Jordyn Taylor — empire coven

Age || 28

Job Title || Deputy Editor of Content at Men’s Health & Author of The Paper Girl of Paris

Years Living In New York || Almost 8

Social Handles || Tw/IG: @jordynhtaylor

Website || jordyn h taylor

What did you want to be while growing up?

I wanted to be an artist or an author. (In my grade seven yearbook, I wrote that my goal in life was “to write a full book”!) I think I liked the idea of creating something from nothing.

What’s the best piece of advice you were given when you started writing The Paper Girl of Paris?

My editor at HarperTeen, Catherine Wallace, encouraged me to map out the plot in detail before I even started writing—that way, I wouldn’t end up writing myself into a corner and getting stuck. In my writing notebook, I made side-by-side charts of my two main characters’ internal and external journeys. Once I started writing, it made it so much easier to weave their stories together and hit the right notes at the right times.

Where did the idea come from for this book?

As a Jewish kid who loved history, I grew up reading a ton about World War II and the Holocaust; I’ve always been drawn to the remarkable stories of how people resisted the Nazis. The initial idea for The Paper Girl of Paris actually started with my publisher—they were looking for an author to write a historical young adult (YA) novel about a girl who discovers a long-lost relative in the French Resistance. I “auditioned” for them by writing two sample chapters, and that’s when they made the offer. From there, I got to flesh out the rest of the story. So many of my ideas came from the month I spent researching Nazi-occupied France—especially reading the diaries of women in the French Resistance.

What was your creative process like for writing it?

Whenever I’m writing and feel stuck, I make some kind of physical change. Sometimes it’s switching from typing to handwriting in my notebook, which I always have nearby. Sometimes it’s relocating to another spot in my apartment, or to the coffee shop across the street (shoutout to Sweetleaf, my trusty caffeine supplier!).

How did your background in journalism help you with writing this book?

The extreme fear of publishing something inaccurate! When you’re reporting the news, you have to get every fact right. I felt the same about writing historical fiction. I went down many a research rabbit hole trying to make sure my scenes felt believable. I’d ask myself questions like, “Given the year, the location, the characters’ socioeconomic status, and their personal values, what would they realistically be eating for dinner? Would they have purchased food on the black market, stood in line for rations, or both?”

How did you balance writing a book with a full-time job?

After my month of research, I wrote The Paper Girl of Paris in around 3.5 months. I thought of the project as a math problem, because I have a surprisingly numbers-oriented brain. I calculated how many words I had to write per week to meet my deadline and minimum word count (answer: roughly 5,000). To write 5,000 words per week around a full-time job, I had to optimize every minute of my day. I downloaded the Microsoft Word app so I could write during my commute. I wrote for a few hours on weeknights and all day on weekends. I said no to a lot of plans. It might sound awful, but I loved it. I genuinely enjoyed spending all that time in the world of my book!

You traditionally cover content for adult men, how was it making the switch to writing about two young women?

I love creating content for men, because it’s exciting to help guide them through society’s changing ideas around traditional masculinity. But it was definitely exciting getting to revisit life as a 16-year-old girl! There was a warm familiarity there. I also think it helped my productivity that the content and writing style was so different than what I do all day. It made it easier to get home from work and sit back down in front of a computer screen—it really felt like shifting to a brand new activity.

What do you hope readers get out of reading The Paper Girl of Paris?

I hope they get lost in a good story, and learn some things they didn’t know before. And I hope they feel inspired to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s hard to do.

How do you define success?

Making other people’s lives better, even in a small way. It makes me indescribably happy when a reader reaches out and says a story spoke to them! Also, making my parents and my husband proud. Because I love them.

What is the most important thing you learned during the writing process?

To take a break when you’re feeling good about the writing—not when you’re stuck. It’ll make you way more enthusiastic about getting back to work later.

What is your go-to motivational quote or personal motto?

I think my go-to motivational quote is from my therapist, to be honest! She always tells me to “sit in the discomfort.” Basically, the more you expose yourself to something that makes you scared or anxious, the less power it has to freak you out.

Which women inspire you?

I’m inspired by women who build up and create opportunities for other women. I’ve encountered many of these wonderful people in my career so far, and they’ve motivated me to pay it forward however I can.

How do you overcome moments of self-doubt?

Well, I guess I’m going to talk about my therapist again! (Are you surprised I wove a mental health subplot into The Paper Girl of Paris?) Whenever I’m mired in self-doubt—you know those fun anxiety spirals that end with you convincing yourself you’re a complete failure?—she encourages me to go back to the past and compare it to where I am now, to see how far I’ve come.

What has been the most rewarding thing about writing The Paper Girl of Paris?

I wish I could say it cured my imposter syndrome, but nope, still have plenty of that! The most rewarding thing about writing this book is that I (hopefully!) get to make a positive impact on readers’ lives. The books I read as a teenager helped me figure out who I was and who I wanted to be—and I hope Alice and Adalyn’s inspiring stories help readers do the same.

What advice would you give to other women trying to get published as an author?

If you love writing, keep on doing it, and don’t give up hope if you get a rejection—or a bunch of them, like I got! Before The Paper Girl of Paris, my agent Danielle Burby and I tried to sell three completely different books. We came close, but ultimately had no takers. Each final “no” stung, but I tried to mentally reframe them as opportunities to start something new and exciting. The fourth time was the charm. Also, read as much as you can, especially in the genres you’re writing. I haven’t taken an English or Creative Writing class since high school; a lot of what I’ve learned about plot construction and character development has come from reading great books and recognizing the similarities between them. Which brings me to my last piece of advice: A degree in writing is not a requirement to get published as an author.

Where can people purchase The Paper Girl of Paris?

If you can, support indie bookstores during the pandemic by purchasing The Paper Girl of Paris from Bookshop.org. It’s also available through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and other booksellers.

What are some of your goals moving forward as a journalist and author?

I’m loving this balance of journalism by day, fiction-writing by night! For now, my goal is to keep this good thing going.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.