Meet Megan Warren | Writer & Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Warren and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, but I’m also very practical and risk-averse. I remember my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Sanchez, asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I responded, “Well, I really want to be a writer, but I know it’s hard to make a living at it, so I’ll probably be a veterinarian.” Spoiler: I did not become a veterinarian. And it would take decades before I was secure enough in my life to take the risk of becoming a full-time writer.

As I moved through other phases of my career, I always kept writing in the background, whether it was for public consumption or just for myself. I spent many long years working in entertainment, advertising, and real estate, and that practical side of me appreciated a steady paycheck and the satisfaction of working my way toward the top of an organization, but then there was always the feeling of burn out. The fatigue would set in at the end of every day, and squeeze the creativity from my pores.

Then, as I was rounding out my seventh year in real estate and managing a 20+ agent team with hundreds of millions of dollars in sales volume, the market took a nose dive. Soaring interest rates and high home prices shrank the buyer pool into a puddle, and I had two choices: stick or pivot. I chose pivot.

For the first time in my life, I am now working entirely for myself, deciding what I work on, when I work on it, and how I am going to release it. Yes, it’s still a little scary and success is never guaranteed, but looking back now I can’t believe I used to spend 8-10 hours per day answering emails and sitting in meetings.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Writing is a very intimidating career to pursue. There is always someone who is already doing what you want to do, but doing it better and having more success at it. People talk a lot about getting used to rejection, but the truth is that if you’re getting rejected, it at least means you had an opportunity. It’s the dead silence, the lack of response, the gaping chasm that you toss your precious work into and then sit on the edge hoping for someone to tell you whether they loved or hated it – that is what kills your momentum and your confidence.

The “big change” for me was when these new platforms emerged, like Amazon KDP and Spreaker, which made it possible for writers to take their work directly to their target audiences without the need to pass through a lot of middle people. Every writer has poured their heart and soul into stories and scripts that never get to see the light of day, which can feel very defeating. Now, self-publishing is not only possible, but pretty lucrative, and there are tools that help make products that are just as professional as traditionally produced work. When I came up with the idea for The Curse of Botley’s Hedge, I knew that I didn’t want to see it sit on an executive’s desk, gathering dust. I decided to dip my toes into creating a fiction podcast, complete with old-timey-radio-style voice acting and sound effects, and release it in four episodes just in time for Halloween. We’re putting the finishing touches on it now, and it’s turning out great!

It’s very exciting when you get the attention of someone “important,” who is in a position to take your work farther than you can on your own. But I get just as excited when I get feedback from someone who found my book helpful, or whose kids insist on playing my stories over and over until they fell asleep. Those are the people I enjoy writing for.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite ways to see a new city is by taking a ghost tour! You will probably see all the same highlights as you would on a normal walking tour, but it’s much more entertaining when you can add a little ghoulish intrigue to the local history. Fort Worth has some fantastic ghost tours (some of which incorporate wine or beer tasting), and most of them meet in the Stockyards, which is always fun for visitors. You can give your friends the classic Texas experience by taking in a rodeo and eating some bar-b-que before you go.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s a cliché for a reason; my first shout out has to be to my husband, Garrett, and our son, Reeve. They do more than support me, they actually match my energy with every single project and venture, and even have starring roles in my latest project, The Curse of Botley’s Hedge (which is available starting October 8th where ever you listen to podcasts). Garrett is also a brilliant designer and Creative Director, and has done the cover art for all my projects.

I also need to thank my dear friend, Carla Mead, who is the best beta reader a self-published author could ever hope for. My manager, Tash Moseley, who is so brilliant at building me up and making me believe I can actually do this for a living. And my beautiful and talented sister, Lancine Aday, who celebrates my successes much louder than I would ever dare to do.

Website: https://warrenfeldstories.com

Instagram: @madmegan

Other: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-curse-of-botley-s-hedge–6289883

Image Credits
The Curse of Botley’s Hedge art is by Garrett Warren