Meet Christie Glascoe | Author, Screenwriter, Editor, & Creative Champion

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

Hi Christie, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson I learned is not to take rejection personally. It’s a hard one to learn because, as a writer, you get rejected A LOT. And you literally sign up for it when you choose this profession! I’d get a thanks-but-no-thanks from a publisher or a contest and think, “I suck at this.” A friend introduced me to the concept of “The Four Agreements.” Number three is “Do not take anything personally.” It suggests that in most cases, someone not “getting you” or “getting your art” has everything to do with them and their preferences and absolutely nothing to do with you personally. So, I started looking at the rejection messages differently… for one, I started to READ them better. They never said, “Hey, you suck as a writer.” They all said (in a nutshell), “Hey, you’re great, but this particular piece you’ve submitted is not what we are looking for right now.” It opened my eyes to see rejection through that lens in all aspects of life. Not everyone will like me or my work, but that doesn’t mean I’m unworthy or talentless. There will always be people who say “no.” There will always be people who say “yes,” too.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a published author, screenwriter, writer-for-hire, and editor. How I got to where I am professionally is a very long story, spanning over two decades, and me doing almost every kind of writing you can think of. Except songs… I’ve never written a song before. In the last ten years or so, most of my work has involved ghostwriting/co-writing and editing books and screenplays. And there are layers to those services. I’m also an instructor on the online educational platform Outschool, where I teach creative writing and tutor middle and high school students.

I do have my own projects as well. A couple of books, but mostly screenplays. One of my scripts recently became a “2nd Rounder” in the Austin Film Festival’s Screenplay Competition. Austin is one of the most prestigious film festivals, so having something I wrote to make it to the equivalent of the “quarterfinals” is definitely something to be very proud of.

Was it easy to get here? Yes… and no. Yes, because I’ve always wanted to be a writer. No, because it took a long time before I believed I could be one. In our society, “credentials” often trumps talent and experience. I didn’t go to school for this. I was in my mid-thirties when I shifted to (some kind of) writing full-time. Everything I do is self-taught. 99% of my work has been by referral. I’ve been very blessed to have people who took a chance and said, “Let me see what you can do.”

I’ve been told that my patience with new writers and how I guide them to success sets me apart from others. They are always so eager to “publish” or send their work out to agents or submit to contests, but they don’t always get that it is a “process” and not “quick” (despite what social media makes you think). Just because you finished writing doesn’t mean you’re done! I am that taskmaster with a critical eye and a red pen at the ready, but I’m also a supportive partner helping writers get through the blocks to their progress. I want all who work with me to walk away with something they are proud of and (hopefully) a newfound love of the craft.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spot in Atlanta is The Beltline. Like, literally, the whole Beltline. You can spend an entire day on it and not get bored. One day, my daughter and I had some time to kill, so we rented scooters and took a ride. That’s when I fell in love. We had the BEST time! You definitely won’t go hungry because there are plenty of restaurants along the way. Start with breakfast on one end and have dinner on the other… and you see the whole city in between. Something is always happening, especially when you get to Ponce City Market or Krog Street. Art installations, parks, shops, and some of the best people-watching spots in town. Tons of writing inspiration. I wish I lived closer to it because I would always be on it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My college literature professor. She told me I had real talent and a gift for good storytelling. My first publisher Nancy Cleary. She called me less than thirty minutes after I cold-emailed her my book idea and said, “Yes, I want to do this!”
My OG blogging community (there would never be “influencers” without us). They embraced and encouraged “ChatterBox Christie” to share her words with the world.
Khaeem Entertainment Group. Six years ago, they gave me my first “no experience necessary” professional screenwriting gig.
Last, my family. While they don’t always understand what I do or why I would choose a profession with unpredictable pay and constant rejection, they never told me to stop.

Website: https://chatterboxchristiecreative.com

Instagram: @chatterboxcgc

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/christieglascoe

Twitter: @chatterboxcgc

Image Credits
Eric Payne – photos in the black shirt