This is Penn and Paper, a newsletter for writer types and book enthusiasts written by your writer BFF.
why do I need another newsletter?
I get it. In a world bloated with content, you’re probably not overeager to subscribe to another newsletter. Who’s got the time? And why, you may be asking yourself, you?
I want to be candid with you. When I first dipped my toe into the writing world, it was overwhelming. There wasn’t as much advice as there is now, and I often felt alone. I wished for someone who could help me navigate the turbulent landscape of publishing.
So, think of this newsletter as a small piece of realness from your writer BFF.
Social media has long been a place where we curate our perfection and expose the good. I'm not saying we shouldn't celebrate success (it's been a rough few years — we should definitely do that) but I know how exhausting it is when you feel like you're the only person who is struggling to achieve the things you want. It's rough out there. You might feel like the only one struggling, but I promise you’re not.
My hope is that this feels like a letter from a friend. I won't have nice, tidy answers or strict advice. But my goal is that you read this every other month and think, "Okay, yeah. Someone else gets it." My wish is that you don't feel alone.
That means I'll be tackling the hard stuff. Rejection, burn out, self-doubt. Depression and anxiety. Overwhelming exhaustion. But I also want to deliver you insights that might inspire you. Writing tips and advice. Worksheets and questions to ask yourself. Little tools that might help you succeed. Because I'm rooting for you. I want you to reach your goalposts and find success.
And, if anything, I hope this brings a little bit of joy into your inbox.
Thanks for giving me a chance. 💕
let’s talk about rejection.
Let me formerly introduce myself. Hi, I’m Farrah. I’m a writer, a published author, a screenwriter, and someone who formerly worked in media. (And if you already know me, thanks for being here!)
I am also Sensitive with a capital S.
Perhaps you can relate.
At one point in time, I was upset over another publishing disappointment that didn’t meet my personal expectations, so I said to my therapist, "I'm too sensitive. I should not care this much."
To which she said, "You do. Tell me why you care."
I think of this question when I sit down to write. Why do I care to put time and effort into this specific story? It's easy to bombard my thoughts with negativity. I tell myself, you don't have to write books. Get off the publishing train. The world will go on.
It's soul-crushing when that self-doubt has a hold on you. And if you've received tons of rejections and you're thinking for the ninety-millionth time if this is the day you quit, ask yourself why.
The thing you love to do — why do you love to do it?
I think one answer can be "because it brings me joy," but that can't be the only answer. Because it won't always make you happy. Writing doesn't always make me happy, though I cherish those moments when it does.
My reasoning is always shifting and evolving. (I told you I won't have nice, tidy answers.) I write because I want people to know they're not alone in a shared experience. Because exploring human complexities helps me to understand our existence. Books have been a tremendous part of my growth as a simple human on this massive planet, and writing is a way of processing, examining, feeling.
When we put our most vulnerable thoughts, feelings, and experiences into our work, we wear our heart on our sleeve. But reading is subjective — everyone has different tastes — so it makes rejection feel personal. It's not. However, it doesn't stop us from feeling like untalented hacks.
Which, to be clear, you're not. I'm not.
Maybe it's okay that we're too fucking sensitive as writers. Sensitivity is part of empathy. It's part of passion. It's fuel to keep going.
Maybe it's why we don't stop.
a guide to surviving rejection.
If you read the section above, then you know self-doubt feeds lies and negativity straight to your brain. It’s easy to feel like a flop when you get rejections, and you should take the time to emotionally process however you need to process.
I’m not here to feed you toxic positivity. On one hand, part of me believes rejection is redirection. (At least, this is what I’ve told myself as I navigate my own post-layoff world.) But it’s difficult to find the energy to enter your comeback era when you feel like you’ve tried for so long and aren’t getting anywhere.
Find comfort in this fact: The next thing you write will be better than the last. I’ll give you a second to read that again. Because I truly believe that with every script, every book, every essay or short story that we write, we only get better. It’s why it’s important to read — not only craft books, but other people’s scripts and novels. Take advice from others and try it out. Some of it won’t work for you, but some of it will.
You will grow from this.
The only way to ensure that you won’t reach your goal is to give up. And let me be clear: sometimes it’s better to stop or take a break if it feels like too much. You have to set boundaries for your mental and emotional health. But when you’re ready, start again.
Nothing is guaranteed in any creative field. This is why the tiniest milestones are worth celebrating. And it’s worth finding people who love you and will help you celebrate those achievements, no matter how small you think they are. Because you deserve it. 💕
writing tools: character worksheet
Characters are an important part of every story. Readers should be in for the ride your main character is about to embark upon — but this doesn’t mean they have to be likable or perfect. In fact, perfect characters are boring. Where’s the conflict? The stakes?
The biggest mistake I’ve made when creating characters is only focusing on the looks/traits versus the entire picture of who this person is externally and internally. Your main players should be well-rounded and have motivations, wants, and needs. We should see a transformative journey.
I’ve created a printable character guide I wish I’d had when I was first starting out. The downloadable printable also contains a worksheet that will walk you through crafting characters.
I hope this guide to creating characters helps you in your writing journey. These are the types of questions I wished someone had told me when I was first starting out, so my wish is that it helps you think deeper when it comes to fleshing out your characters.
The worksheet can be printed as many times as you need, and it’s meant to be used with the character guide in mind.