Part 1 3 Long Convo A

Summary

In an interview with Anna Zuna, the author shares her journey from childhood writing aspirations to becoming a published novelist. Despite early setbacks, including a lack of publisher interest at 13 and a detour into nursing, Anna's passion for writing reignited later in life. A chance competition win led to her discovery, and her first novel, inspired by her small-town upbringing, became a success. Anna offers advice to aspiring writers, emphasizing perseverance, patience, and the importance of finding time to write every day.

Takeaways

• 😀 Anna Zuna wrote her first novel at the age of 13, inspired by the life of a teacher.
• 😀 Despite her early interest in writing, Anna trained as a nurse after college because she didn't think writing could be a career.
• 😀 Anna's career was interrupted by family life, including marriage and the birth of three children.
• 😀 After her children grew older, Anna pursued writing as a hobby and began working as a journalist.
• 😀 Anna was discovered after submitting a short story to an online competition, where she won second place, leading to her being published in a magazine.
• 😀 An agent heard Anna read her story on the radio and encouraged her to develop it into a novel.
• 😀 Anna's first novel is partly inspired by her childhood in a small town, and features a character named Sally who shares similarities with her own past.
• 😀 The novel also centers around Sally and her horse, with horses playing a significant role in the story.
• 😀 Although Anna always liked horses, she had never owned one before and enjoyed learning about proper horse care for her book.
• 😀 Anna advises young writers not to wait for the perfect moment to start writing, but instead to write a little every day, and to be patient with the process.

Q & A

What inspired Anna Zuna to start writing?

Anna wrote her first novel at the age of 13, which was based on the life of a teacher. She had a passion for writing from a young age, even sending her work to a publisher, although it wasn't accepted.

Why did Anna initially abandon her writing aspirations?

Anna believed that she could not make a living as a writer, so she pursued a career in nursing, which was a field she chose because she wanted to help people.

How did Anna's personal life affect her writing career?

Anna's career as a writer was interrupted by her personal life. She got married at 22, had children at a young age, and her focus shifted to family responsibilities before she could return to writing.

When did Anna return to writing, and how did she get started?

Later, when her children grew older, Anna took a writing class as a hobby and eventually started working as a journalist. This marked her return to writing.

How was Anna discovered as a writer?

Anna was discovered after writing a short story, which she entered into an online competition. She won second place, had the story published in a magazine, and was later invited to read it on the radio. An agent heard the broadcast and encouraged her to turn the story into a novel.

What is the central theme of Anna's first novel?

Anna's first novel revolves around a young girl named Sally and her relationship with her horse. The book is set in a small town that resembles Anna's own childhood town.

Did Anna have any prior experience with horses before writing her novel?

Although Anna always liked horses, she had never owned one. However, during her research for the novel, she visited stables to learn how to properly care for them.

What advice did Anna give to young writers?

Anna's advice to young writers is to not wait for the perfect moment to start writing. Instead, they should find spare moments every day to write. She also emphasized the importance of patience, as writing often requires revisiting and revising drafts.

How long did it take Anna to develop her first novel?

It took Anna three years to develop her first novel after she was encouraged by the agent to expand her short story into a full-length book.

What key lesson did Anna learn from her writing journey?

Anna learned that writing requires persistence and dedication. She faced challenges along the way, but she emphasized that the effort is worth it in the end, especially if you don't give up.