We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zoe Fishman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Zoe, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?
I guess the most important part of this answer has to do with how I define success. On my bad days, and there are lots of them, I’m not successful. I’ve never hit The New York Times bestseller list; I’ve never had an internationally funded book tour; I’ve yet to land a movie deal and walk a red carpet. I still live paycheck to paycheck for the most part, six books later. On my good days, however, I’m more successful as an author than I ever thought I’d be. I’m paid to do what I love. I have two wonderful sons who I’ve been able to raise without the help of a nanny. I drop them off and pick them up from school, and I’m at every soccer and basketball game. My career allows me this kind of rare flexibility. I’m grateful for all of this.
With that said, and no matter how you define success, you have to show up for your dream. Every day. No matter what. Even if you sit down and write a page of garbage, you showed up. That’s half the battle. Once you’re showing up and doing the work, then you have to do what I consider to be the most challenging part: believe in yourself. Believe in yourself through the bad reviews; the haters; the empty inbox; the horrendous first draft. You have to believe that what you have to say is unique and important and that no one else can say it the way you do. That doesn’t mean that you can shun criticism; actually it’s the opposite. The key is having the humility to admit the instances where you can do better, and then: do better.
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’m the 2020 Georgia Author of the Year and the bestselling author of six novels, the latest of which is The Fun Widow’s Book Tour which Morrow will publish in March. I’ve won several awards including Booklist’s “Top 10 Books of the Year” and an IndieNext Pick.
I’ve been featured on “City Lights” with Lois Reitzes, and in Publisher’s Weekly and The Atlanta Jewish Times among others. My essays have been published in The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal Constitution and Modern Loss.
I was the Director of The Decatur Writers Studio and a visiting writer at SCAD Atlanta. In addition to writing novels, I also offer editorial services like manuscript doctoring and college essay wizardry. You can learn more about these here: https://zoefishman.net/how/
I live in Decatur, GA with my two sons and a shorkie named Oreo.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love every part of my writing process, even the horrible parts. From the inception of my idea to the often grueling work of crafting a synopsis that actually includes a plot, to an outline with fluid pacing – I love it all. I love the way a character can show me who they are; and how most of the time it’s completely different from who I thought they were. I love talking out loud as I write; engaging in the dialogue myself so that it seems more natural. I even love, after I lick my wounds, taking my editor’s notes and retooling a first draft. It’s always better for their suggestions. Most of all, I love how impossible it all seems at points, and how I do it anyway.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird taught me how to not only be a better artist, but a better human too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zoefishman.net
- Instagram: zshacham
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zoefishman76
- Twitter: ZoeFishman76