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Joanna Rakoff has been a writer for as long as she can remember---even back to the days when people more routinely stated things like, "A career in the arts isn't realistic." 

That said, her journey has taken more than a few twists and turns. From believing she wanted to follow a specific writing journey that didn't exactly "pan out" as she expected to discovering what type of writing she's truly passionate about (and why one needn't ever utter the words "I thought it was 'bad' to want [fill in the blank]," her story offers no fewer than 973 lessons in perseverance, the value of self-awareness, and the rewards that come from following the unique beat of one's heart.  

On this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we discussed:

- Joanna's ultimately realization that she desired "to make art rather than comment on it" (having started out with a more journalistic pursuit) 

- The process of having her second book, My Salinger Year, optioned for film and the experience that resulted from choosing a producer with her heart, not her head.

- Her thoughts on the publishing industry sometimes wildly underestimating what readers actually want, and how it plays into books that become an unexpected success 

What we think goes on behind the scenes of authors walking red carpets (not to mention what was involved in getting there to begin with) is often quite off-base, and a result of us trying to keep ourselves safe by thinking, "Well, that could never happen to me anyway because..."

But when we realize that, just like Us magazine likes to tell us every week, celebrities are "just like us," we can actually begin to get curiously creative about telling ourselves a different story---one that supports amazing and unexpected opportunities. 

***Connect with Joanna

Author website

Joanna Rakoff on Instagam

Joanna Rakoff on Facebook

Joanna Rakoff on Twitter

Buy My Salinger Year

Buy A Fortunate Age

***AMAZING UPGRADE to Book Writing Made Simple 

We now have pop-up co-writing containers! 

This is an opportunity for you to join a Zoom room for 60 minutes, where everyone will be on mute, writing their book or catching up on trainings (so they can efficiently and excitedly write their book!).

My hope is that this will help to create a collective energy of "doing the damn thing" that ALL of us need from time to time!

BOOK WRITING MADE SIMPLE is a 12-month program for writing powerful, thought-provoking non-fiction or memoir that readers can't put down. 

The book writing process I provide through Book Writing Made Simple is the result of 18+ years of writing 6 of my own books

🧭 BACK COVER BLUEPRINT

Get back cover templates for nonfiction, memoir, and fiction; real-world examples; a polishing checklist; and a guide for turning it into an optimized online description that attracts the right readers. 

🔗 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/blueprint

Looking for hidden gems, date night spots, and staycations you didn't know you needed? Find your next adventure at TheBestoftheSouthwest.com and follow along on Instagram at @thebestofthesouthwest.

*episode sponsor

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You've Been Thinking About This Book Forever. So let's get it written (for real this time). 

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Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry. 

Available wherever podcasts are available:
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Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth