The submission window for the 2021–2022 SCBWI WWA Mentorship Program is now underway! Between now and July 30, we’ll be sharing interviews with each of our marvelous mentors to help prospective mentees get to know them better. Learn more about the mentorship program, including how to apply here.
I like to mentor because . . .
It’s my chance to pass along the knowledge, advice, and tips others in the profession have been kind enough to share with me over the years. Creativity is a fragile thing and talented writers can get discouraged and give up. It’s important to support and nurture each other when and where we can, to give back and lift up.
What can a mentee expect from your mentorship?
Gentle guidance. Encouragement. A small helping of food for thought now and then. I think an effective mentor is one who helps you to find the story you want to tell and the best way tell it.
What are you reading?
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, by Kwame Mbalia. It’s an epic adventure in the underworld with hunted ships, a burning sea, a trickster god, a sassy baby doll—what more could you want?
What are you working on these days?
I am finishing the seventh (and final!) book in my fact-based fiction action/adventure series for National Geographic, Explorer Academy. It will be released in the fall of 2022!
Besides writing/illustrating, what’s something you’re good at?
I don’t know if I’m a “good” singer but I love music and singing. I DO know I am not good at playing the guitar, but that hasn’t seemed to stop me.
What are the best parts about being an author?
I always thought the best part of being an author was holding a beautifully finished book in my hands until the day I took that book and went on my first school visit. Without a doubt, the best part of being a writer is meeting young readers. Seeing their eyes light up when we talk about the craft of storytelling is beyond compare. I might be the one giving the presentation, but every time, every single time, I walk away inspired by the students I have met.
What books did you love when you were a child or teen?
In the fourth grade, E.L. Konigsburg’s Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth spoke to me like no other book ever had. It’s about the unlikely friendship between two girls, and, being a shy, quiet person myself, it had a great impact on me. I learned that all I needed was one friend, one true friend, and I could survive anything. It was a powerful message that I have carried with me throughout my life and it inspires the stories I tell. Nearly every story I write revolves around friendship.
What does being a successful published professional look like to you?
Beyond having a passion for what they do, it’s someone who can work well as a team with their agent and various editors, who is strong enough to solicit and utilize constructive criticism, who considers the long-term trajectory of their career, who perseveres through tough times, who is not motivated by fame or money, and most important, who makes readers a priority.
What helps you get through challenging writing times?
Loving what I do. Because there WILL be difficult times: more than a few rejections, tough revisions, books that don’t get published or DO get published but do poorly in sales. You have to love what you do to push through and have staying power.
What’s the writing/illustrating advice you give most often?
Write the story your heart longs to tell. It can be easy to look at market trends or see what someone else has found success with and try to emulate that. But doing so can come at the expense of our own destiny. What gets you angry? What gets you excited? What are YOU passionate about? Find the story that lights your fire. That’s the one you were meant to share.
If you could go back and give your newbie writer self some advice, what would it be?
Writing is like riding a roller coaster. So much of it is out of your hands. You just have to get in, hold on, and hope you don’t toss your lunch. As a writer, you will learn a lot and some of those lessons will hurt, but that’s okay. It’s how it’s supposed to be. Writing and publishing is not an easy, nor an even path. You will have many setbacks. But you will also have many victories. Reach out to your peers. Support them. Let them support you. With each book you will get stronger and your writing will get better. So hop on, hang on for the ride and remember why you climbed aboard in the first place: to have a good time!
Trudi Trueit writes the kinds of stories she loves to read; tales of adventure, friendship, and learning to be your own hero. A former TV news reporter and weather forecaster, Trueit has published more than 100 fiction and nonfiction books for children, including the bestselling Explorer Academy series (National Geographic), My Top Secret Dares & Don’ts, and the Secrets of a Lab Rat series (all from Simon & Schuster). Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Trudi lives in the Northwest with her husband, Bill, under the careful snoopervision of their four cats. She is represented by Rosemary Stimola. Visit Trudi’s website at www.truditrueit.com, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Brought to you by: Suma Subramaniam and Jenny Tynes, SCBWI WWA Mentorship Program