Leslie Savisky
I've been in the writing field for about 6 or 7 years now. I always dreamed of being a writer since I was a little kid, but I knew it wasn't something you could make a living at right away. I got my degrees in Sociology and Criminal Justice and worked in social services for years, including working with teenage girls at a group home for about 6 years and as a resource specialist for families at a Head Start program. In my early 20s, I went through some difficult times with anxiety and trauma. My boyfriend at the time, who is now my husband, worked a lot and was gone often. I had bought a house and lived by myself, so I decided to take some of my personal background and trauma and start writing a book. I used my background in sociology and mental health to write a fictional story that was a little bit personal. It was just something I wanted to do as a personal accomplishment, and after I did it, I got really good feedback. That led me to write three more books and a journal. During COVID, I was able to get my first book, Other People's Words, into several different libraries, and I borderline harassed the newspaper until somebody came and interviewed me. I was able to create a small business for myself and get my foot in the door. Now I work as a freelance writer for local magazines and newspapers, and I also substitute teach. What I love most is that I work for myself and have flexibility to make my own schedule. I'm able to spend time with my daughter and have that work-life balance, being there for my husband and daughter.
• American Sign Language certification
• Associate's degree in Criminal Justice from Westmoreland County Community College
• Bachelor's degree in Sociology with emphasis on Criminal Justice from Seton Hill University
• Bookstagram's 2024 Crime Novel of the Year for These Broken Pieces
• International Impact Winner for October 2024 for Other People's Words
• Book Fest's Fall 2024 First Place Winner in three fictional categories for Other People's Words
• Four Seasons Book Award Finalist in Fall 2024 for Almost Too Late
• Mentoring students at Westmoreland County Community College
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, you have to know that working in the writing field is not something that's going to happen overnight. It's just like acting or being a dancer. I'm not famous, but maybe locally someone's heard of me. Sometimes just getting your name out there is just as important as the money. You can't just get out of college and expect to be a poet or live on a remote island and write for a living. You have to be realistic about it. You have to put in the work, just like actors who wait tables when they're getting started. With that being said, you also need to aim high. I think that lots of times, especially with women, we tend to underestimate ourselves. I'm very pro-woman, very pro-girl, very pro-female. I think that most of us could do everything a man could do, if not more. Don't let somebody tell you what you really should write about or how they would have worded something. I'll tell you how to do your job, you know? Advocate for yourself. Aim high, and at the same time, be realistic that you might have to put in your dues first.
Locations
Self-employed
Jeannette, Pa 15644, PA