On The Precipice of My Writer Dream
In four days, my debut book, When They Tell You To Be Good, comes out with Tin House Books. To say the least, this book has been a journey and reckoning that I’ve talked about on MWL and other platforms, but for this post, I want to ruminate on change and stepping into the next chapter.
For so much of my writing career, I’ve felt like the underdog, like someone fighting to understand the rules of a game not made for me, like an artist that others can easily exploit. There’s been countless rejections, micro-aggressions from editors and artist residencies, and so much more. But through all these difficulties, life brought its triumphs and challenges. I moved to Columbus, OH. I started organizing heavily. My journalism shifted in tone. I completed my first book and left my first relationship. Various losses and personal realizations happened along the way.
There were many times where the writing and publishing process made me re-evaluate my work. Maybe this book isn’t my first book. I’m just a writer incompatible with an industry that wants to give people of certain identities more of a chance. Maybe my dream just isn’t possible in the way that I want right now.
Although these fears, thoughts, and concerns are valid, I’m glad I had people in my corner - writing friends, like Madeline Ffitch, to vent to; my late writing mentor, KL Burd, who would talk to me on the phone as I stressed out; my best friend, Eli, and I chatting into the late night about how we contend with our relationships with our wayward fathers; fellow artists I fled bad creative situations with and learned more about my values. And course, I was in my own corner, anxiously awaiting the moment that my hard work and the literary world’s ability to believe in merged. Then it did and I had a book deal. So what next?
In the last weeks, I’ve traveled to France and around Europe, done interviews for my book, moved to NYC, and am now contending with this new life. Tomorrow, I start my travels for my first ever book tour.
If you are interested in checking my book tour events, here’s how you can:
October 4 in Columbus, OH at Two Dollar Radio Headquarters (Conversation with Hanif Abdurraqib) | October 6 in Manhattan, NYC at P&T Knitwear (Conversation with Jamal Joseph) | October 12 in San Francisco, CA at MoAD (Conversation with James Cagney) | October 18 in Los Angeles, CA at Hammer Museum (Literary Death Match)
Will you support my debut book by preordering?
Praise for When They Tell You To Be Good
Congratulations, dear Prince. Your vulnerability and grace is deeply deserving of all you've strived for and achieved. You have a bright future.
Blessings,
Jordannah Elizabeth