This time next year

The question that changed my career.

“So, what kind of career do you really want to have?”

I’ll never forget my editor asking me this—in fact, I’m pretty sure my jaw fell open. She was the head of the publishing imprint I’d just signed onto; I was a novelist whose debut had done poorly, and who had spent three years drafting three truly awful novels* before finally writing Life and Other Near-Death Experiences. I thought I was supposed to just be grateful to have another shot at publishing—not be dreaming big.

But the truth was, I did have big dreams, even though it was really hard to admit that after a string of failures. And my editor’s question—as well as the conversation that followed—was the fuel I needed to become truly prolific. Looking back, it was a moment that led to another ten books and counting. Because becoming a career novelist requires creating a body of work. And you can’t create that without thinking big.

So I’ll pay it forward and ask you: This time next year, what kind of career do you want to have? For example, say I ran into you at a writing retreat and asked how your fiction was going. What would you be thrilled to tell me?

And here’s my follow-up question for you: What do you need to change—maybe even as soon as this week—in order to begin making real progress toward that vision?

Whatever your answer, it probably makes you a little uncomfortable. Your current writing life may not be how you want it to be—but it’s also safe and familiar, and we’re wired to avoid discomfort. But you know what we’re also wired for?

Growth.

So if you need to wake early to add words to your work in progress, stop reading this email and set your alarm.

If you need permission to stop waiting until you’re “ready” to write that big book you’ve been thinking about for years, consider it granted. Because if working with hundreds of writers over the past six years has taught me anything, it’s that there is no “ready.” There’s only sitting down at your computer and doing the work.

And if you’re desperate to change what or how you write—but are worried about alienating your current readers or turning off your agent or editor—happy news: There are 8.3 billion people in the world, and lots of them are eager to devour the exact novel you really want to write; I promise. (If you want to go deeper on this, check out the latest episode of the Career Novelist Podcast.)

Are you a published novelist, or a novelist publishing within the next year? I invite you to join me in the Prolific Mastermind. Over the next six months, we’re going to talk frankly about money and publishing deals. We’re going deep on how to persist in the face of setbacks. And we’re going to think much bigger. After running two cohorts of Prolific earlier this year, I can say with certainty that the curriculum’s the best I’ve ever created and the community isn’t just supportive; it’s a game-changer.

We kick off June 11^th. I have two spaces left, and will review applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

Happy writing,

Camille

*This isn’t hyperbole—my agent can attest to how bad they were. The reason? I was writing what I thought other people wanted, not the stories I wanted to write … and read.

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For more about my writing, visit camillepagan.com