From Presidential Speeches to Best-Selling Novels: The Evolution of Lisa Yee

In this enlightening episode of Book Club for Kids, host Kitty Felde sits down with acclaimed author Lisa Yee to discuss her eclectic career, the psychological barriers to writing, and the professional discipline required to navigate the publishing industry. Yee’s journey serves as a masterclass in persistence and the importance of finding one's unique voice.

The Unexpected Path to Authorship

Yee’s entry into the literary world was anything but linear. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a writer-producer for Disney, where she famously penned a speech for President Ronald Reagan for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade. While Yee jokingly notes that the President only used her words for a simple "hello," this experience underscored her versatility as a writer.

Despite her professional success, Yee struggled for years with the "confidence to be able to write a novel." Growing up without modern technology, she held a childhood misconception that "all authors were dead people," leading her to believe that being an author was an unreachable dream, akin to being a "rock star." Her fear of being "made fun of" kept her from pursuing her passion until she realized she was being a "big hypocrite" for encouraging her own children to chase their dreams while she suppressed hers. Joining a community of writers, specifically SEBWI, was the catalyst that allowed her to finally embrace her ambition.

Overcoming Perfectionism and the Creative Process

When asked about the difficulty of putting "fingers to the keyboard," Yee offers blunt, practical advice to young writers: "It doesn't have to be good. Just... vomit on the page." This philosophy highlights the importance of drafting over perfectionism. She emphasizes that one can always "clean it up later," stripping away the paralysis that often prevents new writers from starting.

Her process has evolved alongside her career. While her debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, took six years to write while she worked full-time, her current pace for the Misfit series is highly structured. She typically spends "six weeks" on an outline, followed by "four to five months" on a draft. However, she candidly discusses the chaos of her peak production years, where she had to juggle six books simultaneously while bound by strict "non-disclosure agreements" that prevented publishers from knowing she was working for competitors. This period of "writing day and night" was a testament to her work ethic, even if it was "crazy."

Finding Voice in Franchise Writing

Yee’s experience writing for the American Girl franchise provides a fascinating look at professional authorship. When she was initially approached to write Good Luck Ivy, she was struck by the publisher’s intimate knowledge of her background, describing the encounter as "kind of creepy."

Crucially, her collaboration with American Girl taught her about the value of an author’s unique voice. Initially, Yee attempted to mimic the style of existing books in the series, but the editors encouraged her to deviate. They told her, "We’re hiring you because we like your voice," and requested "more Lisa Yee." This transition from writing to a strict template to injecting her personal perspective allowed her to flourish, eventually leading to exciting research opportunities, such as traveling to the Amazon rainforest and learning to surf in Hawaii—experiences she describes as part of the joy of "researching."

Conclusion

Lisa Yee’s career is a testament to the idea that writing is not just a talent, but a practice of discipline and vulnerability. From her early fears of being judged to her later mastery of professional franchise writing, Yee demonstrates that the path to becoming an author is rarely a straight line. Her advice to simply start, even if the work is initially "bad," remains a cornerstone for anyone looking to bridge the gap between dreaming and doing.