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Writer lands publisher in one day
Ayelet Tsabari鈥檚 success story is every author鈥檚 dream.
In 2011, when the graduate of The Writer鈥檚 Studio had finished working on a collection of short fiction, she decided to approach HarperCollins, who had published some of her favourite books of short stories. She queried them鈥攚ithout the help of an agent鈥攁nd, to her amazement, they contacted her within an hour. She sent them the manuscript, and they wrote the following day to say they were interested in publishing her book.
It takes many writers years to get that far.
Two years later, her book was released and quickly received acclaim: The Best Place on Earth was nominated for The Frank O鈥機onnor International Short Story Award.
The book is a collection of short stories dealing with themes of love, loss, and universal displacement in Israel told from the perspectives of Mizrahi Jews. As a Mizrahi Jew herself, Tsabari felt passionate about telling the stories of her people. 鈥淚t was very important to me to correct the experiences I had as a kid鈥攖o include characters like me,鈥� says Tsabari. 鈥淚n Jewish literature, it is mostly Ashkenazi Jews that are represented; I wanted to tell the story of Mizrahi Jews.鈥�
Tsabari鈥檚 writing journey began in Israel. She wrote articles, essays, short stories, and poems throughout her teen years, and later enjoyed a successful career in journalism. Moving to Canada in 1998, she knew she had to learn to write in English. In 2006, Tsabari wrote her first story in her second language, and was accepted to The Writer鈥檚 Studio only a year later.
丁香园AV creative writing program was a turning point
The Writer鈥檚 Studio was a turning point in Tsabari鈥檚 life that she believes contributed to her success. She was initially insecure about her creative writing abilities, but with the encouragement of her mentor, Wayde Compton, she developed into the writer she is today.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if I would have believed in myself without his belief in me,鈥� says Tsabari. 鈥淭hrough our talks, mentorship meetings, and the feedback I received, Wayde gave me the confidence to keep going鈥攃onfidence I don鈥檛 think I would have had without him.鈥�
Compton, the current program director of The Writer鈥檚 Studio, believes the Studio鈥檚 mentorship model sets them apart from other programs.
鈥淲e take a more naturalistic approach. The mentor acts not as a teacher, but as a writer in a community producing work,鈥� says Compton. 鈥淭he students are viewed as writers as well, gaining experience from more experienced writers about practical issues.鈥�
The Writer鈥檚 Studio workshops coupled with Compton鈥檚 mentorship strengthened Tsabari鈥檚 writing. While in the program, she also learned the business side of writing.
鈥淓lective courses helped prepare me,鈥� says Tsabari. 鈥淕etting Published, taught by Mary Schendlinger, was very informative and hands-on. It taught me how to write queries, reach out to agents, and write proposals. The Writer鈥檚 Studio taught us not just the creative process, but the business side as well.鈥�
Compton says Tsabari鈥檚 talent was apparent early on. 鈥淪he already came in so skilled. She could write scenes, characters, and leap between people, but needed improvement developing stories鈥攚here is the story and how does it work? Now she鈥檚 mastered it, this is her first book, and it鈥檚 so self-assured.鈥�
鈥淚 thought The Writer鈥檚 Studio would give me discipline, skills, and confidence, but it exceeded my every expectation,鈥� Tsabari says. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have imagined what an amazing experience it would be. It changed my life.鈥�
By Natasha Townsend