We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful J.E. Irvin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with J.E. below.

J.E. , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Writing stories is something I have always done since I was old enough to write. When my father was alive, he kept several of my early writings in a folder and reminded me often that “they should be published.” His belief in my worth kept me going when no one else seemed to care.

Writing well has taken a lifetime, and I’m still learning. Both art and craft, writing requires discipline, dedication, and a desire to explore both the external world and the interior one we all have. I ask myself ‘What if?’ and ‘Why?’ questions all the time, which leads to exploration and discovery of personality, motivation, choices, and consequences, all important ingredients in a good tale.

So how did I start? By seeking out a group with whom I could share my attempts and from whom I could receive quality feedback. Jo, Rosalie, and Mary Lou – fellow writers who encouraged me to submit the first story of mine that was published for money! Over the years, I have attended conferences, workshops, and writing events where I learned how to hone every aspect of the work. But I’m also a prodigious reader, another aspect of a writer’s life that must not be overlooked. I read to enjoy a story and also to find out how it’s being told. Good and bad writing teach us something – what we want to do and what we want to avoid doing.

A writer needs perseverance. Butt in chair on a regular basis is probably the single biggest requirement. Hold yourself accountable at the same time that you remain flexible. Life intrudes.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I think of myself as a career educator, a poet, and a lover of words. My extensive experience in the teaching field (I continue to offer classes to elder learners through the University of Dayton Lifelong Learning Institute) never canceled my desire to become a published writer. But family and work demands curtailed the time I had to pursue my writing dream.

However, while teaching, I worked as a stringer for the Dayton Daily News in the nineties, and I also wrote and submitted short stories which were published in a variety of print and online journals. When I retired from the classroom full-time, I was able to craft longer works. My first novel – The Dark End of the Rainbow – won the Jeremiah Healey Mystery Award (renamed The Whodunit Award), which included publication by a small press. My third novel – The Strange Disappearance of Rose Stone – also won the award, making me the only two-time winner to date. These successes encouraged me to continue writing. Additionally, travel, both local and abroad, has introduced settings that became characters in the books.

I have also received support and reward for my poetry, a genre I love. By joining writing groups, I have expanded my network of connections, and I bring the skills and knowledge I have acquired into my creative relationships as well as my workshop presentations. Mentoring aspiring writers is an important component of my work. If you consult with me, you can expect honest, kind, constructive feedback, and informative PowerPoints that enhance your skills. If you read my work, you can expect mysterious, sexy, compelling stories that are fast-paced, well-plotted, and filled with interesting characters.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’m not sure it’s so much an unlearning as an acknowledging of a lesson. As a college student, I was, like most of us, convinced that first drafts were good writing and didn’t require much reworking. Since I tested out of freshmen English classes, I enrolled instead into an advanced English class. The first paper I submitted received a D. I had never had any grade lower than an A. and, panicked and heartsick, I cried all the way back to the dorm. Then I put on my big-girl pants, knuckled down to work, and never received anything less than an A again. What I learned was priceless, although it felt pretty awful when it happened.

Revision is a powerful tool and an integral part of my writing process. Polishing any piece of writing is valuable. Multiple polishings reveal the gold hidden beneath the surface. In addition, feedback from fellow writers is invaluable. I have learned to share my work at various stages and to trust the wisdom of beta readers.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I intended to write seriously much earlier than my fifth decade, but the birth of our second child, Scott, changed the timeline. His profound disabilities required me to suspend my plan. Figuratively, I lost my ‘voice’ as I struggled with the demands of his care, the toll on our family emotionally and financially, and the need to protect and provide for our daughters, one of whom was born after him. After Scott passed away at the age of 19, I reached out via writing workshops in an attempt to recover that creative voice. The support I received convinced me to begin again.

It has been a journey filled with bright successes and frequent rejections, but the need to fill the creative void in my life overrode the challenges. I have been blessed with friends and mentors who believed in me. As a good literary citizen, I strive to return that favor to as many aspiring writers as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.janetirvin.com
• Instagram: j.e.irvin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janet.irvin.7
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-e-irvin