We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ari Tison a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ari thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you signed with an agent or manager? Why or why not?
I truly believe in the power of community and creating your village when you’re in any of the arts. For me, I used my village after I graduated from college to make revisions on the book I believed in and then when it came time to query, I asked my author friends to look over my list of possible agents and due to their recommendations and putting in a good word for me, I was able to move to the top of the slush pile and get responses quickly which is not common at all in the query process. I was blessed to get some offers and use the interest to move along other agents to read the material and get back to me sooner than it would if there were no ticking clock. Time is part of this journey and though waiting is pretty much an always in this industry, allowing real genuine relationships to support you and maybe move that clock faster can really keep that query journey from sliding into too much despair!
Ari, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I grew up in the Twin Cities where I was lucky to be surrounded by so many writers and artists as a child—I still have my signed copy of Because of Winn-Dixie because Kate DiCamillo lives in Minnesota. As a teenager, I would take creative writing classes as the Loft Literary Center over the summers, and then I started to take college classes in high school (a program called PSEO that allows high schoolers to test in and take free college courses at local universities) which allowed me a better schedule to take even more creative writing courses. I was able then to go through college in two years and receive my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults when I was twenty two. I tell folks, the speed of this isn’t flex. For me, it was the only way I could make the schooling affordable for my journey. I was supporting myself through college, went where there were scholarships, and worked during my education to allow me to make space and prioritize writing for so much of those formative years. I thank that girl for her grit because I feel so very blessed to have every part of my career iz devoted to creative writing whether it be writing my own work, mentoring students in Hamline’s MFAC program, or organizing mentorships for the incarcerated through Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I don’t aim for a big following. Instead, I want to have a healthy and authentic community. I always tell folks to do social media if they like it and don’t if they don’t. I love the sites I’m active on, and I don’t worry much about changing tides, since I try to have folks who are earnestly interested either in my classes or books to join my newsletter. I highly suggest newsletters to all writers because it’s low stakes and it can still allow you to connect with your audience and have the opportunity to build one as you go about without having to battle an algorithm or changing social media platforms.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Oh I love this! Read! :)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aritison.com
- Instagram: @aritisonwrites
- Twitter: @aritison
- Other: newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5ef2620a46e0620026967063
Image Credits
Photo of me is by Margo Winters