You Don't Need a Degree to Do the Thing

She spent thirty years disappearing into other people's words on Broadway. Then, in midlife, an idea for a novel showed up and refused to leave her alone. This week, actor Jennifer Shay Carta joins The Uplifters Podcast to talk about what happened when she traded a script for a blank page, with zero training and zero expectations.We talk about:Her Broadway debut in Side Man and joining the cast of ProofThe bruising experience with screenwriting that nearly ended her writing The difference between capability fear and permission fearWhy she chose to self-publish What Happened to Annabel TaylorHandling one-star reviews as a first-time authorWhy her bio left out her biggest accomplishmentAbout Jennifer Shay Carta:Jennifer Shay Carta is an actor turned debut novelist. Her Broadway credits include Side Man and the national tour and Broadway cast of Proof. Her debut novel, What Happened to Annabel Taylor, is available now in audiobook and paperback.Resources Mentioned:What Happened to Annabel Taylor by Jennifer Shay CartaJoin the Tryb: jointhetryb.com, code UPLIFTER20Connect with Aransas and The Uplifters:theuplifterspodcast.com | @aransas_savas | @the_uplifters_podcastSubscribe to the Substack newsletter at theuplifterspodcast.comChapters:0:00 — Welcome and sponsor2:08 — Introducing Jennifer and today's theme6:44 — When the novel idea first started tugging at her12:25 — The story that wouldn't let go17:03 — Writing with zero expectations21:25 — Capability fear vs. permission fear23:05 — Choosing self-publishing29:13 — The bio that left out the book33:59 — How Jennifer introduces herself now37:33 — Nominating Bianca Shapiro Fink39:36 — How to support Jennifer's work Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe