While Deesha Philyaw didn’t directly teach me how to write, she certainly showed me how to transform my writing into a profession. Countless hours have been spent on the phone with her discussing appropriate rates for various pieces or potential submission avenues for my work. She is genuinely kind and has consistently offered unwavering support to her peers, so it has been exhilarating to witness her significant successes over the past three years.
If there’s anyone who exemplifies how to make entrepreneurship and writing seem effortless, it’s Philyaw. The author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies secured a seven-figure book contract with Mariner Books in September for her debut novel, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman, alongside another short story collection titled Girl, Look.
A seven-figure book contract is undoubtedly impressive. Yet, those familiar with Philyaw understand that her work ethic is what has enabled her to build a writing career. Back in 2011, when I was just starting out as a content writer aiming to leverage my skill into a profitable side hustle, Philyaw shared a wealth of knowledge and consistently encouraged me to know my worth and never settle for less.
To Succeed as a Writer, Entrepreneurial Skills Are Essential
The commercial aspect of writing can be challenging. Writers must be adept in business and grasp the nuances of self-promotion. There are also critical aspects that emerging authors need to understand when they begin soliciting agents.
“It’s not simply about writing to an agent and sending them your work while boasting about its quality,” Philyaw explains. “There’s a specific format for querying agents, including what to send and when to send it.”
Like many writers, Philyaw began her journey as a freelancer, but she was certain from the start that she wanted to pursue writing as a career.
“From the outset, it was a venture into entrepreneurship,” she reveals. “Once I realized that, I was determined to turn writing into a sustainable living rather than just a hobby or a personal pursuit. This ambition came about during my divorce when I thought, ‘I’ll have to rely on child support and alimony for a while, but eventually, I have to make this work.’”
“I was chasing publication,” Philyaw continues. “Initially, the issue was that I was focused on writing novels, and they require a significant amount of time to complete. Consequently, that wasn’t a consistent source of income to cover my expenses.”
Philyaw submitted her work wherever she could, even though she admits her approach might not have been entirely logical. “I wasn’t creating content that suited those esteemed publications. However, I desired that prestige to enhance my byline and increase my pay,” she reflects.
Deesha Philyaw’s Path to Her Initial Breakthrough
This was prior to the 2008 financial crisis, during a time when media outlets compensated freelancers quite well. Interestingly, it was an unpaid writing position that kicked off Philyaw’s meaningful work opportunities.
“I came across a request for a columnist for a site named Literary Mama. I pitched a column titled ‘The Girl’s Mine’ discussing my experiences as an adoptive parent, and they accepted it,” Philyaw recalls. “Even though it wasn’t a paying opportunity, I committed myself to it for four years without compensation. It turned out to be beneficial because that exposure got me noticed by national print outlets, and soon editors were approaching me to collaborate.”
“One of the editors reached out, inviting me to pitch him ideas, and my response was, ‘Thank you so much! How do I pitch?’” she remembers. “I had no clue how to do it. Looking back, I probably should have consulted someone else or simply Googled… But he was incredibly generous and guided me on how to approach him. Consequently, I pitched him, leading to several published pieces in his magazine until the economy took a downturn.”
When the magazine Philyaw was contributing to eventually ceased operations, she had to adapt her strategy. She started focusing on parenting articles and offering her writing services to businesses looking to outsource. Since she had experience in parenting topics and maintained a positive co-parenting dynamic with her ex-husband, Philyaw and her ex collaborated on a book titled Co-parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce.
“The co-parenting guide was released in 2013,” she states. “That’s how I secured an agent who was aware of my work on a novel and encouraged me to finish it for submission.”
Philyaw’s Major Success: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
Eventually, Philyaw’s agent recognized a recurring theme among the short stories she was creating.
“She mentioned, ‘You know, I really enjoyed these church lady stories,’” Philyaw recalls. “She coined that term—I hadn’t initially noticed the connection among them.”
These church lady tales garnered incredible acclaim. Philyaw’s collection of short stories, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, was nominated for the National Book Award (often regarded as ‘The Academy Awards of Literature’) and received multiple accolades, including The Story Prize, The Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. It’s also being adapted into a drama series for HBO Max, with both Philyaw and playwright Tori Sampson involved in writing the script.
It’s uncommon for a short story collection to achieve such success, but Church Ladies captured the hearts of readers and critics alike.
“People in the publishing industry often say that short story collections don’t sell; they generally push you to focus on novels first,” Philyaw explains. “They also argue that you can’t market something based on a partial manuscript, but my agent had a different perspective.”
Even with her outstanding achievements, Philyaw dedicates time to mentor fellow writers, guiding them on strategic thinking and helping them forge valuable industry connections.
“The triumph of Church Ladies has granted me a level of influence that I hadn’t possessed before,” Philyaw notes. “I aspire to use that to uplift aspiring writers who follow in my footsteps.”
