Four Questions with Writer Courtney Maum
We talk about her journey and more
I first encountered Courtney Maum after a bunch of author friends began buzzing about her debut non-fiction book Before and After the Book Deal, an accessible, helpful guide to the world of publishing. She now runs a newsletter with the same name.
In addition to Before and After the Book Deal, Courtney has written three novels and last year published a memoir, The Year of The Horses, a moving description of returning to horseback riding as a way of managing depression.
Courtney was kind enough to chat with me. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
What was your path to writing and publishing?
Well, it wasn’t a straight one, but whose is? As soon as I could read and write, I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to be one of the people who wrote the books that ended up in my hands and gave me another world to live inside.
I was super lucky that I had very supportive teachers from a young age. I had one teacher who would tell me about contests and publication opportunities for young writers. But, I never considered the somewhat traditional path of majoring in English and then pursuing an MFA. I didn’t realize that was something writers did until I was nearly 30 – I lived most of my 20s abroad in France.
Instead, I kind of DIYed it. I read a lot and copywriting is how I learned to storytell on a professional level and to meet deadlines. Then, I had the rocky road to getting an agent and an editor in my early 20s, the editor leaving and the whole project falling apart. My first book didn’t come out until 10 years later, with my third agent instead of my first.
And then, I just worked really hard. I learned how to be a literary citizen. I volunteered at literary magazines and festivals. I worked hard to make writer friends.
You’ve written a lot of different types of books. How do you figure out what the right form for a story is?
I kind of start out by trying to figure out what the vibe is, the musical score or the vision board in my head. I have three books with independent publishers and two with the big guys, so I start out thinking by thinking is this a Penguin Random House project with broad appeal or a more niche Tin House book. A lot of that is determined by the scope of the project.
I find a lot through revision. People would be truly horrified to see it how many drafts a book goes through. It’s ugly.
I did a newsletter recently about first sentences and I used my friend and brilliant writer Dani Shapiro’s first sentence in Signal Fires. She wrote me and said ‘That sentence took me 15 years to write.’ And I thought, ‘It was worth it. It’s that good.’
You recently published your first memoir, The Year of the Horses. How does writing and publishing something that personal compare to a novel?
Writing nonfiction is easier for me than fiction. Yes, you have to put a lot out there, but I’ve been writing personal essays for a while, and I pride myself on taking risks. If you’re writing memoir and taking a risk, that’s very generous toward your reader.
I love the excavation. Is this true? Could it be true? Is it courageous? Could it be more so? Am I trying to make myself look good?
It’s not the building of worlds that’s needed in fiction, which I love, but love too much because I tend to overwrite or overcomplicate and then I constantly have to burn things to the ground, which is tortuous.
As for the sharing of something personal, I think it’s more challenging for the people in the book than for me. I’m a professional writer and I worked with my relationship to what’s on the page for a long time. But, for my relatives, it’s harder for them. I love the people in the book and I shared it with them almost a year before it came out to give them time, to weigh in and say anything they wanted or point out things they thought I got wrong. It felt to me like a healing. I’m glad I did that. Not everyone could — some people are writing about people they never want to get in touch with again — but I was fortunate that wasn’t the case for me.
Last question. Any books you want to recommend?
There are so many books. Goodbye, Vitamin is a backlister by Rachel Khong. It’s a beautiful read for right now. It’s about family, it’s about grief, it’s about creativity and longing. It’s the OG version of Crying in H Mart. I just think it’s beautiful.
I’m a big backlist girl so another favorite is The Great Offshore Grounds by Vanessa Veselka. If you're looking to just disappear, a big novel that's just going to take you away, that's the one.
Thanks to Courtney for chatting with me. You can buy her books, subscribe to her newsletter and follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Courtney also offers some super-affordable courses for writers.
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Thank you so much for having me!
I just requested the year of the horses. Can’t wait to read it!