Debut novelist Christy Climenhage wants you to delight in being a beginner
Because really, no one has this writing thing all figured out
My guest this week is Christy Climenhage, the author of the brand new science fiction thriller The Midnight Project, a tale of equal parts hope and horror set in the near future where humanity and the climate are on the verge of collapse. The book follows two scientists and friends who are charged with designing a new kind of human and are muddling through the apocalypse as best they can. (Relateable! At least the “muddling through” part.)
The Midnight Project came out last week, and I spoke to Christy two weeks ago—right at that moment where the roller coaster was ticking ever so slowly to the top of the plunge as she made the transition from unpublished author to published author.
For anyone whose dreams of publishing a book are still in the “dream” category, hearing about Christy’s moment of reckoning—where she had to decide if she was going to actually write the book she’d been talking about writing for ten years, or if she was going to let that dream go so she’d have space for other things—can help you crystallize your commitment to moving forward.
She also shared the very practical ways she went about writing, revising, and pitching her manuscript. And how really embraced her beginner status to savor each step she made. I found her insights very inspiring, and think you will too.
Listen to Christy’s episodes:
Christy Climenhage, practical matters: The joy of finding your writing community
Christy Climenhage, inner stuff: Delighting in being a beginner
Christy Climenhage, what’s next: Figuring out how to write for the joy of it AND to make money
Or, get the complete interview in one ad-free episode by becoming a paid subscriber and supporting my work and becoming the recipient of my undying gratitude:
We covered:
Combining interests (in Christie’s case, being a news junkie and science fiction fan)
What Cli-Fi is and why it’s not necessarily scary
The question she asked herself that got her to finally write the novel she’d been thinking about for ten years
The schedule she created that kept her on track
The rewards of a consistent schedule (even if it’s not everyday)
Sending twenty queries and getting twenty rejections
The joy of finding your writing community
How writing, although it requires help from others, is something that’s yours and yours alone (unlike, say, a job or a relationship)
“I'd had the idea for The Midnight Project rattling around my head for at least ten years. Finally, I just asked myself, “Are you going to do that thing that you've always wanted and dreamed about doing? Or are you going to stop talking about doing that thing?”
Finding the delight in being a beginner
Dealing with impostor syndrome
Learning to take the next step (instead of giving up)
Freeing yourself of the desire for external validation
The benefits of being a debut author when you are older
Debunking the idea that merit is king
Enjoying others’ success
Why she doesn’t have a Costco membership
The very specific sound of spring that’s giving her life right now
Figuring out how to write for the joy of it AND make money from it
Why her goal is “write more words”
The joy of having her stories take root in other people’s heads
The series of novellas she hid in the bathtub to finish
Specific Things We Mentioned:
The CanCon conference in Ottawa for speculative fiction in Canada
Discord (where Christy connects with her fellow writers)
Her brother and creative role model, John Climenhage
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
“Brave Faces, Everyone” by Spanish Love Songs
Connect with Christy
Instagram: insta
Blue Sky: Blue Sky
Website: https://christyclimenhage.com/
Facebook: Facebook
Thank you for listening and tune back in on June 9th to a new episode with a new writer!
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Listen to Past Episodes:
Amy Shearn, practical matters: Matching your writing goals to the time you have available + keeping yourself accountable when you don't have a deadline
Amy Shearn, inner stuff: Writing to your one, true reader + how to decide you’re doing ‘enough’ to promote your work
Amy Shearn, what’s next: The pursuit of being a “joyful amateur”, counteracting the slide of turning into a “human shrimp”, and dreams of starting a cat farm.
Samuel Marquis, practical matters: Bringing the strengths of your day job into your writing
Samuel Marquis, inner stuff: Why villains are so fun to write (hint: it’s not because they’re evil)
Samuel Marquis, what’s next: Writing a book that’s historically accurate and sells well—with nods to Abraham Lincoln and Michael Keaton
Katy Bowman, practical matters: Finding the kind of writing that feels like a downhill flow
Katy Bowman, inner stuff: The similarities between non constructive feedback and farts
Katy Bowman, what’s next: Can clearing clutter create space for creative world