Success Story Spotlight with Alex Brown

Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc).

I’m so excited to share that I signed with Hannah Fergesen of KT Literary!

How did studying/retreating at The Writing Barn support you in achieving this goal? What workshop/intensives/or classes have you taken with us?

I attended the Writing Barn’s Rainbow weekend and had my life completely transformed in only a few days. Our faculty, Amy Rose Capetta, Cori McCarthy, and Jim McCarthy really cared about our stories and, more importantly, who we were as people. Their workshops were amazing, and I left the weekend knowing that I’d found wonderful, supportive mentors who would always have my back.

From the moment our first session started, I felt entirely at ease. Usually I find myself tense or holding my breath a lot in new spaces. But I was truly able to relax during Rainbow Weekend and allow myself to simply exist in the moment. During our closing ceremony, I was finally able to let all of my emotions move to the forefront, and I knew that everyone there would support me if I ever needed it, and that I’d gladly—and without hesitation—do the same for them.

I was able to make connections at Rainbow Weekend (and The Writing Barn) that I know will span my lifetime. And I’m so excited to cheer on all of my Crusty Dragon Muppets (our RW cohort) as they get their kick-ass, heartbreaking, hilarious, lovely, and extremely-needed stories into the world!

How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal?

I finished writing my first book in 2012 and then started querying shortly thereafter (not the best idea!). Seven years later, I was on my sixth book when I signed with Hannah! In the interim, I also co-created The Bridge, a narrative fiction podcast that just hit its one-millionth download this summer!

What fears/hopes did you have before attending the WB class or intensive?

I always have the fear, going into a workshop, that everyone will tell me that I’m a hack and I have no reason to be there (yay for Imposter Syndrome). But I’m happy to say that wasn’t the case! All of our critiques were really constructive, and the feedback I received on my work was so helpful and has already changed the way I’m looking at my next manuscript. Amy Rose, Cori, Jim, and my fellow attendees all gave me the best workshop experience I’ve ever participated in, and I’ll be eternally grateful to all of them for that.

How did the atmosphere of The Writing Barn aid you in achieving this goal?

It was so peaceful there! Within our first hour of getting to the cabin, we saw some deer walking around on the grounds. The staff was super friendly, helpful, and approachable. The main house that most of the attendees stayed in was great for hanging out and chatting—which I tried to do, but my need for sleep won out. Between sessions, we were able to take walks around the property and it was awesome to be able to chat with everyone while being surrounded by nature.

Have you made friendships/colleagues as well? How has that supported you?

Oh, yeah! All of the folx from Rainbow Weekend are in constant contact with each other, which is so amazing! We boost each other during Twitter pitch contests, support each other when we’re having bad days, and are there to celebrate wonderful news when it comes along. I’m so lucky to have the Crusty Dragon Muppets in my life and I couldn’t imagine moving onto the next stage of my career without them!

Why do you think attending workshops/classes is important to writers at all stages of their career?

It’s so crucial to keep learning your craft, and I think workshops and classes are a great way to do that. I’ve never been enrolled in a formal writing program, so for me, things like Rainbow Weekend have been so essential to help me understand not only how I can improve as a writer, but also celebrate the things I do well. I don’t think we hype ourselves up enough (or this could just be me projecting onto everyone else out there), but I think we should all celebrate how awesome we are, especially when we aren’t particularly feeling like that’s the case.

What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build and develop your career?

That my stories and words deserve a place in the world. It’s always been so hard for me to believe in myself, but what everyone at Rainbow Weekend helped me realize is that the things I have to say matter. So much of what I write incorporates my own experiences walking through this world with all of my identities and it can be sooooo scary to share that work with others. But I’ve found that the more you bring yourself into your work, the stronger readers respond and the stronger your work becomes. As long as I’m creating things that are undeniably me, I’ll be putting my best work out there!

Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course in pursuing their goals?

Due to a lot of life going wrong quite quickly, I made the heart-breaking decision to step away from writing for a couple of years. It hurt to give up my dream, but when my co-creator and I started to figure out The Bridge, I was able to find my way back into something I’d always loved doing. And now I’m a better writer because I gave myself time to heal and stepped away.

So, I guess what I’m saying is: it’s okay if you have to take a break from pursuing your dreams for a bit. Life happens. You should do whatever you have to in order to take care of yourself. Your dreams don’t mind waiting, I promise!

More about Alex:

In addition to becoming a published novelist, Alex Brown hopes to pursue a career in TV and film, bringing stories with more diverse characters and perspectives to the big and small screen. She’s one of the co-creators and producers of The Bridge, a spooky, folklore-filled audio drama podcast with over 1,000,000 downloads to date! Alex loves to write YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror, and has made it a life goal to subvert the ‘bury your gays’ trope in every story she writes. She is one of the inaugural recipients of the SCBWI’s On-The-Verge Emerging Voices Award and is proud to be the queer, biracial daughter of a Filipina immigrant! You can find her on Twitter @gravity_fail09. You can find the full story of how she met her agent on her website.