Jessica Schein's Blog, page 30

Ever since I was 24, when I decided I would go back to school to...

Ever since I was 24, when I decided I would go back to school to get my MFA and become part of this nebulous profession called writing, I’ve dreamt of the day I would be published.

Now, it’s here.

I used to think I’d take the day off from my regular job and go to yoga, get a manicure, and maybe spend a leisurely morning smiling over someone else’s prose at a coffee shop near my apartment.

None of these things are happening today. Neither is the elated feeling I assumed I’d be experiencing. Don’t get me wrong—I’m excited for sure—but a big part of me is absolutely terrified.

TE-RI-FIED

And wondering: how did this happen?

Then, I remember. Last May I quit my former job to write a book. So I dreamt up a few characters, crafted a story around them, edited it and edited it and edited it, and then my agent read it and said, ‘great, let’s do this thing.’ Until today, or really until my novella went up on NetGalley a few weeks ago, Lizzy Ross, Mimi Lerner, and Jared Stoller were mine to manipulate and judge and re-design as I saw fit.

But now they’re not; they’re everyone’s. It’s crazy to me that total strangers are talking about fictional people I simply made up because my brain flitted this way and that.

Right now my brain is saying, “wait, what?” (again and again and again)

As much as I’d like to run for the hills and defend myself and my characters against any bad reviews that come my way I know I can’t. Not everyone is liked in life, not everyone is liked in fiction, and some of my attempts at merging the two will be better than others.

Still, I actually created something out of what was nothing but a thought. Maybe it will be a bestseller; maybe a few will read it and like, hate it, or not care at all. There are many, many ways this can go.

Regardless of all reviews, I’m proud of my novella and proud of my characters for teaching me more than I could have taught them—namely to be bullish and do what you want.

And so I did.

****

P.S. Apologies for the blatant self-promotion but here are retailer links for my “Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars” novella that a goodreads reviewer called, “surprisingly dark and very well done.” Google Play, Amazon, iBookstore, Nook, Kobo. Happy reading!

View more on Jessica Schein's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag