Why ‘Be Yourself’ Is Good Advice for Future Authors

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13.

That’s as many books as you could check out from T.B. Scott Public Library in Merrill, Wisconsin when I was growing up. I remember that number specifically because I would have to ask my mom to check books out on my behalf.
I’m a fast reader. I can tear through a light novel in an afternoon. Living way out in the country without cable, I would read thirteen books in a week and still have time to gossip with my girlfriends about the boys we liked.

When I started working at Simon & Schuster in 2004, I thought I was going to work on fiction. To some extent, everyone starts out wanting and intending to work on fiction because it feels more fanciful and fun.

But then I leveraged what I was good at. The combination of being able to read quickly, speak the language of academics, scientists and experts (thanks to undergrad work in communication studies) and a love of learning made me a terrific nonfiction editor. My background — which was not as elitist or WASPY as some of my colleagues — helped me to stand out, too.

Then and now, I use my existing assets — my skills, interests, and uniqueness — to present myself in a way that appeals to the people I want to attract.