Manic Monday: Success stories, Author J.Gunn

The Story of J. Gunn, Simple and Sweet as Pie

Thank you for having me on the blog today, it’s a joy to be here and I wish to say hello and thank you all for coming in. I was asked to write a special piece about success and so I shall list some things I’ve been up to lately starting in mid-2011.

First, I started in the copy editing game. I did my first job in June of 2011, and things started to speed up. I then became the assistant to an agent, learning a lot more than I already learned about promoting and writing things that related to clients and assisting with the filing of things and so on.

Things steadily picked up in the fall and I found myself in a couple of different positions, in October I applied for yet another copy editing position with another small publisher and got that job. Being a Literary Agent’s Assistant was a learning journey in itself but I also learned I’m a pretty good at both.

In December of 2011, I got promoted to the Primary Editor of my smaller publishing house and in January of 2012, I was made partner with the agency I was the assistant for. Life is funny I think in terms of how things can change so dramatically in such a small amount of time. It was only about two years ago that I say to myself, “To heck with it, just ask, it can’t hurt!”

Now you’re looking at a self-made Author/Editor/Literary Agent all within the time it takes some people to screw their heads on straight in this game, being a fast learner helps, promoting and building a great network never hurts either, that’s why my first piece of viable advice will always be to build that connection and help yourself get out there more. (Being friendly never hurts either!)

My first positive connection was with my agent and it all spiraled from there, learning and making all the new adjustments and connections with people I have come to cherish dearly. Next came my publishing family. Surrounded by the one and only coolest group of folks in this world, Hellfire you rock!

Once upon a time, this girl was a very shy person who never talked to anyone because I never thought I would have anything to say anyone would be interested in hearing, and today I’m where I am because I opened my mouth and someone heard what I had to say. And you know, this success is due to me never shutting my mouth again and learning fast, I learned my patience and I never give up. 

Thanks for having me in today it was fun telling you my story, I can’t wait to hear yours.

J. Gunn,

Author, Editor, and Agent