Guest Post: Kate Hart on a Lesson Learned
Kate Hart was my first beta reader, and the first friend I found on Absolute Write. I’m betting a lot of you already know her from her Field Trip Fridays over at YAHighway.com, plus there’s the Twitter companion version at her site. Or maybe you know her from Help Write Now, the auction she organized that raised $21,047 for Southern communities hit hard by storms. Kate has an ability to scour the internet and somehow cull the nonsensical and hilarious. And one day soon you are going to all be as lucky as I’ve been, and have the chance to read one of her books. Read on to see what lesson Kate has learned in the last year, and don’t forget to leave a comment below for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card._____________________________
*
*
I did a lot of creative writing in high school. I did much less in college, and after graduation I stopped completely. But lots of people knew I’d aspired to be an author, and periodically the question would pop up: “So are you still writing?”
No.
“Why not?”
I don’t have anything to say.
*
My senior year of college, I got a B in a seminar taught by multiple professors. I flipped out– not only was it literally costing me scholarship money, it meant I wouldn’t graduate summa cum laude. The reason? One of the teachers gave me a C for pulling in outside resources for a paper. Not for plagiarism, not for failing to cite my sources, but for using sources at all.
I had cited outside sources on every other paper that trimester. I was a history major. Citing sources is kind of our thing. So I contested the grade, and won. But I also had an alarming realization.
Without outside sources to inspire and back my argument, I had very little to say.
*
When I got back into writing, I relied heavily on other bloggers for my prompts, or compiled links on various topics, or gathered funny stuff from around the internet. Then I joined YA Highway, and Field Trip Friday was born. A few months later, the Twitter companion started on my blog.
I was learning a lot and reading a lot and it made me bold, so I took a risk. I wrote a book that was like smashing my heart between the pages, a book that said some things about girls and boys and sexism and sex. It got me an agent. But after multiple close calls, it didn’t sell. I couldn’t talk about that on my blog, and I sure didn’t feel qualified to give advice, so I started making graphs based on publishing data.
Because I had nothing to say.
*
But a curious thing happened. I compiled links about a few controversies, and realized I couldn’t lay the information out there without some elaboration. I started getting overwhelmed with links, and realized culling the extraneous is inherently a statement of importance. I started a few graphs that were supposed to be silly, but turned into rather damning statements on various parts of the industry.
I was saying things. And I didn’t mean to.
*
Suddenly I realized not only had I been giving a speech unawares– I’d been doing so naked.
It was yet another alarming realization.
But it was also freeing, as getting naked tends to be. Everyone’s already seen my opinions, so what does it matter if I put a bathing suit over them? Maybe I’ll give them a tie or some killer boots. This blog post here needs some tassels. You! Work-in-progress! You get a cowboy hat!
Sure, people will comment on the color and cut and style, and some will like them, and some will hate them, but the body underneath is solid. It has muscles made stronger by exercises in rejection and bones made of research and teeth sharpened with facts.
It’s already out there. It’s too late to hide. Especially when it was never really hidden in the first place.
*
A fact finding mission with no goal is pointless. Historians don’t research just for the hell of it– they’re trying to support a thesis. But sometimes, sources disprove your theories. Sometimes what you find isn’t what you expected.
And sometimes, you find you had plenty to say all along.
*
“Are you still writing?”
Yes. Let me tell you all about it.
_____________________________________
Don’t forget to leave a comment to enter my contest to win a $20 Amazon gift card. More info here.
And be sure to check back tomorrow to see what lesson Matt Blackstone has learned!
Post Navigation
Leave your own thoughts
23 Responses to "Guest Post: Kate Hart on a Lesson Learned"
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
I love this, Kate. And I think you are brilliant.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Yay, Kate and your graphs and charts and other crafty goodness
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
I love this too! My writing path mirrors yours in many ways – your words resonate with me. I’m so glad your voice is being heard, and I’m looking forward to reading your books one day.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
I LOVE this post. And I love Kate Hart. You’ve been saying damned important things all along, lady.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
I love this post. A lot. That is all.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
I love this! Brilliant.
Thank you for this post!
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
I’ve always loved Kate’s graphs and colorful wheels. They spread like wildfire. She def. has something to day.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
This is awesome! I suppose each of us does have something to say, even if we don’t realize it, or even if we’re quiet about it.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
I, too, feel like I only want to write when I have something to say, and what you said about your first book being such an emotional experience is so key. Art is by far the best when we’re feeling the emotion we write. Way to stay positive and perservere, Kate. Love your charts/graphs/research!
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Duh, I love Kate. A little bird once told me she was going to kick publishing in the family jewels one day, and I say her day has come.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
This was a really great post from a REALLY awesome person.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Love this post. Love Kate. That’s all
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Thanks Kate! I <3 your charts and graphs
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Brilliant post, Kate.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Thanks so much, everyone. I love you guys too!
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Whoa… that was amazing. Thanks so much for sharing!
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Goddamn. Best blog post I’ve read anywhere in a long time.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Okay I’m actually tearing up a bit at the thought that you could think you had nothing to say. Dude, I _wish_ I said as much and thought as much as you do.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Kate, I have to confess I’ve had an internet crush on you for some time (not in a scary stalker way, I promise!). Corrine, thanks for bringing Kate’s crafty, chart-making goodness to us. And Kate, I so want to know more about your book that didn’t sell! It sounds awesome!
- Liz
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Well, this is just fantastic. I’m a big fan of Kate and her blog and her info graphics and all the important things she has to say. Looking forward to more great posts from you, Kate, and thanks for sharing Kate’s awesome post, Corrine.
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Excellent post.
I love the way you came to realise that simply by being you, by putting things out there that interested you, you were saying something. And that there are people out here who want to hear what you have to say.
Thanks for sharing this!
on August 30, 2011 | to this post
Wow, I don’t even know what to say. You summed it up for me. Thanks!
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
on August 31, 2011 | to this post
Just when I think I couldn’t love you more . . .fabulous post.