Meet Caitlin Weaver

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Caitlin Weaver. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Caitlin with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

Work ethic isn’t exactly the sexiest topic, but it’s a critical, often overlooked element in writing—or any creative pursuit. For me, it was ingrained in me as a kid, thanks to my parents, and especially my mom. At 40, she decided to return to school for her PhD. I can still picture her desk, covered in color-coded post-its, while she worked to turn them into her dissertation. Her dedication didn’t just get her a PhD; it eventually led her to become the chair of her university’s English department. I learned a lot from witnessing her commitment to pursuing her dreams.

There’s this romanticized idea floating around that writing is all about inspiration—like one day you wake up with a brilliant idea, and the next thing you know, you’re typing away effortlessly as the words pour out. And maybe that’s true for some people, but it isn’t for me. For me, writing is a daily grind. It’s about sitting down at my desk, butt in the chair, no matter how I’m feeling. It’s about writing even when I’d rather be doing anything else, even when the well of ideas seems bone dry. But, by showing up day after day, those words start to add up. Slowly but surely, they turn into something real, something that matters. And that’s where the magic actually happens—not in the inspiration, but in the sheer act of doing the work.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m an author and I tend to write about the messy, gray areas of life, where even the clearest moral decisions aren’t as black and white as they seem. I like to put readers in the often uncomfortable position of asking, “What would I do in this situation?” People have compared my writing to Jodi Picoult and Celeste Ng, which thrills me to no end since they are both literary heroes of mine.

My latest novel, Such a Good Family, centers on Lorrie and Eden, two long-time best friends who have raised their children side by side. When their teenage kids start dating just before high school graduation, it seems like a perfect ending to their shared story. But everything unravels when a sexual assault accusation between the two teenagers shatters not only Lorrie and Eden’s friendship, but their entire world.

My next book, Things We Never Say, comes out in September 2024. It’s about three women who uncover a scandal at their children’s school, the ripple effects of which will change everything for them. You can read more about me and my books at www.caitlinrweaver.com or on Instagram at @caitlinweaver, where I talk about books, writing, and often host giveaways.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Learning to believe in myself has been hugely important to my journey. I didn’t begin writing seriously until my late 30s, when I started publishing personal essays as a way to navigate the profound identity shift that comes with becoming a parent. I always joke that I only became a “serious” writer when I started treating myself like one. That meant making time to actually write—no excuses—and committing to getting better at it, whether through trial and error, critique partners, or reading everything I could get my hands on.

Equally significant has been the community I’ve built around my writing. I sought out writing groups and found critique partners who were willing to give me honest, thoughtful feedback. I’ve learned an immense amount by reading and critiquing the work of others, and the camaraderie and commiseration I’ve found with fellow writers has been invaluable.

Finally, resilience has played a crucial role in my journey. Writing comes with its fair share of rejection. I queried my first novel extensively before it was finally acquired, and I learned a ton from every single rejection along the way. The key lesson? Don’t take it personally. If you’re in it for the long haul, you’ve got to keep going, rejection be damned.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I’ll say again how absolutely essential my writing community has been in helping me refine my craft and navigate the often murky waters of the publishing industry. I’ve been fortunate to have wonderful mentors who generously shared their time and wisdom at every stage of my journey. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has offered me counsel along the way. Relationships are so important to me, which I think is why they figure heavily in all my books.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.caitlinrweaver.com
• Instagram: @caitlinrweaver
• Twitter: @caitlinrweaver
• Other: Substack: https://substack.com/@caitlinweaver

Image Credits

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