From ⁣’Survivor‘ too Storyteller: How⁤ Julia Lemle Found Her Voice in Fiction

For Julia Lemle,⁣ teh path to becoming a published author wasn’t ‍a straight line.It involved a stint on⁤ reality television, a complete manuscript overhaul, and a pivotal short⁤ story written during her MFA program ‍at NYU. Lemle’s debut novel,currently untitled,explores the world behind the scenes of a reality TV show – a world⁢ she knows⁢ intimately as a former Survivor contestant⁢ and producer. But getting there required a meaningful shift in perspective, and a rediscovery of her own voice.

The Unexpected Pivot: From Beck to ⁤Kent

Initially,‍ Lemle’s novel was a purposeful attempt to distance itself from her personal⁤ experiences. “I was so ⁤fixated on NOT making it autobiographical that I had written an entire finished draft told entirely from beck’s perspective,” ⁤she explains. Beck ‍is one of the⁤ novel’s central characters, ⁤a producer striving to shape⁢ compelling narratives from ⁢the “messy human lives”⁣ unfolding before her. ‍

However, a short story written during her time at NYU changed everything. “When I was in my MFA program at ⁣NYU, I wrote ⁤this short story about Kent, and it felt like ⁤I finally found my voice ⁤as a ⁢writer,” Lemle says. This realization prompted a complete rewrite of the book, shifting the focus and unlocking her creative potential.

!Stephen fishbach.
Julia Lemle, photographed by‍ Stephen Fishbach.

Pushcart Prize vs. ‘Survivor’ ⁢Winner: A Question of Credibility

Lemle recently participated in a playful “either/or” question, pondering which‍ achievement she’d choose: winning a ⁤pushcart Prize or becoming a survivor ⁣champion. While the allure of⁣ the million-dollar prize⁣ and the coveted winners’ circle photo is strong – “I’ve fantasized for 17 years about ‍how amazing it would be to⁤ have‍ won Survivor” – she ultimately ⁢recognizes the deeper impact of the literary award.

“Even though moast people have never ⁣heard ⁤of the Pushcart Prize, I think having that stamp of⁢ literary credibility convinced my⁤ agent and my editor that I was ⁢a writer using reality TV as a subject, rather than a reality TV contestant writing a book,” she admits. This distinction was crucial in establishing her legitimacy as an author and opening doors to achieving her literary aspirations. And, she adds with a smile, “I can⁤ still keep ⁢photoshopping⁢ myself into those winner pics.”

Lemle’s⁣ journey highlights the power⁢ of finding ‍your authentic⁤ voice and the unexpected paths that⁢ can lead to creative fulfillment. It’s a story about navigating ‍the⁣ tension between ⁣personal experience and artistic⁣ expression, and ⁢ultimately, embracing the power of storytelling.

This interview has been edited for length and ⁢clarity.

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