We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tamara Merrill a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tamara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?
I’m not sure that ‘Do I wish I had started writing sooner?’ is the right question. I started writing very early. According to family legend, I wrote my first book at age three on a folded piece of paper, using a few scribbles and a wobbly capital A (the only letter I knew at the time.). I then told my grandmother that it said, “Once upon a time, a queen lived in the tree. The End’
What I think is the question for me is, “Do I regret not having the confidence to pursue a writing career at an early age?’ and the answer to that is yes!
Had I been more confident, I would have stuck to my childhood plan to become a writer and an artist and live in a loft in Manhattan. Instead, I chose the safer path of a teaching certificate, marriage and a family. I never stopped writing, but for a few years, I didn’t show my work to anyone or submit it to any publishing source.
Tamara, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was a very young single parent with a voracious reading habit, a full-time job, and three active kids. To increase my earning potential, I pursued an MBA, which was considered the most lucrative degree at the time. I quickly became what was called an HR Professional and rapidly scaled a corporate ladder. It was during this period that I gained enough confidence to submit my short stories to the women’s magazines of the day.
Looking back, I did everything wrong—no agent, no formal writing education, no set writing goals or schedule. But it worked! It was fun! I was selling my stories, but I still lacked confidence in my skill as a writer.
I hid my advocation from my family, friends and employer. I wasn’t exactly ashamed, just afraid they wouldn’t take me seriously in the board room if they knew I wrote fiction in my spare time. I taught in the adult education system, but I never spoke about writing. Instead, I taught drawing, painting and color theory.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I’ve been a working artist and author for quite a long time – I wrote my first book, which was only a scribble and a capital A at the age of three. So, I can claim seventy-three years of creative labor. I enjoy sharing my experiences with other creative people, and when asked for advice, I always say— Be Brave!
Creativity has given me a joyful outlet and has enhanced every aspect of my journey. The ability to make something that is from my own thoughts and abilities is both beautiful and meaningful. At the end of a good day’s work, the feeling of fulfillment/contentment/satisfaction is very rewarding.
Of course, I also love seeing my books on a library shelf, or in a bookstore, and I love good reviews and meeting my readers. I think with books the most rewarding aspect is when a reader tells you, in person or in a review, how much they loved a book, and what the story meant to them.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I started my career writing for the woman’s magazines of the 60s and 70s. When I wrote my first full-length novel, I self-published. I lacked the confidence to seek an agent. When that book sold well, I was delighted to be offered a contract, in 2015, with a major publishing house.
My experience with the publishing house was not a good one, and when I was able to take back control of my books, I did so. The publishing world was changing rapidly. For years, other than vanity presses, everything was published through traditional publishing houses where they had the control. Now, books are published every day through small presses, self-publishing, and on many websites and apps.
The first step in becoming an artist or a writer is being confident in your own abilities and being persistent when it comes to pursuing your goals. Self-publishing is time-consuming, and there is a steep learning curve, But if you wrote the book, you can publish it! If you made the painting, you can find a gallery to sell it.
All it takes is confidence. Most creative people have confidence in their ability to create, draw, paint, write, make music, etc. They know the work is good; however, many lack the confidence to market and sell.
The marketing industry is constantly changing and evolving. Marketing for authors and artists has also been changing to meet the needs of consumers and authors. We need to change with it. Embrace the changing world and step out of your comfort zone.
I now do almost all my book club appearance on Zoom or Web Meetings. This has been a major confidence booster as I’ve “appeared” on three continents and had fun at every meeting. I do podcasts and author interviews, have a YouTube channel, active social media accounts, a blog, and a website. I’m considering TikTok and am willing to explore whatever new marketing arena opens. I still don’t like the way I look, and I think I say “absolutely” way too often, but I do it!
Your self-confidence will build with every new challenge you accept. You’ll have some failure, but that’s okay—no one learns from success. You may receive criticism and bad reviews. This kind of feedback helps your work improve, grow, and change. Remember, you will also receive good reviews and praise. Enjoy them, and keep building your skills.
A favorite quote of mine is from Gabrielle Reece, who said, “Confidence is the ability to build your own future, not just live in someone else’s dream.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tamaramerrill.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmerrillauthor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraMerrillAuthor/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-merrill-9978291/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TamaraM19005826
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_YSxjP3UgVk9aOQFs9bmQ