to live there.
I'm sure I'll have to go out there for meetings with editors etc...when my book is being shopped around.
But there's just something about L.A. that I love. I moved her with literally NOTHING.
No contacts. No publications. No one knew me or even cared to.
I was scared as fuck. But I just took this leap of blind faith.
I love that there's a big community of people here just winging it and making shit happen for themselves. It's all about believing...
Quote from: witch on January 08, 2017, 03:16:52 AM
This is amazing!!! So happy for you :stressed:
Thank you!!! :stressed: :wub: :wub:
congrats! 2017 is starting off great already for you :)
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:19:39 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:13:41 AM
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:10:27 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:05:52 AM
That's great man. congrats
Did u get ur money back from ur roommate
cccc
thanks...and no.
He apologized profusely, asked for forgiveness, but didn't offer the money.
I could have demanded it, taken him to court, etc.
But at the end of the day, I feel very blessed and I know karma is real and I don't need the money and obviously he did, or felt like he did...
And I'll let God do his work. :letsmessfag:
And that's completely understandable. This is so dope tho. Do u plan on relocating to NY ? I guess u really don't need to huh? U can write anywhere
I'll stay in L.A.
The publishing industry is in NY but you don't really have to live there.
I'm sure I'll have to go out there for meetings with editors etc...when my book is being shopped around.
But there's just something about L.A. that I love. I moved her with literally NOTHING.
No contacts. No publications. No one knew me or even cared to.
I was scared as fuck. But I just took this leap of blind faith.
I love that there's a big community of people here just winging it and making shit happen for themselves. It's all about believing...
Thats so inspiring, man. I just left L.A. and my friends are trying to convince me to move. I like L.A. but i just don't wanna uproot and go somewhere else, maybe one day tho. I could see myself living there. Well keep is updated on the book. What do u write?
Congrats.
Omfff congrats!!! You're so right
Giving up shouldn't be an option
congrats bby doll, this is major
hewritez, did you have an agent before you got the offer or no?
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:23:21 AM
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:19:39 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:13:41 AM
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:10:27 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:05:52 AM
That's great man. congrats
Did u get ur money back from ur roommate
cccc
thanks...and no.
He apologized profusely, asked for forgiveness, but didn't offer the money.
I could have demanded it, taken him to court, etc.
But at the end of the day, I feel very blessed and I know karma is real and I don't need the money and obviously he did, or felt like he did...
And I'll let God do his work. :letsmessfag:
And that's completely understandable. This is so dope tho. Do u plan on relocating to NY ? I guess u really don't need to huh? U can write anywhere
I'll stay in L.A.
The publishing industry is in NY but you don't really have to live there.
I'm sure I'll have to go out there for meetings with editors etc...when my book is being shopped around.
But there's just something about L.A. that I love. I moved her with literally NOTHING.
No contacts. No publications. No one knew me or even cared to.
I was scared as fuck. But I just took this leap of blind faith.
I love that there's a big community of people here just winging it and making shit happen for themselves. It's all about believing...
Thats so inspiring, man. I just left L.A. and my friends are trying to convince me to move. I like L.A. but i just don't wanna uproot and go somewhere else, maybe one day tho. I could see myself living there. Well keep is updated on the book. What do u write?
Thanks! It's definitely a polarizing city--some people love it, others hate it. It's alot to take it in at first and can be really overwhelming, but if you want a CHANGE, L.A. is def the place to experience it. Where do you live now?
I write literary fiction, mostly about the experience of being brown. My stories are about the lives of first generation Indians, the children of immigrants. My novel is about love, diaspora, and race. It centers around a family that migrates from East Africa/U.K. to America, and the children they raise, one of whom is gay.
Quote from: witch on January 08, 2017, 03:32:00 AM
hewritez, did you have an agent before you got the offer or no?
No, I never had an agent.
With writing it's weird, you either have to get published to get the attention of an agent, or you have to have an agent to get published. It's frustrating.
I published a few stories in some literary journals and an agent reached out to me after reading one--a major agent who represented and sold the film rights for Million Dollar Baby.
I was going to sign with him, but quickly realized that he didn't give a fuck about trying to build my career as a writer, and was only interested in me providing him with a novel to sell...
This agent (the one I'm going to sign with) is younger, gets me, and wants to help build my career, which means trying to get my stories in The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, and some other higher profile places, which will in turn lead to a bigger contract (I hope) with a publishing company.
The literary industry is actually really similar to the music industry.
My collection of stories serves as a sort of "EP" or "mixtape", where as my novel would be the "album".
If I can get some stories in high profile publications, it's like having singles on the radio. It creates a buzz and builds anticipation for future work.
Thanks for the info. I wonder what it's like to for screenwriting? I'm trying to get my work out there
Awww I'm so happy for you, I love seeing people achieve their dream
:stressed:
Quote from: witch on January 08, 2017, 03:47:33 AM
Thanks for the info. I wonder what it's like to for screenwriting? I'm trying to get my work out there
I think screenwriters have agents too. I'm not entirely sure.
Do you live in L.A.?
If you want to get into screenwriting and aren't tied down to where you live, you should move!
Maybe attend some workshops or classes for screenwriters and try to meet people and make connections.
I've heard that with Hollywood it certainly helps to know people in your desired field.
Quote from: Cartier on January 08, 2017, 03:49:36 AM
Awww I'm so happy for you, I love seeing people achieve their dream
:stressed:
thank you!!! :blush: :blush:
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:34:47 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:23:21 AM
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:19:39 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:13:41 AM
Quote from: hewritez on January 08, 2017, 03:10:27 AM
Quote from: Vonc2002 on January 08, 2017, 03:05:52 AM
That's great man. congrats
Did u get ur money back from ur roommate
cccc
thanks...and no.
He apologized profusely, asked for forgiveness, but didn't offer the money.
I could have demanded it, taken him to court, etc.
But at the end of the day, I feel very blessed and I know karma is real and I don't need the money and obviously he did, or felt like he did...
And I'll let God do his work. :letsmessfag:
And that's completely understandable. This is so dope tho. Do u plan on relocating to NY ? I guess u really don't need to huh? U can write anywhere
I'll stay in L.A.
The publishing industry is in NY but you don't really have to live there.
I'm sure I'll have to go out there for meetings with editors etc...when my book is being shopped around.
But there's just something about L.A. that I love. I moved her with literally NOTHING.
No contacts. No publications. No one knew me or even cared to.
I was scared as fuck. But I just took this leap of blind faith.
I love that there's a big community of people here just winging it and making shit happen for themselves. It's all about believing...
Thats so inspiring, man. I just left L.A. and my friends are trying to convince me to move. I like L.A. but i just don't wanna uproot and go somewhere else, maybe one day tho. I could see myself living there. Well keep is updated on the book. What do u write?
Thanks! It's definitely a polarizing city--some people love it, others hate it. It's alot to take it in at first and can be really overwhelming, but if you want a CHANGE, L.A. is def the place to experience it. Where do you live now?
I write literary fiction, mostly about the experience of being brown. My stories are about the lives of first generation Indians, the children of immigrants. My novel is about love, diaspora, and race. It centers around a family that migrates from East Africa/U.K. to America, and the children they raise, one of whom is gay.
Im from Chicago, which is coincidentally where i think u said ur originally from. That sounds interesting tho. Well let us know when we can read something
That is amazing! Congratulations. 💕💕💕💕💕💕
This inspired me! Congrats and many more blessings your way!
'grats!
That's amazing congrats love!
This is fantastic news. Congrats to you!!!
Congrats to u
U deserve it