We recently connected with Whitney McGruder and have shared our conversation below.

Whitney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Every author asks themselves “Is this story/manuscript something that I MUST share with the world?” It’s not just uploading a PDF to Amazon and calling it a day. It means you’re transforming a hobby into a small business.

As a kid, I wanted to be an author. I’m not even sure why but I certainly made it a part of my identity since middle school. I even met my now-husband because we bonded over our shared desires to be teen authors.

In the early 2000s, traditional publishing was the only “trusted” pathway, so I got a BA in English (with a minor in editing) and muscled my way into the publishing world. Every decision I made lead me to learn more about the art of writing and how to publish my work.

By 2014, ebooks were already very successful and indie publishing became more accessible. At the time, I fell for the indie publishing stigma: people only publish a book on their own if they weren’t “good enough” for traditional publishing. But I was getting rejected left and right by literary agents. I think I queried for a couple of years. Like Bruno Mars crooned, I felt “locked out of heaven.” Writing is so personal, so it felt like a personal rejection whenever I was told my book didn’t meet the market trends in various ways.

After talking with some incredibly talented indie authors, I realized that I could publish my work myself—whenever I was ready. I essentially learned that not only I had what it takes to publish but I could decide when to make this dream come true—I didn’t have to wait for a literary agent anymore. That amount of agency and control was inspiring and motivational. I realized that I reached a point where my book was the best it could be and I could market it to readers even if literary agents couldn’t/wouldn’t.

I tend to be the person who jumps in with max audacity and apologizes (or flails) later. I had the goal of publishing in 2004 and finally released my debut novel in 2018. Now, I’ve published three books (with more on the way), I co-own a freelance editing service for indie authors, and I craft a whole online platform that provides the knowledge, support, and motivation writers need to publish their work.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Whitney McGruder is the textbook definition of “bookish.” She has over a decade of book writing, editing, and marketing experience. After wishing to publish her YA fantasy novel for decades, she finally took control of her dreams and studied the publishing process to self-publish her work. She’s the author of the Destiny Seeker duology (YA fantasy) and The Throwaway Queen (adult fantasy). She is also the co-owner of Wit & Travesty LLC, a service that helps authors polish their manuscripts and feel more confident about their publishing journey.

When McGruder entered the online bookish community, she realized that there were significant problems with mental health. Many authors, her included, struggle to write their stories and feel “good enough” to share that work or charge their worth. She credits the personal conversations she had with other authors as part of her road to success, so she decided to be that sort of friend and mentor to others. She began blogging, writing articles, and participating in writing events to share her real experiences in a way to lift other authors. Instead of viewing other authors as competition, she decided to use her corner of the internet to create community.

Working with McGruder means looking beyond the current grammar rules—she coaches authors to clarify and polish their words. She wants other writers to know that their ideas or skills are good; everyone needs an editor to ensure that they cater to their target readers and reach their writing goals. Writers, indie or traditional, can work with Whitney and Travis McGruder by booking editing services, manuscript critiques, or publishing coaching calls.

As McGruder has observed the publishing industry, she’s seen a need to promote inclusion. The industry will likely never “catch up” on inclusion and diversity; this means that we need MORE books that depict all types of experiences. There’s no “one” book that encapsulates the Black experience; there’s no one definitive romance novel for lesbians. Indie authors can publish unhindered by what is “profitable” or “trendy”—so Wit & Travesty focuses on refining stories while encouraging writers to say what they feel called to share.

Whether you’re an author, editor, or reader, you can learn more at witandtravesty.com.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes! I wish that authors/creatives had more access to the basics of business. Many authors, myself included, go to school or go to in-person events to understand the craft. Everything afterward is a huge mystery for many authors. Right now, authors ask each other marketing questions or work with marketing services to get answers to questions. It would be so helpful to include some business classes somewhere through the education system so authors understand the time or money it takes to sell books.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I honestly have to remind myself of the answer to this question on a daily basis. It’s so easy to lose hope that I have the adequate talent, time, or knowledge to further distribute my books and reach my business goals. The short answer is that there’s a drive for me to create and share. Sure, I could journal my thoughts or keep my books on my computer but I feel like I’ll explode if I don’t take my work to the next level. I know that’s not how everyone feels but it’s a natural driving force for me. It’s really rewarding to know that I have this control and I believe in myself enough to publish. Writing is very personal; it’s the way I make a mark on the world. Even if I’m not a bestseller or if people even dislike my work, I still take up space and I keep writing.

During a very stressful time, I had a local book signing. With little sleep and high anxiety, I floated through my event and really felt like “I’ll never make it, will I?” Later, I met my friend’s teenage daughter. The girl raised her hand during the Q&A and asked “What is it like to be an author? How does it feel to have real books?” She gestured to a stack of fresh copies at the front of the room. Her perspective reminded me that I actually HAVE made it. I won’t always realize how far I’ve come but I can always say that when I make a goal that I can control, I meet that goal. It’s such a good feeling that I feel driven to keep publishing again and again.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://witandtravesty.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whit2ney/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/witandtravesty
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-mcgruder/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/whit2ney
• Other: Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07DF99MV3