Anna of Green Gables
asked
Sarah Sundin:
If you could go back, would you pursue a different education? What education would you pursue, and what would you recommend to an aspiring writer?
Sarah Sundin
Interesting question, Anna! I majored in chemistry and received a doctorate in pharmacy - not the "expected" career path for a novelist. And yet, it was perfect for me and my writing. My health care experience has helped so much in writing about characters who are sick and injured (and my characters keep getting sick or injured), and exposed me to so many heartbreaking stories in the hospital environment - which inspire stories. My scientific training not only helped me understand my characters' technical work and write about it, but it taught clean writing, analytical thinking, and organizational skills. And having a job in the real world - ANY job - introduces you to a wide spectrum of people - and people are at the heart of novel writing.
So...my halfway-tongue-in-cheek advice to aspiring writers is to major in anything but English. If studying literature is your heart, then by all means, major in it. But first of all, writing pays diddly-squat, contracts are short-term, and new contracts are never a guarantee. Most authors I know either have a day job or a "patron of the arts" - a spouse with a paying job.
More importantly, working in areas outside of publishing inspire story ideas and help you write authentically about different careers. There's a reason most legal thrillers are written by lawyers! And those careers give you life experience and exposure to so many different kinds of people and life stories and all - and understanding the human experience makes powerful novels.
So, I would still major in chem and become a pharmacist. Besides, I met my hubby in pharm school ;)
So...my halfway-tongue-in-cheek advice to aspiring writers is to major in anything but English. If studying literature is your heart, then by all means, major in it. But first of all, writing pays diddly-squat, contracts are short-term, and new contracts are never a guarantee. Most authors I know either have a day job or a "patron of the arts" - a spouse with a paying job.
More importantly, working in areas outside of publishing inspire story ideas and help you write authentically about different careers. There's a reason most legal thrillers are written by lawyers! And those careers give you life experience and exposure to so many different kinds of people and life stories and all - and understanding the human experience makes powerful novels.
So, I would still major in chem and become a pharmacist. Besides, I met my hubby in pharm school ;)
More Answered Questions
Anna of Green Gables
asked
Sarah Sundin:
On my old account, I asked what your inspiration for the Paxton brothers was. Now that I'm reading "Wings of Glory" I have the same question. What inspired you to write the Novak brothers? Why pastor's kids? Why are they so musical? I would love to know what went into making those decisions. :)
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