Brief Introduction
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We are excited to feature Lyzette Wanzer, a distinguished author and educator, in our "Professionals in the Spotlight" series. Lyzette's exceptional work, particularly her book "Trauma, Tresses, & Truth," has garnered widespread acclaim, spotlighting her deep engagement with themes of identity, culture, and the human experience. Her dedication to exploring the narratives surrounding Black women's natural hair and her contributions to literary and cultural dialogues exemplify her role as a pioneering figure in the arts and education. Join us in celebrating Lyzette Wanzer's impactful career and her unwavering commitment to storytelling and social advocacy.
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What qualities do you think every creative writer should possess?
If you’re going to succeed as a creative writer—whether a poet, novelist, short story writer, essayist, or scriptwriter—the most important tools in your arsenal, besides the prerequisite talent, are a thick skin, tolerance for ambiguity, and tolerance of rejection. Like all of the arts, literary life isn’t a profession well-suited to those who bruise easily. Provided you also have the talent, drive, and determination, you’ll need to be a hustler with a ton of energy to chase down opportunities and fuel multiple income streams. You can’t wait on the sidelines hoping for something to happen; you must compel something to happen. You cannot wait to be discovered; you must make yourself discoverable.
How did you raise funding or financially prepare for your career?
I apply for a lot of grants. Completing grant applications is certainly not a fun endeavor. Working on the applications is often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and involves a lot of writing, thought, analysis, and forecasting. And after you’ve invested all of that effort, there is of course no guarantee that you’ll be awarded funding.
During the first several years of applying I got nothing, or very small grants under $300. Over the past eight years I’ve had an extremely successful track record, and TRAUMA, TRESSES, & TRUTH now flourishes because of that record. Success begets more success. I’m blessed to have received generous support from The African American Art & Culture Complex, The Awesome Foundation, Black Artist Foundry, California Arts Council, Center for Cultural Innovation, San Francisco Arts Commission, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
There’s an art and a methodology to applying for arts and humanities grants. Unfortunately, I had to learn this the tough way, over many years. I am now a very successful grant writer. The grant writing itself will never be fun, but the money is. :-D And then learning how to steward that money—in accordance with your budget--is just as important.
During the first several years of applying I got nothing, or very small grants under $300. Over the past eight years I’ve had an extremely successful track record, and TRAUMA, TRESSES, & TRUTH now flourishes because of that record. Success begets more success. I’m blessed to have received generous support from The African American Art & Culture Complex, The Awesome Foundation, Black Artist Foundry, California Arts Council, Center for Cultural Innovation, San Francisco Arts Commission, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
There’s an art and a methodology to applying for arts and humanities grants. Unfortunately, I had to learn this the tough way, over many years. I am now a very successful grant writer. The grant writing itself will never be fun, but the money is. :-D And then learning how to steward that money—in accordance with your budget--is just as important.
What will you never compromise on within your career?
My personal and professional core values are non-negotiable:
Because I’m not a micromanage, I need any assistants I hire to be on the same page as I am concerning these values. Also of critical importance to me are punctuality and meeting deadlines. I’m not so draconian that an occasional tardy or cancellation here and there is a problem when it’s due to unforeseen circumstances, but if these issues become habitual, that’s going to be a dealbreaker for me.
- Integrity
- Transparency
- Honesty
- Accountability
- Respect
- Reliability
- Work/life balance
Because I’m not a micromanage, I need any assistants I hire to be on the same page as I am concerning these values. Also of critical importance to me are punctuality and meeting deadlines. I’m not so draconian that an occasional tardy or cancellation here and there is a problem when it’s due to unforeseen circumstances, but if these issues become habitual, that’s going to be a dealbreaker for me.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’ll have opened my own Professional Development for Creative Writers program, focused on delivering marketing acumen and professional practices, approaches, resources, and strategies for creative writers of any genre who are seeking to raise the trajectory of their literary careers.
I’m currently enrolled in a ten-week business incubator course to help bring this business to fruition. Since I currently teach a breadth of professional development workshops for writers, this business will be a direct outgrowth of those classes, and of those students’ successes. I’m also writing my second book, entitled Building a Career as a Literary Artist of Color.
I’m currently enrolled in a ten-week business incubator course to help bring this business to fruition. Since I currently teach a breadth of professional development workshops for writers, this business will be a direct outgrowth of those classes, and of those students’ successes. I’m also writing my second book, entitled Building a Career as a Literary Artist of Color.
What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid?
I had always planned to be a veterinarian. My sister, who had a visual artist bent, was supposed to be the groomer. When I was 10 years old I picked out Cornell University for my veterinary education. Later in my teens, I decided to be an animal biologist. But math and mathematically based science courses were not my forte at all. I knew I couldn’t major ins a science with a persistent Achilles’ heel in math and statistics. I had always written stories as a child, filling stacks of notebooks with story after story. So I was always a reader and a writer. I am an incorrigible right-brain thinker!
Instead of Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, I wound up graduating from a small liberal arts college with a Theater degree and a French Language certificate. I did my graduate work at Mills College in Creative Writing.
Instead of Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, I wound up graduating from a small liberal arts college with a Theater degree and a French Language certificate. I did my graduate work at Mills College in Creative Writing.
Photo credit for author portrait: Adrianne Mathiowetz
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