We recently connected with Taryn Christeen and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Taryn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Beginning of 2024 I wrote my first novel. I mainly had done it for fun, to say I wrote a book and made the dreams of a younger me come true. Except, when it came to publishing, getting my novel into the hands of readers, I had no idea what to do. I didn’t know who to ask, where to look.
My cluelessness of the publishing industry and determination to achieve this dream started me on a journey from there. Over the last year I have experienced quite the roller coaster. I self-published my unedited manuscript feeling it was the only option for an author like me, that couldn’t afford an editor, to get their work out in the world. After which I learned that you don’t pay any money upfront when embarking on the traditional publishing route. I quickly wrote up a query letter, shot off about fifteen queries and three weeks later signed with a literary agent. My agent advised me to take my book down from self-published platforms, which I did gladly.
We then took my debut out on submission to publishing houses end of the year, in which time, I wrote two more books. Then earlier this year I ended up parting ways with my agent. Now I am currently in what us authors call the “query trenches” for a second time with my third fully written manuscript.
So much of the last year was spent learning, understanding how the world of publishing works, understanding the best route for me to venture. I don’t want anyone to feel as lost as I had in those early days, so in efforts to teach myself and anyone else looking for help, I started up The Wannabe Author Podcast.

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.

My name is Taryn, your favorite wannabe author.
As most authors will express, I had the dreams of writing and creating worlds for as long as I can remember. It has always been a dream, a dream I always saw as attainable as becoming an astronaut and going to the moon. A beautiful dream that was too grand for my small reality.
In my mind’s eye, when I thought of myself as an author, I was old, gray and finally had the time and intelligence to create. It wasn’t until two years ago that I decided I wouldn’t live a life of waiting for my dreams to happen. You never know where life will take you, when the road may just end. So I wanted to start chasing down those dreams, and help others do the same along the way.
I wrote my first book, then inserted myself into a world that seemed too large, too much, until I began to network, ask the right questions and find the right people.
I have been incredibly privileged to interview many different authors, including best-sellers about how they got to where they are, and what their advice is for the authors looking to make there own mark on the industry.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As an author, I write to cope, I write to understand and to learn, with the subtle hope that a reader might not only escape through the stories I weave but find themselves, question things, learn with me. The most rewarding part is not only finding more of myself in my stories but having readers express that they too found something new and hopeful in the words I relay.
Regarding the podcast, the most rewarding part has been the community I have built of authors and the messages I have received from listeners who have found guidance in the episodes I have recorded and hope that they too can accomplish their dreams of publishing.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I feel a big narrative that I see tossed about social media in the author world is that the publishing industry is impossible to get into. It’s a very depressing thought circulated by authors and creatives that have experienced a large amount of rejection which I understand that feeling of defeat. But this message was one that had done well at scaring me away from fully investing in my dreams because I felt there was no use in trying, that I would only find failure.
As someone who was able to sign with an agent, start a podcast, create a platform and do all the things I have, I can promise it is false and it is something I have had to let go of. If something is not working out, that is okay, There are options and despite how many books reach the market, the horrors of AI, and everything going on in the industry, you can find where you belong in it. And maybe it is okay to take a step back, focus on your craft, learn more, better your work. Just, do not give up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/tarynchristeen?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=e4b2a064-b695-4919-94a0-251a76f116bc
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taryn.christeen/?igsh=bDNxdGJvdWh3Ym03&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewannabeauthor

Image Credits

Pro headshots done by Scarlet Economou