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

Paige, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I first got published when I was 19 years old. I am positive that the reason for early success is because I was young and naive enough to not overthink it. I had learned from stories by osmosis, consumed storytelling through books, movies, music, and real life. My mother and aunts were all published authors, so it didn’t seem like an unimaginable dream. And then after my first three books came out, I got smarter and worked way harder. I started to see how much I didn’t know, I started to question the value of my previous work and agonize over what the right messaging was to send out into the world. I had the practical skills. I understood plot and character inherently, but I didn’t know what to do with it anymore. I was overthinking everything, and became resentful of my past successes, thinking of them as thin and worthless instead of recognizing their value.

I was desperate to write the Next Great American Novel, and I was looking everywhere for the key to unlock the door. Eventually enough time passed that I realized what I had really needed to do was stop stressing, and just write. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the most worthwhile advice the most talented people will give you about writing is just…to do it.

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.

After my first three books were published, I spent years figuring out what I wanted to say to the world. Learning and unlearning countless lessons until I finally set out to write a book that was fun and commercial. Of course, while writing, it became so much more than that, and this is a lesson I have finally learned to understand. I can set out to write something that will bring in a big audience (hopefully) without sacrificing my own need to tell a deeper story.

Ghostwriting helped me to break free of so many obstacles like this. I work with clients to tell their story, and so it became really clear to me that in order for them to be heard, they have to make it approachable. Then, once you have them on side, you can tell them anything you want. It’s just a matter of getting your reader in the door.

I also do comedy reels, music with my brother (Thalo), and do oil paintings. I’ve stopped thinking I have to pick one way to be or person to be seen as.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Starting from scratch on social media is really hard. It feels embarrassing and vulnerable to post a video like you’re an influencer before you actually are. I put it off for years, even though I thought it would be fun, because I pictured ex-friends sending the video to each other and cringing. I imagined being laughed at and –worse– pitied. But then I finally did it anyway. I figured…you know what, they probably will do that, but if I post a video of myself having a good time making something funny, then who cares? I don’t want to let the imaginary ex-friends out there limit my potential. For one thing, it’s in my imagination. And for another, if it isn’t, then who cares? They can be judgmental if they want.

You have to fake it ’til you make it. Run your videos by some trusted people. See what other people are doing and what’s working, but do your own thing. And then release the imaginary audience.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Through all my creative pursuits, I’ve learned and unlearned countless lessons. But I think the biggest one is about learning itself; absorb information, read books on how to do what you want to do, educate, and then release all of it and go off instinct.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paigeharbison.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pharbeaux
• Other: www.tiktok.com/pharbeaux
  https://open.spotify.com/artist/41BBzpNGkVSdD1Z1BAi9I8?si=HOX3Q2nKRu6pp9ilkKzl8A

Image Credits

Main photo: Ellyn Jameson