When a Story Finally Finds Its Moment

I read an article this weekend in The Wall Street Journal and immediately thought about all my writer friends in my WordPress community. It’s a story of never giving up and of writing without worrying where your words will land. Maybe one day your book will be discovered and become a hit—but the writing journey is the reward, and anything more is merely a pleasant surprise.

The article is about Virginia Evans, the author of The Correspondent, which as of this morning is ranking #19 on Amazon with over 14,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.

I’m going to share a summary of the article and three things I learned from it.

The Correspondent, a novel by previously unpublished author Virginia Evans, became one of the year’s most unexpected literary breakouts. The quiet, epistolary story follows 73-year-old retired lawyer Sybil Van Antwerp, whose letters reveal her relationships, regrets, and late-in-life transformations. Despite the genre’s challenges, the book slowly built momentum after its April release and eventually hit The New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list for one week in early October. It also ranked eighth on Circana BookScan’s general fiction adult bestseller list for the week ending Oct. 25, with analysts noting such steady weekly sales gains are “especially rare for debut fiction.”

The rise of The Correspondent was helped in part by bestselling author Ann Patchett, who had a long-standing pen-pal connection with Evans. Patchett endorsed the novel, highlighted it as a top summer read on PBS NewsHour, and believes word-of-mouth ultimately fueled its popularity. Barnes & Noble later named it one of the year’s best works of fiction, adding another surge in visibility.

There are now 255,000 hardcover copies in print, and more than 20 overseas publishers have acquired rights. Evans, who spent nearly two decades writing seven unpublished novels and facing countless rejections, said the book’s success finally quieted the “noise of hope and wanting but also failure and disappointment” that had followed her for years.

Here are the three things I learned after reading the article:

1. The power of informal mentorship:
Virginia Evans read Commonwealth by Ann Patchett and was so moved by the novel that she decided to send Patchett a note praising her work. Patchett replied, telling Evans how much her message meant to her. After their correspondence, they became pen pals. Patchett’s support, she provided a cover blurb for The Correspondent and later recommended it on PBS NewsHour, opened many doors.

2. The power of community:
Patchett stressed that word-of-mouth made the difference. “The only thing that sells a book is one person reads it and tells two others to read it.”

3. The power of determination:
Evans was rejected countless times, but she kept writing. She even self-published one of her books because she needed money for a new computer, and the earnings from that book allowed her to buy it. She began writing The Correspondent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the struggles her family was facing, she was determined to write it as an exercise, with no plans to show it to anyone. She wrote the novel in a closet during the only time she had: from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Evans’s story is moving, and her determination is something to emulate. It certainly motivated me to continue writing and to enjoy the journey, regardless of where it leads.

It also encouraged me to do my part and share the authors in my community whose words have benefited me immensely.

I’m extremely particular when it comes to books, and I think I’ve mentioned on a few occasions to some people in my community that I follow my “gut” (instincts or intuition) when deciding whether to buy and read a book. There’s a connection, almost as if the book is speaking to me. My gut has served me well over the years.

During my time as a blogger, I have read and reviewed several books from my community. Some were short, and I posted reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Four of them were particularly impactful and moved me to write longer reviews, which I shared on my blog.

Re-Create & Celebrate by Cindy Georgakas

Finding My Father’s Faith by Wynne Leon

Surviving Sue by Dr. Vicki Atkinson

Jade’s Broken Bridge by Michele Lee Sefton

I know there are some new ones from my community calling to me, and of course they’ve been added to my reading list. I’m looking forward to reading them and sharing my thoughts with my community when the time comes.

My favorite author, Isabel Allende, wrote the following in her book Paula. 

“La escritura es una larga introspección, es un viaje hacia las cavernas más oscuras de la conciencia, una lenta meditación.”

Here is the English translation:

“Writing is a long introspection, it is a journey into the darkest caverns of consciousness, a slow meditation.”

Writing is transformative; it helps us understand ourselves more deeply and can serve as a path to insight, healing, and personal growth. 

So let’s keep writing, my friends.

109 thoughts on “When a Story Finally Finds Its Moment”

  6. let’s keep writing
    break out the words
    and have a ball
    (To be sung to the tune of Peggy Lee’s ‘Let’s Keep Dancing’)
    Thanks for this encouraging post Edward.
    DD

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  7. I have a pen pal from Medium, since I left Medium and she isn’t active on there either, we write actual letters back and forth and share recipes since we both love to cook, sometimes adding a surprise in with our letter. I have adored having a pen pal as I did when I was young, letter writing needs to make a comeback.

    I was watching a fictional show where the character was a writer who didn’t enjoy social interaction, she said she was able to bring out what she wanted to say through her characters even though she couldn’t, very interesting, even if it was fictional.

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    1. I agree with you about letter writing. We need it back. It feels so much more personal, and the anticipation of seeing a letter in your mailbox and wanting to know what it says doesn’t compare to receiving an email or text message. The show seems interesting, and it makes sense that she’s expressing herself that way. I’m sure there are many writers doing the same thing, and I think it’s a great way to work out and express their feelings. Thank you, Melissa.

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  8. Your post is important, Edward. Mentoring is a powerful helping hand. I wrote my first book, Mentoring Heroes, about women’s experiences with mentoring after realizing from writing profiles for the Chicago Tribune that successful people eagerly recognized those who helped them. We go further and faster with mentoring.

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    1. I’m with you, and that’s why I wanted to share this article. There’s so much hope in the story, and the power of mentorship and connections caught my attention right away. Thank you, Dawn.

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  11. Instantly grabbed me by the title, Edward 😀 and pleasantly surprised me with wonderful insight and writing that transcends purpose turning the elements of achievement as a gift itself. I found several “moments” to get lost by design and choice and will be adding The Correspondent to my must-read list! Thank you for sharing and inspiring ~ ❤

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  12. What a great share of Virginia Evans book The Correspondent’s trusting her gut and reaching out to Ann Patchett. I can see why it made you think of our blogging community and the support we have for each other. Kudos to her for her for being on the NY Times best selling list. I can’t tell you how honored I am to be included in your top books that have made an impact. I true am so grateful for your continued support and friendship.
    P.S. I wrote this so many times on my phone and it would go through. Sorry to be so late.
    Hugs and Gratitude!!! ❣️

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  13. Insight, healing and personal growth – I couldn’t agree more, Edward! Thank you so much for your generous support of this community. Your review of my book was so incredibly gratifying to me and I couldn’t be more appreciative of your shout out here.

    And I love that the book is called The Correspondent and that letter writing with Ann Patchett figured into its success. That’s so cool!

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    1. You’re so welcome, my friend. I’m really glad you noticed the letter writing connection. The support Ann Patchett gave Virginia Evans was incredible.

      When a book touches a reader’s heart, the reader will go out of his or her way to let the author know the positive impact it had on them. Your book did that for me, so I want you to know that it mattered.

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  14. great job on this Edward! a sense of purpose and consistency coupled with positive openness will always increase the surface area for good things to happen no matter what your given field is. i am always happy to read success stories of people who kept on their pursuit believing in the value they had to offer. So cool that you link fellow authors! Mike

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  16. I love this inspired post, Edward! This thought in your opening paragraph is so important:

    …”the writing journey is the reward, and anything more is merely a pleasant surprise..”

    So very true. I had a conversation with a writer friend yesterday who is super-duper aspirational, and while I admire his motivation, I shared one of my biggest a-ha moments: Sometimes we need to take our foot off the gas and enjoy the process, enjoy the community around us (especially here in WP land, as you point out). There are gifts all around when we gather insight from others, when we’re brave enough to write and share (poetry, posts, short stories, photographs, books).
    Thanks so much for the link to the article. I look forward to reading it — hopefully this afternoon when it’s “coffee time”, LOL!
    Hugs and smiles to you! ❤️😊❤️

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    1. Thank you, Vicki, and I love this: “Sometimes we need to take our foot off the gas and enjoy the process.” So true in writing and in other things we do in life. Traveling is one of those things, trying to see everything in one day is exhausting. It’s better to slow down, see a few things, and enjoy the moment. Well, you mentioned coffee, and my caffeine neurons got activated, so now I need some! ☕️☕️🫶🏼

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      1. Can you hear me giggling! I hear you! Now I want coffee, too! 😜
        Love your observation – yes!!! Traveling is so much better when we don’t push. Life lessons I’m learning over time.
        Xo, my friend! ❤️🥰❤️

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  20. I absolutely agree with you, Edward: “Writing is transformative; it helps us understand ourselves more deeply and can serve as a path to insight, healing, and personal growth.” And of course, I resonated deeply with Isabel Allende’s quote; a long introspection and a slow meditation, indeed. For me, writing is a “place” of deep inner connection. It benefits me in so many ways. And, based on the feedback I receive from my shares, I know it benefits others. In the end, there’s value for all thanks to the magic of writing. I loved your share on following your gut to buy a book and the reviews on your most touching books from the WP community. A wonderful post, as ever, my friend. I am always enriched by your writing! And so, thank you! With appreciation, sending light and blessings your way and wishing you a peacfeul day ✨🙏🍀

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    1. You’re so welcome, Susana. Your writing definitely benefits us, and it’s the main reason your blog is the first one I read at the start of my week. I hope you continue to write for many years. Blessings to you, my friend. 🙏🏼

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  22. very inspirational, and definitely mentorship and support really helps. interesting you mentioned ann patches, because I want to see her speak when she was visiting my town to promote her ‘tom lake’ book. while she was up on stage she not only talked about her book but spent time where she mentioned up and coming authors and their books and how important it was for writers to support other writers.

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  23. I remember the author of “Chicken Soup for the soul” while reading Evans’s story. Yes, consistency is the key. Sometimes, one heart is touched that can make a big impact that spread across the globe. Thanks for sharing, Edward.

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  24. So many great things here Edward. Love reading about Virginia Evans’ story. I love how she described the experience as fighting through the “noise of hope and wanting but also failure and disappointment.” I know I need to get back to my own writing. I’ll get there eventually. I like too how you describe your search for reading material. I can relate. My reading material tends to go in a many different directions. Yes, yes, thank you for the encouragement. Love it.

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    1. Thank you, Brian. Her story was incredibly inspirational, and I highlighted many parts of the article. I plan to keep it as a reminder to stay motivated. Regarding books, I’m a bookworm, and if I’m not careful, I’d end up with a stack of a thousand of them. So I need to pace myself and focus on the ones that call to me the most.

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  25. What a terrific story. Intrinsic motivation can fuel our writing or any other creative endeavour. If we write for our own sense of personal satisfaction, any recognition or external success is a bonus.

    Last week I saw an interview with Canadian author Louise Penny. She spoke of her decision not to travel to the USA to promote her latest book. She said if this decision ends her career, then she’ll just stay at home and write for herself.

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  26. Your reflections on mentorship, community, and determination truly resonated, especially the idea that sometimes all it takes is one person believing in your words for doors to open. And I couldn’t agree more about intuition guiding our reading choices; some books simply call to us.

    Here’s to keeping the words flowing, wherever they may lead.🙏🏻

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  27. Edward, this really spoke to me. I have felt what you described more times than I can count. Your words remind me why we write in the first place. We never know how one sentence, one small testimony, or one honest moment might reach someone who needs it.

    Stories like this encourage me to keep going and trust God with the impact. The journey itself is the gift, and the way God uses it to touch even one heart is everything.

    Thank you for sharing this. It means more than you know. 🙏✍️

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    1. You’re so welcome, Willie. I read your stories and the stories of many others every week, so when I read this article, I knew I needed to share it with the community. Staying motivated as a writer is hard, so I hope this post will give you and others an extra push to continue writing. God bless you, brother. 🙏🏼

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  28. I love this. The power of promotion within our own circles can vault someone towards success. I’ve always loved the pen pal concept. I had a few growing up and still wonder about how they are doing.

    Thank you for sharing your list of authors and links. I will explore!

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  34. Thanks for sharing this post, Ed. I’m not sure if I will write a book. However, I will continue to write on the blog and see how the Lord moves. I do thank you for your book reviews. You share with clarity and great information. It seems we get a glimpse of the author from your reviews before we read the book.

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    1. You’re very welcome. I’m with you. I don’t think I’ll be writing a book anytime soon, and really, I want to focus on writing long-form articles. But I’ll keep all doors open because we never know where the writing journey will take us.

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    2. I enjoy blogging and hearing back from readers, who are often fellow writers. I have been asked if I have put my poems in a book so they can buy a copy.
      I feel it would distract me from writing
      I think it’s a big job to put my stuff into a book.

      Never say never.

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      1. I think that if I were a poet with hundreds of poems, I would self-publish just to gather my writings in a format I could give to my family as a keepsake, and maybe even donate a copy to the local library to become part of the community’s literary history.

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          1. You should. My grandfather-in-law did that, and I translated and posted a number of his poems on my blog. I have a signed copy of his book and found another on eBay, which I purchased and plan to donate to the local library in his town in Puerto Rico. It’s a family treasure.

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        2. That’s what I’ve done with tons if mine.. I give them all away and leave them places. It took me forever to get it organized in a way I thought would not just leave behind reading but I left blank pages in between each one w a quote on one page and poem in the other and two blank pages for journaling inspirations that come after reading. It’s so rewarding giving it and allowing them to find the home they belong in.. It’s an opening to leaving behind all our titles and observing who we are without them.

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          1. Thank you, Kerri. Leaving blank pages for journaling is an excellent idea. I can picture family members reading a poem and then writing down their thoughts about hearing it for the first time and what they felt in that moment. Wonderful!

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    1. Thank you, Brad. Since I mostly read non-fiction, I like to buy books and keep them in my library. I usually re-read portions when I need a refresher. Some I give away, mostly to our local library or community book box.

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  36. Amen Edward, may we reach all the readers who will enjoy our writing, and may our success exceed our wildest dreams. Thanks for sharing this inspiration. Let’s keep writing. 📚📖☺️

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    1. Thank you, CJ. Great question. Most people can be easily reached by email, and if there is a connection, I think it will happen naturally. But with the kind of technology we have nowadays, I’m sure there are tons of social media groups where writers can connect.

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