Hope for the Future & the Vision of an Author Career
Juggling life and work and retaining a strong belief in goodness.
I went to the Syrian market the other day because it has the best hummus around. Also, because my friend Nedal has a cafe inside the market and I always like seeing him. Oh and I was out of za’atar for my Israeli salad.
If you’ve been a reader for a while, you might remember the conversation I had with Nedal a few days after Hamas attacked Israel last fall. I haven’t seen him since, and when I walked up to the counter, his eyes lit up. I’m sure mine did too.
He gave me a huge hug. “How are you?” he asked. “It’s been too long. How is your family?”
We chatted around things for a while, and I’ll admit, I was a little nervous going into the Syrian market with my Jewish star around my neck, but I did it anyway because I won’t hide my Jewish identity. He doesn’t want me to, either. And that’s something I sometimes forget.
True friends take you as you are.
Nedal left Syria by foot while his government bombed their own people and waited two years until he and his wife and two young children were granted access to the United States. He’s been here nearly a decade, with a successful growing business, and a third American-born baby, and he is truly my friend.
“Is this ever going to end?” he asked. “This war?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “The thing is, when you know someone, you can’t hate them. The problem is, you can’t know everyone.”
“Exactly,” he said.
Then I went in search of za’atar, the spice I use in my Israeli salad, and when I couldn’t find it, I asked a man who said, “You should get it from Nedal. He has the best.”
Nedal pulled out a bin of the spice and told me he orders a pallet of it every two months directly from Syria. He gave me a taste and then scooped out the bag you see above. “How much do I owe you?” I asked and he shook his head and waved me off.
He’s going to order a bag for me from Syria when he puts in his next order.
I left the market that day feeling hopeful. Yes, the world is angry right now and a lot of people hate Jews, and I’ll admit, I’m scared a lot of the time.
But my Syrian Muslim friend gives me the longest, biggest hugs when he sees me and asks about my kids and I love his big heart. He loves mine. We see each other.
This is possible for the world.
To be an author, you have to have a sense of hope that the world will keep spinning and people will actually care about your stories. I guess I have that, even in my darkest moments?
Career Author: Juggling Required
It’s not enough that I continue to promote my first novel, WOMAN OF VALOR, and am working on the forthcoming launch of my second novel, CAVE OF SECRETS. I’m also writing my third novel, tentatively titled THE SABBATH BRIDE.
This way, I don’t rely on any one book for my overall success. I realize that a writing career is a slow burn. One book is great, two books even better, and by the time I have a true volume of work, I’ll get closer to making money from my books.
Register to attend the virtual launch for CAVE OF SECRETS here.
And reserve a spot for the in-person launch party here.
To be a career-author, you have to be a juggler—embracing marketing and writing, book production and launch activities, but also usually some other form of income-earning. For me, that’s coaching writers in marketing and in craft, teaching and speaking widely—last week alone, I spoke to the Sisterhood Book Club at Congregation Beth Ahm and gave two talks at the Michigan Writing Workshop, one on Finding Your Voice and another on Building Your Author Brand and Marketing Strategy.
Oh, and my son fractured his wrist playing rugby (yeah, I was at the match and saw him cradle his hand as he left the field). It was already going to be a busy month with his high school graduation festivities and my older son’s college graduation.
Nonetheless, we made room for doctor’s appointments and a surgery last week to put a screw in the scaphoid bone, so he can heal in time for his canoe trip on the James Bay in late June.
For all you writers with children, you should know that I didn’t commit to writing novel after novel after novel (a book a year, to be precise) until my youngest was approaching high school.
And even then, judging from the last few weeks, my writing career comes in fits and starts because I put my family as my top priority.
Some months, I write every day and make great progress. And some months, I put the writing to the side. If my kids want me somewhere, I’ll be there, and I’ll rearrange everything to do it.
Last week, at my son’s final band banquet, I gulped back tears as he said to the entire crowd assembled there that he wanted to thank his parents, and in particular, his mom, because I chaperoned band events and attended everything.
You bet I did!! And it was worth every single minute. I am totally cool with my first novel coming out when I was 52 years old.
This month, my writing is interrupted, happily, by his graduation and his older brother’s college graduation. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because I’ll be back writing diligently as soon as we wash the dishes from the grad party.
The Importance of Visioning
I’ve been self-employed since the age of 27. When I became a mom at age 30, my kids became my primary focus—but I always had to work to support my family. Still, I found a way to work from home for 25 years and counting.
My friend and mentor Ari Weinzweig, one of the founders of Zingerman’s, writes a lot about the concept of Visioning. Recently, I invited him to speak to the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, where I am a board member.
He talked about “preferred futuring” which is the act of imagining a future where we’re getting essentially everything we want.
Then, he says, you back in to how you’ll get there. Think about and plan to do it the way you want to, with integrity, feeling good about your choices.
Says Ari, “The means by which you do something must be congruous with the ends you want to achieve.” You don’t need to know exactly how you’ll get there—just commit to going there.
I’ve done this throughout my career. Planned and visioned. Usually once a year, so I can hit the ground running, with purpose and focus. I also work with a coach who helps me stay on track, Crosby Noricks, and I’m so glad I found her years ago and now count her as a friend and colleague.
Right now, I’m working on visioning for 2025. Yeah, one more thing to add to the to-do list, LOL. The third novel will be done by then and in production because I am committed to making it so.
Speaking last weekend about author branding and marketing reminded me how much I love doing that, too. I love working with writers every part of the way through their writing journey—from confidence-building to getting published to writing a book to building a brand and an author career.
One of the programs I created along this journey is The Writers Community, which is a very special, intimate cohort of writers who meet twice monthly and share their work. I created it as a place for people who’d taken all my writing classes, and it’s grown and evolved over the years.
Next year’s plans are in the works, and it’ll be even better. Because I have the vision and the passion.
On the Horizon
Always, some offerings for YOU!
My monthly Writealongs are a FREE way into my writing community. Sign up here.
Register to attend the virtual launch for CAVE OF SECRETS here.
And join the in-person launch party here.
I’m teaching two classes in June - one of my favorites, Demystifying Show, Don’t Tell, begins on June 13th. Register here. The other is a new webinar on Building Writerly Confidence & Dealing with Self-Doubt. Register here.
You can see all my upcoming classes through WritingWorkskhops.com here.
And, if you’re not yet a paid subscriber to this Rebel Author Newsletter, please consider becoming one! You’ll qualify for monthly book giveaways and bimonthly live writing coaching calls. Hope to see you on one of them soon!
Thanks for reading. Glad you’re here.
Love Always,
Lynne
Thanks Lynn. I loved the zatar story. And needed it. 🙏🙏
Thank you for sharing about your Syrian Muslim friend...I believe happens one relationship at a time, though I do wish it would move faster.
I also appreciate your thoughts on how to become a sustainable author. It is helpful to have perspective.
"This way, I don’t rely on any one book for my overall success. I realize that a writing career is a slow burn. One book is great, two books even better, and by the time I have a true volume of work, I’ll get closer to making money from my books."
Thanks!