253: Channeling Main Character Energy into Writing a Debut Novel with Jamie Varon

Free Time with Jenny Blake

“’Something I always say: at the very least, do it for the plot. Do it for the story. Be bold in life, mostly because not being bold is boring as hell.’ Margot tipped her head back in glittery laughter and I felt my chest expand in hope.”

That’s just one of many glittering conversations that the main character of Jamie Varon’s debut novel, Main Character Energy, has with her Aunt, a guiding light who helps her find her voice and pursue her publishing dream. In today’s conversation, Jamie and I go behind the book to talk about how fiction differs from nonfiction, working with a writing coach, the importance of giving yourself permission for a “zero” draft, moving past the mental machinations of envy and the desire for logical explanations for others’ success, and so much more.

Be sure to check out our previous conversation for the Pivot podcast 278: Radically Content with Jamie Varon.

More About Jamie: Jamie Varon’s writing has been seen across the internet for over a decade, from her early days of personal blogging all the way to features in publications such as Teen Vogue, HuffPost, GOOD, Complex, and many more. Over the years, both her long-form essays and short-form prose have garnered millions of reads and views, using her signature style of combining personal story with universal themes.

🌟 3 Key Takeaways

• Where are you holding yourself back before you even try? Part of Jamie’s motivation for focusing so much on the interior journey within Main Character Energy was her own experience as an aspiring author: “I was the first person to reject myself, to tell myself no.”
• Read your draft out loud to see what feels natural and what doesn’t, especially for dialogue.
• What excites you to do the work, not just for the results? Recognize that writing the book may be every day for three years, while releasing a book happens on a single day.

📝 Permission

Drop the perfectionism. Let it be messy and uncertain. Let yourself discover how you work, what you’re good at, and what you need to improve upon. There’s so much wisdom in action. Give yourself permission to write Novel Zero.

✅ Do (or Delegate) This Next

Envy and comparison doesn’t go away through logic, even though our mind craves answers and formulas to “figure it out.” Return to your spiritual practices. I do my best, at my pace; I accept and love where I’m at; it always makes sense, it’s always working in my favor. Trust that. Bonus: Take a break from social media.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• Jamie on the web, IG, Twitter, LinkedIn, Substack
• Articles: Jamie’s writing for publication
• Plot Twist: Being offline
• Rolling in Doh—Ignore the Odds
• Writing Coach: Savannah Gilbo

📚 Books Mentioned

• Authors: Blake Crouch, Ann Patchett, Rebecca Yaros
• Main Character Energy: A Novel by Jamie Varon
• Radically Content and Radically Content: The Journal by Jamie Varon
• Jamie’s favorite craft books: Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
• Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
• Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum
• Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business
• Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
• Life After College

🎧 Related Episodes

• Fiction Writing Made Easy: 91: Student Spotlight: How She Went from First Draft to Landing Her Dream Agent with Jamie Varon
• Barbara Kingsolver on Armchair Expert, The Shift, The Ezra Klein Show
• Free Time: 203: 🎢 Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Launching with Natalie Lue
• Pivot: 278: Radically Content with Jamie Varon

📝 Check out full show notes and share with friends: https://itsfreetime.com/episodes/253

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