Meet Julie Navickas

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julie Navickas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie , thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
I do not believe in writer’s block.

Let me explain that! If I’m struggling with a scene in my fiction novel and the ideas and words just are not coming, I step away. But I do not step away from writing. As an author there are a million other things that I can be doing that involve the skillset: social media, a new blog post, my next newsletter, a book blurb, a character profile, an interview questionnaire for a feature, website updates, etc.

While a type of writing may pose a problem, I can typically solve that block by allowing my brain to focus on something else writing based.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
In the fourth grade, I wrote a thrilling tale about some vegetables with heroic aspirations to escape the fridge prison, sparing themselves the unappetizing fate of being simmered in a veggie stew. My creative writing skillset and storytelling abilities won me a classroom Young Authors Award. And to this day, I look back on that blue ribbon knowing that it set the foundation for my future career as an author.

Storytelling has always been a part of who I am — from blogs and social media to short stories and fanfiction. Writing is a skillset ingrained in the palm of my hand and emblazoned on my heart. But for many years, I hid my passion for the creative, turning to “paycheck-friendly” careers that sought copy content with a lack of flare.

But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the state of Illinois went into a period of lockdown for three months. At the time, my children were ages three, two, and one. I worked a full-time student-focused job at Illinois State University that shifted from in-person to virtual overnight. Advising… teaching… everything went on Zoom at the drop of a hat. And I was left stranded in the ocean with a slowly deflating inner tube — expected to be online from 9–5 every day, serving my students while simultaneously caring for my small children 24/7.

I struggled for the first two months, often ending each day in a fit of tears, ready to curse the world for the unfair expectations of being a mother and working professional. And then one day, my eyes opened, and clarity struck. I needed an outlet for the anxiety and stress. I needed a purpose beyond virtual instructor, beyond snack provider, and beyond the boundaries I’d placed on myself and the expectations enforced by others.

My heart, alight with excitement for the first time in months, turned to an old friend, the creative power of storytelling. I whipped out an old screenplay I wrote in graduate school and twisted and turned that trash fire of a script into a full-length contemporary romance novel. And I thought to myself… “Julie, why have you waited this long to fuel that fire that burns in your heart?” It just took a world pandemic and a few gray hairs to normalize the idea of reinventing myself.

And now here I am… a best-selling and award-winning contemporary romance author with not just one, but four published books. And two more under contract for 2024.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My favorite quote is by Kevin Trudeau: “If you continue to think the way you always thought, you’ll continue to get what you’ve always got.” And truly – is there a better perspective to have in this world?

1.) Take risks. And that’s funny coming from me because by nature I have never been a risk taker. But if there’s one thing this author journey has taught me, it’s that you have to put yourself out. Not everyone is going to enjoy my books, and that’s okay! But for the people who do enjoy my work, they would never have experienced my stories had I not bet on myself and taken the risk to publish.

2.) Strong writing. Anyone can write a book, but not everyone can write a well-told story. Lucky for me, I’m well-versed in storytelling thanks to my education and experiences at Illinois State University.

3.) Motivation. Once I started writing, I couldn’t stop. And each milestone on the journey motivated me to keep going. At first, I thought I would just write a romance novel for myself – just for the creative outlet. But then I started researching publishing. And before I knew it, I was obsessed. Had it not been for my motivation to persist and seek the next step, I would not be where I am today!

If you’re an (aspiring) author…

Step off the cliff. Literally. If you’re going to author a book, you’ve got to let go. Let go of what you think you know and be ready to open your mind to new ways of writing, new ways of thinking, and new ways of learning.

Don’t hold back. Dive in headfirst and when you surface for air, stand proud and tall. I’ve never held my breath longer than when I handed over my manuscript to a beta reader. Sharing your baby with the world is no easy feat. But if you’ve put in the work and done it right, don’t short-change yourself. The world needs your story.

Be okay with the learning process. You may think you know how to write a novel. How hard can it be, right? Until a blank page stares back at you and you’re left with paralyzing fear and confusion. Trust me. Your first draft will suck, but you’ll think it’s gold. Learn from the process. Learn from other writers. And keep humility in your back pocket as you progress.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Beyond any doubt it’s The Lord of the Rings. I have a deep love of literature and appreciation for fantasy novels, so my mind travels straight to Middle Earth when I’m asked this question. I’ve immersed myself in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien in the classroom. I’ve studied abroad and traipsed my way through the historic streets of Oxford University – absorbing the magic, experiencing the passion of his genius firsthand. I’m a nerd and proud of it!

Tolkien taught me to always search for dragons. The real treasure will be buried beneath them.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Photography by Erin B.

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made

Confidence
From Self-Doubt to Self-Assurance: Saying Goodbye to Imposter Syndrome

Self-doubt and imposter syndrome have stopped far too many talented folks from going for their