We recently connected with Sarah Tomlinson and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I was lucky enough to know from a young age that I wanted to be a writer. I attended my first fiction workshop at age 16, and I was hooked. Of course, actually becoming a writer would take me several decades. In those years, I faced many, many nos, near misses, and setbacks that could have easily caused me to quit (especially when piled on top of each other). However, because I never doubted that writing was my calling, I never doubted that I would eventually be a writer if I just didn’t stop. No matter how disappointed I felt, or how broke I was, I kept perfecting my fiction, networking for new connections and opportunities, and expanding the genres in which I wrote. Over the years, I was a music journalist, wrote band bios, tried my hand at TV and movie scripts, and worked as a ghostwriter who penned 20 books, five of them New York Times bestsellers, before selling my debut novel, The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers, to be published by Flatiron Books in February 2024. During this time, I supported myself by cultivating a badass group of fellow creatives, especially writers. Together, we created a vibrant community that helped me to improve my craft and get back up after each rejection–and we always celebrated each other’s wins. So, for me, resilience is a combination of finding your true passion, working hard, being a good citizen of your community, and of course, finding the grace to weather disappointment.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
When I first told my mom I planned to study fiction in college, instead of trying to influence me toward a more stable profession, she supported my decision. She also shared her belief that, whether or not I ended up being a fiction writer, choosing to follow my heart into this field would open the first door of many that would lead me to where I was meant to be in life. She could not have been more prescient. Although I always focused on my writing (even while working as a waitress, SAT tutor, and receptionist at a safety supply company, among other jobs), I tried to let go enough that each opportunity could direct me to the next. After attending graduate school for journalism, I freelanced for The Boston Globe as a music journalist From there, after I moved to Los Angeles, I took my interview and storytelling skills, as well as my comfort around celebrities, and parlayed them into a career as a ghostwriter. Most recently, I combined all of this into a book, The Last Days of the Midnight Rambles, which finds a young ghostwriter investigating a mystery at the heart of one of the world’s biggest rock bands. When I first set out to be a fiction writer, I had no idea of the circuitous path that would bring me to publish my debut novel, but each step was a valuable learning experience that contributed to the whole. I am currently writing my second novel, which will be published by Flatiron Books.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. A comfort asking others for help or advice: I’ve had countless, invaluable mentors throughout my life, from college professors and editors to book publishers and fellow writers. I have never been shy about approaching someone I admire (by email or in person) and respectfully seeking a connection. Of course, it is important to always be very mindful of everyone’s time and to accept that not everyone will be available or willing to help you. That said, you’d be surprised how many successful people also received assistance when they were starting out and are happy to pay it forward. When this happens, have a specific ask or question ready, and always send a thank you note, whether it’s handwritten or electronic!
- Perseverance: I know this can feel like a lottery draw type quality, and I do agree that some people naturally have more of it than others. I happen to be very stubborn. But it also can be cultivated. There are tons of productivity books, blogs, and podcasts these days. Learn from those who have already succeeded. Adopt their good habits that make sense to you. But, really, the only secret is: if something doesn’t work out, start something else. It’s that simple.
- Passion: I was lucky enough to find something I truly love to do–writing–and so it was a natural choice for me to set up my life to do it every day!
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played an important role in your development?
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
As a freelance journalist for a daily newspaper for many years, I had no choice but to develop discipline. I literally had stories, reviews, and interviews due nearly every day of the week. If I didn’t hand them in on time, not only would I not eat, but I would lose my coveted spot in the stable of writers to whom the paper’s editors regularly published. Talk about a foolproof method for overcoming writer’s block! That said, when I was in my early twenties, I struggled to apply myself to my fiction writing, which was the area where I most wanted to succeed. I can’t remember who first turned me onto this book, but it was invaluable for helping me to understand how resistance functions within humans and often keeps us from pursuing our deepest dreams. A mix of philosophical musings and practical advice, drawn from the author’s own hard-won writing practice, it is a truly valuable resource for any aspiring creative. I have gifted it to so many friends over the years!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarahtomlinson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duchessofrock/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/duchessofrock
- Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13025104.Sarah_Tomlinson
Substack: https://duchessofrock.substack.com/
Image Credits
Diana Koenigsberg Personal photo James Reed Richard Stein David Litman
