We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Pamela Turner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Pamela, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?
For most of my life, I felt invisible. My father liked to say, “Children should be seen and not heard.” My classmates in middle school and high school took advantage of my reserved nature to bully me. The abuse included being pelted with orange peels during study hall and having obscenities drawn on posters in my locker.
Reading saved me. Like many others, books became my escape from the real world and the library my sanctuary. In middle school, I realized I wanted to write stories, even publish them. Unfortunately, my parents tried to deter me. My mother said that only people like Stephen King made money from writing. (I was a voracious reader of his novels.) Then again, my mother’s favorite saying was, “Don’t dream. That way you won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t come true.”
How early did I get my first professional rejection? My freshman year of high school, I sent a short story to the Twilight Zone magazine. (The anthology TV show and Rod Serling, like Stephen King, inspired me.) The story received a thank-you-but-no-thank-you, which left me dejected.
I refused to give up on my dream. It hasn’t always been an easy road, one with detours and the figurative potholes. I majored in English and minored in creative writing at a small liberal arts college. I wrote short stories, poetry, plays, and reviews.
After college, I moved to my current home of Louisville, Kentucky. I was still writing, even joining a local magazine as a freelancer. However, my stories had hit that proverbial roadblock. I was starting them but my inner editor got in the way, and they remained unfinished. Forgive the cliché, but I was my own worst enemy. Determined to get out of my way, I decided to write a 50,000 word novella. I wouldn’t go back and edit the pages like I had done. Instead, I would only read the prior page to orientate myself. Editing could happen after a completed first draft. (Note: I finished the novella and this was before I’d heard of National Novel Writing Month, which I participated in for almost a decade.) To date, I’ve written 20+ novellas and novels.
I guess growing up in a negative environment helped me deal with the naysayers I would meet along the way. Years ago, I told myself they can push you down and walk all over you, and you can lie there. Or you can get up and keep going.
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 write paranormal suspense and urban fantasy and am an indie-published author. Currently, I’m in the process of releasing my first series. I also write screenplays. Two of them won first place in regional competitions.
In one series and a stand-alone novel, I have a character who’s homeless. One of the things I would like to do is be able to give a percentage of my royalties to a local homeless coalition. Homelessness was my reality for a few months. I stayed in two different shelters before finding a place to live. I consider myself blessed in that I have a roof over my head. So many people aren’t that lucky.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities that were the most impactful in my journey were resilience, drive, and determination. I don’t know if I would’ve become an indie author or screenplay writer without them. I had to be my own cheerleader while also being critical of my work so I could improve my writing skills. Continuing to write despite the rejections because I couldn’t not write. And maybe, somewhere out there, my stories are inspiring people, even if they’re only for entertainment.
My advice for people who are early in their journey is having drive, determination, and resilience is what will separate you from those who only dream of doing something (such as writing a novel). Drive is a motivator. If you really want something, then it’s up to you to do all you can to reach your goal. Determination is what keeps you going through the bad times. Just remember, as my friend used to say regarding setbacks, “These, too, shall pass.” And resilience is knowing you’ll be like the proverbial willow tree (or bamboo) that bends in the wind but doesn’t break. (Japanese Proverb)
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Like many people, it’s procrastination. One way I’m dealing with it is breaking tasks into smaller jobs so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I’m also studying how the brain works in regard to procrastination so I can become more productive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pamela-turner.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamturner97/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamelaTurnerAuthor/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-turner-34754018/
- Twitter: https://x.com/PamelaTurner
Image Credits
N/A
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
