We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful B. E. Padgett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with B. E. below.
B.E. , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Thanks for asking. I found my purpose at a young age. I was in middle school when I learned that I loved telling stories.
We are surrounded by stories every day. The tales of the people in our lives, everyday adventures, books, TV shows, and podcasts– these stories take us to new places. For me, all these experiences pooled together in my head, and my 12-year-old active imagination exploded. I wanted more. As a kid, I remember filling dozens of notebooks with characters and plots.
There is one problem with having a true passion at a young age. You have a lot of time for distractions and other jobs that extend your journey to embracing your purpose. I worked in higher education for ten years. While this work was fulfilling and valuable, it stifled that 12-year-old enthusiastic writer in me. I found my time for writing became shorter and shorter.
When I did find the time to write, the inner middle schooler was with me sighing in ecstasy. It always felt right. She brought me back over and over to the white sheet of paper, the tapping of keys, the tens of thousands of words that could flow out of my head and heart at any time. If it wasn’t for her reminding me of what my purpose truly was, I don’t think I would have taken the risk of pursuing my writing career.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I was a kid who struggled with reading. In third grade, my teacher made me stand in front of the class and read out loud. I failed horribly. Not because I was nervous, but because I couldn’t read. I knew letters had sounds, but I struggled to combine them correctly. Instead, I relied on sight words and my memory to keep me afloat in school.
I grew up in Washington State in a loud and chaotic family of eight. This often made my struggle with reading feel invisible. When I finally was able to grasp reading, it changed my life. Instead of dreading reading, I adored it.
My love for stories led to a passion that has driven me both personally and professionally. After college and a career as a student affairs professional, I now solely focus on writing books. I write middle-grade books that are both magical and address issues that kids deal with daily. Currently, I have two published books in a kid’s fantasy series called The Reeds of West Hills. The third book in this series comes out this fall.
In my free time, I am the business manager for Poetry Northwest literary magazine and auntie to my many nieces and nephews whom I love. The thing that brings me the greatest joy in my career is encouraging kids to read and write the stories that speak to them.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
For me, getting a B.A. in English set a strong foundation. It enabled me to understand the craft of writing. I know though, that not everyone has to have a college education to be successful at their goals.
Another skill that was invaluable to me was being able to give and receive feedback. Critique is one of the most useful tools in improving my writing and learning about myself.
Networking is a must-have skill in my field. Connections lead to opportunities. Not being afraid to meet people, ask questions, and give back to others has only benefited me.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I have always been a lover of learning. As a writer, knowing a little of everything can be useful. However, leaning into my strengths, like improving my craft, is more valuable for me than trying to improve on something I am not skilled at.
Having abilities and multiple skills can and has made me useful to my employers in the past but it has always caused burnout. I was tapped for many tasks outside of my scope of work. I had to learn to set boundaries. Just because I am presented with a growth opportunity doesn’t necessarily mean I should take it if it distracts me from other opportunities that play to my strengths and professional goals.
In my experience, building a brand means playing to my strengths. You are providing a solution to a client’s problem. This means that I invest in a team that supports me in areas where I am not skilled.
Contact Info:
- Website: bepadgett.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bepadgett/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bepadgettwriting
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bepadgett
