Tochi Onyebuchi

Warm welcome, Storytellers! If you’re looking for a super intimate space where you can meet fellow storytellers and experience what it’s like to be a part of our community, come hang out with us in our private Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea. We check in with each other on the daily, and have weekly threads where you can update each other about your work-in-progress, along with swapping recommendations for books and tv shows, and there’s a whole lot more that happens in there. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/! --------------------------------------- We are thrilled to announce we are beginning the process of building out 88 Cups of Tea’s volunteer positions and would love to hear from you if you’re passionate about 88 Cups of Tea and want to be a part of building out our future. Fill out our application here: https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/  --------------------------------------- Tochi Onyebuchi is the author of Beasts Made of Night, its sequel Crown of Thunder, War Girls, Riot Baby, and its sequel and his newest novel Rebel Sisters. In our conversation, we explore Tochi's writing process, the ways it’s evolved over time, and how he continues to find joy in the process. Tochi shares how to cultivate a specific kind of confidence that enables us to bring our story ideas to life, and how to maintain that confidence to pave way for equity in publishing. Join us for a conversation filled with crafting advice from overcoming your writing fears to plotting intricate threads in your stories and much more. Please say 'Hi' to Tochi on Twitter! https://twitter.com/tochitruestory Head over to his shownotes page at : https://88cupsoftea.com/tochi-onyebuchi to download his writing prompt and to find the resources and books mentioned in his episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome, Storytellers! If you’re looking for a super intimate space where you can meet fellow storytellers and experience what it’s like to be a part of our community, come hang out with us in our private Facebook group at <a href="http://facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea</a>. We check in with each other on the daily, and have weekly threads where you can update each other about your work-in-progress, along with swapping recommendations for books and tv shows, and there’s a whole lot more that happens in there. Join us at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/</a>! --------------------------------------- We are thrilled to announce we are beginning the process of building out 88 Cups of Tea’s volunteer positions and would love to hear from you if you’re passionate about 88 Cups of Tea and want to be a part of building out our future. Fill out our application here: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/</a> --------------------------------------- Tochi Onyebuchi is the author of <a href="https://amzn.to/37Snodw" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Beasts Made of Night</a>, its sequel <a href="https://amzn.to/2TBljKE" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Crown of Thunder</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780451481672" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">War Girls</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781250214751" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Riot Baby</a>, and its sequel and his newest novel <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781984835062" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Rebel Sisters</a>. In our conversation, we explore Tochi's writing process, the ways it’s evolved over time, and how he continues to find joy in the process. Tochi shares how to cultivate a specific kind of confidence that enables us to bring our story ideas to life, and how to maintain that confidence to pave way for equity in publishing. Join us for a conversation filled with crafting advice from overcoming your writing fears to plotting intricate threads in your stories and much more. Please say 'Hi' to Tochi on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/tochitruestory" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/tochitruestory</a> Head over to his shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/tochi-onyebuchi" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">: https://88cupsoftea.com/tochi-onyebuchi</a> to download his writing prompt and to find the resources and books mentioned in his episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Tochi Onyebuchi on Finding Joy in your Writing Process

Stacey Lee

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/ If you’re looking for a super intimate space where you can meet fellow storytellers and experience what it’s like to be a part of our community, come hang out with us in our private Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea. We check in with each other on the daily, and have weekly threads where you can update each other about your work-in-progress, along with swapping recommendations for books and tv shows, and there’s a whole lot more that happens in there. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/! --------------------------------------- We are thrilled to announce we are beginning the process of building out 88 Cups of Tea’s volunteer positions and would love to hear from you if you’re passionate about 88 Cups of Tea and want to be a part of building out our future. Fill out our application here: https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/  --------------------------------------- Stacey Lee is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary young adult fiction, including Outrun the Moon, Under a Painted Sky, The Secret of a Heart Note, and her most recent novel, The Downstairs Girl. In our conversation, Stacey reflects on how she cultivated her inner confidence as a storyteller at a young age and how it's continued to grow throughout her writing career. She opens up about the invaluable writing strategies she learned as a lawyer that helps her see the importance of every single word on the page and craft authenticity in her characters. Filled with crafting advice on detailed research processes, using metaphors to write strong protagonists, finding critique partners, and more, our conversation will be sure to spark inspiration and joy. Please say 'Hi' to Stacey on Twitter! https://twitter.com/staceyleeauthor Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/stacey-lee to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/</a> If you’re looking for a super intimate space where you can meet fellow storytellers and experience what it’s like to be a part of our community, come hang out with us in our private Facebook group at <a href="http://facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea</a>. We check in with each other on the daily, and have weekly threads where you can update each other about your work-in-progress, along with swapping recommendations for books and tv shows, and there’s a whole lot more that happens in there. Join us at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/</a>! --------------------------------------- We are thrilled to announce we are beginning the process of building out 88 Cups of Tea’s volunteer positions and would love to hear from you if you’re passionate about 88 Cups of Tea and want to be a part of building out our future. Fill out our application here: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/</a> --------------------------------------- Stacey Lee is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary young adult fiction, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780147516916" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Outrun the Moon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780147511843" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Under a Painted Sky</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062428325" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret of a Heart Note</a>, and her most recent novel, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781524740955" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Downstairs Girl</a>. In our conversation, Stacey reflects on how she cultivated her inner confidence as a storyteller at a young age and how it's continued to grow throughout her writing career. She opens up about the invaluable writing strategies she learned as a lawyer that helps her see the importance of every single word on the page and craft authenticity in her characters. Filled with crafting advice on detailed research processes, using metaphors to write strong protagonists, finding critique partners, and more, our conversation will be sure to spark inspiration and joy. Please say 'Hi' to Stacey on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/staceyleeauthor" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/staceyleeauthor</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/stacey-lee" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/stacey-lee</a> to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Stacey Lee On Uncovering Untold Stories

Kat Cho

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/ If you’re looking for a super intimate space where you can meet fellow storytellers and experience what it’s like to be a part of our community, come hang out with us in our private Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea. We check in with each other on the daily, and have weekly threads where you can update each other about your work-in-progress, along with swapping recommendations for books and tv shows, and there’s a whole lot more that happens in there. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/! --------------------------------------- We are thrilled to announce we are beginning the process of building out 88 Cups of Tea’s volunteer positions and would love to hear from you if you’re passionate about 88 Cups of Tea and want to be a part of building out our future. Fill out our application here: https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/  --------------------------------------- Kat Cho is the international bestselling author of Wicked Fox and Vicious Spirits and the co-host of the Write or Die Podcast. In our conversation, we reflect on our experiences navigating the pandemic as a human, a creative, and an author. Kat shines a light on the act of writing as a transformative source of solace and joy in the most challenging of times as we discuss her journey moving through grief, and fleshing out her stories that emerged from the rawest heartbreak that evolved into the most powerful form of hope. In a conversation lined with transparency and vulnerability, Kat shares wisdom on the human experience beyond her years.  Please say 'Hi' to Kat on Twitter! https://twitter.com/KatChoHead over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/kat-cho to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/</a> If you’re looking for a super intimate space where you can meet fellow storytellers and experience what it’s like to be a part of our community, come hang out with us in our private Facebook group at <a href="http://facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea</a>. We check in with each other on the daily, and have weekly threads where you can update each other about your work-in-progress, along with swapping recommendations for books and tv shows, and there’s a whole lot more that happens in there. Join us at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/</a>! --------------------------------------- We are thrilled to announce we are beginning the process of building out 88 Cups of Tea’s volunteer positions and would love to hear from you if you’re passionate about 88 Cups of Tea and want to be a part of building out our future. Fill out our application here: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/volunteer/</a> --------------------------------------- Kat Cho is the international bestselling author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781984812346" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Wicked Fox</a> and <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781984812377" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Vicious Spirits</a> and the co-host of the <a href="https://writeordiepodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Write or Die Podcast</a>. In our conversation, we reflect on our experiences navigating the pandemic as a human, a creative, and an author. Kat shines a light on the act of writing as a transformative source of solace and joy in the most challenging of times as we discuss her journey moving through grief, and fleshing out her stories that emerged from the rawest heartbreak that evolved into the most powerful form of hope. In a conversation lined with transparency and vulnerability, Kat shares wisdom on the human experience beyond her years.  Please say 'Hi' to Kat on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/KatCho" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/KatCho</a>Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/kat-cho" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/kat-cho</a> to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Kat Cho on Writing as a Source of Solace and Joy

Yusef Salaam

Lelina Chang

Ibi Zoboi

Warm welcome to our new listeners, you can follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. And join our private Facebook group to experience the warmth and encouragement of our community first-hand!  ---------------------------------------  In this special edition 88 Cups of Tea podcast episode, we feature National Book Award Finalist Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam of The Exonerated Five in conversation with 88 Cups of Tea guest-host Lelina Chang, an advocate whose work is focused on the intersection of racial equity and environmental justice.   In 1989, Dr. Yusef Salaam was just fifteen years old when he was tried and convicted in the “Central Park Jogger Case” along with four other Black and Latino boys. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. Since then, they received a multi-million-dollar settlement from the City of New York for its injustice and were profiled in award-winning films, including The Central Park Five documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon and the award-winning Netflix limited series When They See Us, written and directed by Ava DuVernay.   In our podcast episode, Lelina interviews Yusef and Ibi about their newest co-authored novel in verse Punching the Air and how the book came to fruition. Yusef talks about the power of self-purpose and hope and how his spiritual journey was mirrored through the main character Amal while Ibi shares how she embraced and holistically weaved Yusef‘s stories and philosophies to craft a story told from a young Muslim, Black boy’s point of view. Further in, they break down and analyze two influential poems in the novel that speak to Yusef’s experience being boxed in with his thoughts and his own devices in his jail cell, and the power DNA has to tie individuals to the collective injustices of the past. Ibi shares how crafting her poems in different shapes and forms helps bring to life the meaning of the poems on the page. And later, they discuss what it means to bring about diversity with diversity and the crucial work that still needs to be done to create a holistic representation of communities of color in the literary world.  Please say 'Hi' to Yusef Salaam on Twitter! https://twitter.com/dr_yusefsalaam Please say 'Hi' to Ibi Zoboi on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ibizoboi Head over to their shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/yusef-and-ibi/ to find the resources and books mentioned in their episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, you can <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. And <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">join our private Facebook group</a> to experience the warmth and encouragement of our community first-hand!  --------------------------------------- In this special edition 88 Cups of Tea podcast episode, we feature National Book Award Finalist Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam of The Exonerated Five in conversation with 88 Cups of Tea guest-host Lelina Chang, an advocate whose work is focused on the intersection of racial equity and environmental justice. In 1989, Dr. Yusef Salaam was just fifteen years old when he was tried and convicted in the “Central Park Jogger Case” along with four other Black and Latino boys. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. Since then, they received a multi-million-dollar settlement from the City of New York for its injustice and were profiled in award-winning films, including <a href="https://amzn.to/3bkLQnz" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Central Park Five</a> documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon and the award-winning Netflix limited series <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80200549" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">When They See Us</a>, written and directed by Ava DuVernay. In our podcast episode, Lelina interviews Yusef and Ibi about their newest co-authored novel in verse <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062996480" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Punching the Air</a> and how the book came to fruition. Yusef talks about the power of self-purpose and hope and how his spiritual journey was mirrored through the main character Amal while Ibi shares how she embraced and holistically weaved Yusef‘s stories and philosophies to craft a story told from a young Muslim, Black boy’s point of view. Further in, they break down and analyze two influential poems in the novel that speak to Yusef’s experience being boxed in with his thoughts and his own devices in his jail cell, and the power DNA has to tie individuals to the collective injustices of the past. Ibi shares how crafting her poems in different shapes and forms helps bring to life the meaning of the poems on the page. And later, they discuss what it means to bring about diversity with diversity and the crucial work that still needs to be done to create a holistic representation of communities of color in the literary world. Please say 'Hi' to Yusef Salaam on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/dr_yusefsalaam" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/dr_yusefsalaam</a> Please say 'Hi' to Ibi Zoboi on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/ibizoboi" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/ibizoboi</a> Head over to their shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/?p=11137" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/yusef-and-ibi/</a> to find the resources and books mentioned in their episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam In Conversation With Lelina Chang

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/ You can follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious about the different roles of an editor? How they help authors transform their stories and make them come alive? How about the ways to break into the publishing industry as an editor or literary agent? Or tips for crafting a strong query letter and the value a literary agent will bring to your career? We talk about it all and more with Molly O'Neill. Molly is a literary agent with Root Literary. Books that Molly has worked on have gone on to become #1 New York Times Bestsellers, have been made into major motion pictures, and received countless awards, honors, and accolades. Most recently, her clients’ books have been honored to receive National Book Awards longlist nomination, the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, the Schneider Family Book Award, and as ALA Odyssey Honors for Audiobooks and Goodreads Choice Awards nominees, among many others.  In part 2 of our conversation, we discuss how she discovers and pursues new writing talent and matches them with the best editor to help their stories come alive. She shares how an author’s social media presence and writing competition victories can be a path to grabbing a literary agent’s attention but it’s not the only journey an aspiring author has to take and that spending your energy on making your writing the best it can be is the most important aspect. Further in, Molly talks about the query letters that have stood out to her the most and tips for improving your own query letters. She lists helpful writing and publishing resources you won’t want to miss, how supporting and contributing to the publishing community will help you create connections and opportunities, and smart financial moves to make when you receive your first book advance. And later, we talk about how your relationship with writing can change when your writing hobby turns into your job, the role self-awareness plays as you’re trying to reach your writing goals, and strategies for finding inspiration and uncovering the story you've always been meant to tell. Please say 'Hi' to Molly on Twitter! https://twitter.com/molly_oneill Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/molly-oneill to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/</a> You can <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious about the different roles of an editor? How they help authors transform their stories and make them come alive? How about the ways to break into the publishing industry as an editor or literary agent? Or tips for crafting a strong query letter and the value a literary agent will bring to your career? We talk about it all and more with Molly O'Neill. Molly is a literary agent with <a href="https://www.rootliterary.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Root Literary</a>. Books that Molly has worked on have gone on to become #1 New York Times Bestsellers, have been made into major motion pictures, and received countless awards, honors, and accolades. Most recently, her clients’ books have been honored to receive National Book Awards longlist nomination, the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, the Schneider Family Book Award, and as ALA Odyssey Honors for Audiobooks and Goodreads Choice Awards nominees, among many others.  In part 2 of our conversation, we discuss how she discovers and pursues new writing talent and matches them with the best editor to help their stories come alive. She shares how an author’s social media presence and writing competition victories can be a path to grabbing a literary agent’s attention but it’s not the only journey an aspiring author has to take and that spending your energy on making your writing the best it can be is the most important aspect. Further in, Molly talks about the query letters that have stood out to her the most and tips for improving your own query letters. She lists helpful writing and publishing resources you won’t want to miss, how supporting and contributing to the publishing community will help you create connections and opportunities, and smart financial moves to make when you receive your first book advance. And later, we talk about how your relationship with writing can change when your writing hobby turns into your job, the role self-awareness plays as you’re trying to reach your writing goals, and strategies for finding inspiration and uncovering the story you've always been meant to tell. Please say 'Hi' to Molly on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/molly_oneill" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/molly_oneill</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/molly-oneill" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/molly-oneill</a> to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Molly O'Neill On The Roles Of A Literary Agent Part 2

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/ You can follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious about the different roles of an editor? How they help authors transform their stories and make them come alive? How about the ways to break into the publishing industry as an editor or literary agent? We talk about it all and more with Molly O’Neill. Molly is a literary agent with Root Literary. Books that Molly has worked on have gone on to become #1 New York Times Bestsellers, have been made into major motion pictures, and received countless awards, honors, and accolades. Most recently, her clients’ books have been honored to receive National Book Awards longlist nomination, the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, the Schneider Family Book Award, and as ALA Odyssey Honors for Audiobooks and Goodreads Choice Awards nominees, among many others.  Molly shared so much wisdom, industry-knowledge, and publishing advice that we had to make her episode a two-parter!  In the first part of our conversation, Molly talks about the power of story and how it helped created bonds between her and her loved ones. She talks about her love for children’s books, how the publishing industry helps establish relationships between stories and humans, and the steps she took to break into the publishing industry. Further in, she discusses how she became the editor for the Divergent Series and the importance of editing or representing books you love versus books that are on-trend. She gives us an in-depth look at the many roles editors hold like helping authors’ stories come alive on the page, acting as the book’s advocate to sales reps, and being an advocate for the readers so they have a great reading experience. And later, Molly begins to tell us how she moved from editor to literary agent! Please say 'Hi' to Molly on Twitter! https://twitter.com/molly_oneill Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/molly-oneill to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/</a> You can <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious about the different roles of an editor? How they help authors transform their stories and make them come alive? How about the ways to break into the publishing industry as an editor or literary agent? We talk about it all and more with Molly O’Neill. Molly is a literary agent with <a href="https://www.rootliterary.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Root Literary</a>. Books that Molly has worked on have gone on to become #1 New York Times Bestsellers, have been made into major motion pictures, and received countless awards, honors, and accolades. Most recently, her clients’ books have been honored to receive National Book Awards longlist nomination, the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, the Schneider Family Book Award, and as ALA Odyssey Honors for Audiobooks and Goodreads Choice Awards nominees, among many others.  Molly shared so much wisdom, industry-knowledge, and publishing advice that we had to make her episode a two-parter!  In the first part of our conversation, Molly talks about the power of story and how it helped created bonds between her and her loved ones. She talks about her love for children’s books, how the publishing industry helps establish relationships between stories and humans, and the steps she took to break into the publishing industry. Further in, she discusses how she became the editor for the <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062421371" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Divergent Series</a> and the importance of editing or representing books you love versus books that are on-trend. She gives us an in-depth look at the many roles editors hold like helping authors’ stories come alive on the page, acting as the book’s advocate to sales reps, and being an advocate for the readers so they have a great reading experience. And later, Molly begins to tell us how she moved from editor to literary agent! Please say 'Hi' to Molly on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/molly_oneill" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/molly_oneill</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/molly-oneill" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/molly-oneill</a> to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Molly O’Neill On The Roles Of A Literary Agent Part 1

Elizabeth Acevedo

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/ You can follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Want to learn experimental and playful ways to reinvent your writing process? How to confront your perfectionism when crafting your first draft? Or the ways building patterns can help you tap into your emotional needs? We talk about it all and more with Elizabeth Acevedo. Elizabeth is the New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X, With the Fire on High, and Clap When You Land. Her critically-acclaimed debut novel, The Poet X, won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She is also the recipient of the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award. She was also honored with the 2019 Pure Belpré Author Award for celebrating, affirming, and portraying Latinx culture and experience.   In our conversation, we discuss the important role that routine plays in our writing process and how it can help us connect deeper with our characters. Elizabeth shares her experience rebuilding and relearning her own routine during this pandemic and how forgiveness, kindness, and focusing on what is in her control has helped her throughout this difficult time. We then talk about disrupting our priorities to give ourselves permission to slow down and rest. And later, we discuss strategies to help us confront our writing fears and push past perfectionism to allow us to see the beauty in the entire journey from the first draft to the finished piece.  Please say 'Hi' to Elizabeth on Twitter! https://twitter.com/AcevedoWrites Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/elizabeth-acevedo to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/</a> You can <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Want to learn experimental and playful ways to reinvent your writing process? How to confront your perfectionism when crafting your first draft? Or the ways building patterns can help you tap into your emotional needs? We talk about it all and more with Elizabeth Acevedo. Elizabeth is the New York Times bestselling author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062662811" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Poet X</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062662835" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">With the Fire on High</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062882769" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Clap When You Land</a>. Her critically-acclaimed debut novel, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062662811" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Poet X</a>, won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She is also the recipient of the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award. She was also honored with the 2019 Pure Belpré Author Award for celebrating, affirming, and portraying Latinx culture and experience.   In our conversation, we discuss the important role that routine plays in our writing process and how it can help us connect deeper with our characters. Elizabeth shares her experience rebuilding and relearning her own routine during this pandemic and how forgiveness, kindness, and focusing on what is in her control has helped her throughout this difficult time. We then talk about disrupting our priorities to give ourselves permission to slow down and rest. And later, we discuss strategies to help us confront our writing fears and push past perfectionism to allow us to see the beauty in the entire journey from the first draft to the finished piece. Please say 'Hi' to Elizabeth on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/AcevedoWrites" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/AcevedoWrites</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/elizabeth-acevedo" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/elizabeth-acevedo</a> to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Elizabeth Acevedo On Disrupting Priorities

Daniel José Older

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/   You can follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious to discover the best practices for character development and plotting when crafting a series? Or how to know when it’s time to start or stop writing your story? How about the important role inspirational research serves when trying to get to the heart of your story? We talk about it all and more with Daniel José Older. Daniel is the New York Times bestselling author of the Middle-Grade historical fantasy series Dactyl Hill Squad, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, Star Wars: Last Shot, and the award-winning Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher, which won the International Latino Book Award and was shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature, the Andre Norton Award, the Locus, the Mythopoeic Award, and named one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read.  We begin our conversation discussing how he discovered his creative voice at a young age through drawing, music, and storytelling. We learn about his college days and becoming an EMT to keep him financially stable while working on his craft. We have an honest conversation about the uncertainty of relying on your writing as your main source of income and the moments of instability that it can bring.   Further in, Daniel talks about his path to becoming a published author, pushing past rejection, and the importance of mentorship and community during this time. He shares plotting and character development tips for writing a series and the important role inspirational research serves when crafting your stories.  And later, we talk about how writing is about listening to yourself and to those around you, being intentional about knowing when to start and stop your story, and why it’s crucial to understand what’s most important in your story so you can be committed to the things that matter the most and be flexible to change other parts to ultimately get to the heart of your story.  Please say 'Hi' to Daniel on Twitter! https://twitter.com/djolder Head over to his shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/daniel-jose-older to find the resources and books mentioned in his episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/</a> You can <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious to discover the best practices for character development and plotting when crafting a series? Or how to know when it’s time to start or stop writing your story? How about the important role inspirational research serves when trying to get to the heart of your story? We talk about it all and more with Daniel José Older. Daniel is the New York Times bestselling author of the Middle-Grade historical fantasy series <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781338268829" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Dactyl Hill Squad</a>, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780525622147" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Star Wars: Last Shot</a>, and the award-winning Young Adult series the <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781338032475" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Shadowshaper Cypher</a>, which won the International Latino Book Award and was shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature, the Andre Norton Award, the Locus, the Mythopoeic Award, and named one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read.  We begin our conversation discussing how he discovered his creative voice at a young age through drawing, music, and storytelling. We learn about his college days and becoming an EMT to keep him financially stable while working on his craft. We have an honest conversation about the uncertainty of relying on your writing as your main source of income and the moments of instability that it can bring.   Further in, Daniel talks about his path to becoming a published author, pushing past rejection, and the importance of mentorship and community during this time. He shares plotting and character development tips for writing a series and the important role inspirational research serves when crafting your stories.  And later, we talk about how writing is about listening to yourself and to those around you, being intentional about knowing when to start and stop your story, and why it’s crucial to understand what’s most important in your story so you can be committed to the things that matter the most and be flexible to change other parts to ultimately get to the heart of your story.  Please say 'Hi' to Daniel on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/djolder" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/djolder</a> Head over to his shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/daniel-jose-older" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/daniel-jose-older</a> to find the resources and books mentioned in his episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Daniel José Older On Reaching The Heart Of Your Story

Hi Storytellers, listen in on the latest episode split into two different segments.  First segment, it's just you and me. Head over to our page of resources as mentioned in this segment: https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/ Second segment, we're pulling our conversation with Jacqueline Woodson out of the archives.  Please say 'Hi' to Jacqueline on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/JackieWoodson Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/jacqueline-woodson to find books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Hi Storytellers, listen in on the latest episode split into two different segments.  First segment, it's just you and me. Head over to our page of resources as mentioned in this segment: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/learn/</a> Second segment, we're pulling our conversation with Jacqueline Woodson out of the archives.  Please say 'Hi' to Jacqueline on Twitter here: <a href="https://twitter.com/JackieWoodson" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/JackieWoodson</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/jacqueline-woodson" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/jacqueline-woodson</a> to find books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Let's talk

Kelly Yang

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Kelly’s episode is edited from a livestream we recorded back in March. Please note that the audio quality isn’t as clear as it’s pulled from our livestream, and you’ll hear some popping sounds in the background which were notifications from the live commenting during the livestream, but the content is so important especially during these times so don’t let the audio quality get in the way!  If you’d like to watch our full 2-hour live streamed conversation, head on over to Kelly’s shownotes page at 88cupsoftea.com/kelly-yang! ---------------------------------------   How do we move through these arduous times? How are writers sustaining creativity? How does one determine when there’s enough research to begin drafting? We discuss these topics and more with Kelly Yang.    Kelly is the award-wining author of Front Desk, the winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, her newly released YA novel Parachutes, and her upcoming book and sequel of Front Desk - Three Keys.  Kelly and I kick off our conversation diving into Kelly’s experience during Covid-19 as an Asian-American, how she is feeding her creativity during this challenging time, ways she is trying to keep herself and her family emotionally healthy, and how she has redefined her self-care. She also shares ways in which we all can help combat the horrible racism and discrimination in our communities brought about from Covid-19. Further in, she shares her writing journey and her experience so far publishing Asian-American stories. She gives us a snapshot of her newly released novel Parachutes and a glimpse into her research process drawing from personal experiences and gathering stories from other parachute children. We discuss how to determine when you have compiled enough research to jump into your story, and how drafting the first few chapters of a story idea before committing to writing the whole book can help you figure out if it’s the perfect story for you. And later, Kelly drops some real-talk about making an income as a creative, shares her golden rule in life that’ll inspire you to not give up on your projects, and steps you can take to reach your writing goals, especially during this challenging time.  Please say 'Hi' to Kelly on Twitter! https://twitter.com/kellyyanghk Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/kelly-yang to download Kelly's writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Kelly’s episode is edited from a livestream we recorded back in March. Please note that the audio quality isn’t as clear as it’s pulled from our livestream, and you’ll hear some popping sounds in the background which were notifications from the live commenting during the livestream, but the content is so important especially during these times so don’t let the audio quality get in the way!  If you’d like to watch our full 2-hour live streamed conversation, head on over to Kelly’s shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/kelly-yang" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">88cupsoftea.com/kelly-yang</a>! --------------------------------------- How do we move through these arduous times? How are writers sustaining creativity? How does one determine when there’s enough research to begin drafting? We discuss these topics and more with Kelly Yang. Kelly is the award-wining author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781338157826" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Front Desk</a>, the winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, her newly released YA novel <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062941084" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Parachutes</a>, and her upcoming book and sequel of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9781338157826" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Front Desk</a> - Three Keys.  Kelly and I kick off our conversation diving into Kelly’s experience during Covid-19 as an Asian-American, how she is feeding her creativity during this challenging time, ways she is trying to keep herself and her family emotionally healthy, and how she has redefined her self-care. She also shares ways in which we all can help combat the horrible racism and discrimination in our communities brought about from Covid-19. Further in, she shares her writing journey and her experience so far publishing Asian-American stories. She gives us a snapshot of her newly released novel <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/3063/9780062941084" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Parachutes</a> and a glimpse into her research process drawing from personal experiences and gathering stories from other parachute children. We discuss how to determine when you have compiled enough research to jump into your story, and how drafting the first few chapters of a story idea before committing to writing the whole book can help you figure out if it’s the perfect story for you. And later, Kelly drops some real-talk about making an income as a creative, shares her golden rule in life that’ll inspire you to not give up on your projects, and steps you can take to reach your writing goals, especially during this challenging time. Please say 'Hi' to Kelly on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/kellyyanghk" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/kellyyanghk</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/kelly-yang" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/kelly-yang</a> to download Kelly's writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Kelly Yang on Persevering Through Unprecedented Times

Love all things upbeat, warm, and uplifting? Welcome to 88 Cups of Tea, an online platform and podcast for creative writers who look for guidance in their storytelling journey and connection to a community, fostering year-round conversations around the personal and professional life of a writer. Our podcast episodes and online essays and articles explore and unpack conversations that touch on topics like overcoming rejections and challenges, querying tips and crafting advice, lifestyle habits that support the heart and the soul, what it means to be Human while navigating a creative path, and more. We pride ourselves in nurturing a supportive environment that aims to encourage, inspire, and entertain. Check out our website 88cupsoftea.com for essays, articles, and access to nearly 200 podcast episodes!

A fun, high-energy listen with in-depth interviews with your favorite writers talking craft, career and life. I listen while walking my dog and the hour flies by. This is a must for all aspiring writers. I guarantee you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a new commitment to your writing every time.

Fun, fast and usefu

This podcast inspires me more and more each day! I adore it.

Amazing Podcast

Love all things upbeat, warm, and uplifting? Welcome to 88 Cups of Tea, an online platform and podcast for creative writers who look for guidance in their storytelling journey and connection to a community, fostering year-round conversations around the personal and professional life of a writer. Our podcast episodes and online essays and articles explore and unpack conversations that touch on topics like overcoming rejections and challenges, querying tips and crafting advice, lifestyle habits that support the heart and the soul, what it means to be Human while navigating a creative path, and more. We pride ourselves in nurturing a supportive environment that aims to encourage, inspire, and entertain. Check out our website <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">88cupsoftea.com</a> for essays, articles, and access to nearly 200 podcast episodes!

88 Cups of Tea

TOMI ADEYEMI

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea --- You have no idea how excited I am to have Tomi Adeyemi on our show! Tomi is the author of Children of Blood and Bone, a West African-inspired fantasy debut and the first novel in her trilogy that conjures a world of magic and danger, perfect for any of you fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir. It’s been described as “powerful” and “captivating” and Tomi has been hailed as one of the most promising voices in young adult fiction. Entertainment Weekly describes “Children of Blood and Bone” as “a phenomenon” and it landed one of the biggest YA debut novel publishing deals ever. Way before her novel was even released, her entire fantasy trilogy landed a deal to be made into movies produced by the team at Fox 2000 and Temple Hill Productions, the same team who produced the movies “The Fault in Our Stars,” and “Twilight”. “Children of Blood and Bone” releases on March 6th so be sure to grab yourselves a copy to see what everyone’s talking about! In today’s episode, we discuss ALL things “Children of Blood and Bone”, from the story behind the title, to her research, and writing process. Tomi even shares her resources that helped her world building process in the novel. We discuss how Tomi’s awareness of poor representation in her earlier stories inspired her to craft strong representation for her readers, why it’s crucial to recognize our responsibility to give younger generations true representation that creates self-love, and the power a story has to create empathy in humanity and to open our eyes to possibility. For those of you who are currently writing your own manuscripts, you’ll really appreciate all of the helpful and detailed advice Tomi shares for our storyteller community. She walks us through how to craft character descriptions, all about first drafts, how to use rejections to further your story’s success, advice on finding mentors and editors who can help get your story to where you want it to be, and so much more. Say 'Hi' to Tomi on Twitter and she'll be taking over our Instagram stories for the release of her episode and it’s going to be AWESOME. Be sure to catch her takeover by clicking here! Happy Listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! ---  “Storytelling became this way to get everything I wanted, so I just kept doing it.”  -Tomi Adeyemi (Click to tweet) “Books are amazing. You explain something so internal, but in such a universal way, that everybody can understand it.” -Tomi Adeyemi (Click to tweet) “The best editors help you write the story you thought you wrote the first time.” -Tomi Adeyemi (Click to tweet) “It has been a dream, but it has also been a crazy amount of work, as it should be.” -Tomi Adeyemi (Click to tweet) “The more you write and the more you revise, the more you discover exactly what you need.” -Tomi Adeyemi (Click to tweet) “When you arm yourself with knowledge, everything feels possible.” -Tomi Adeyemi (Click to tweet)  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:   How Tomi’s awareness of poor representation in earlier stories inspired her to craft strong representation for her readers  Why it’s crucial to recognize our responsibility to give younger generations true representation that creates self-love  How to craft beautiful character descriptions  Advice on staying current in your genre and in the publishing world  How to use rejections to further your story’s success  The power a story has to create empathy in humanity and to open our eyes to possibility A detailed look into Tomi’s research and writing process  Advice on finding mentors and editors who can help get your story to where you want it to be  What is Pitch Wars, how it works, and Tomi’s experience  The story behind the title of “Children of Blood and Bone”  Tomi shares her experience living her dream as a debut author  How first drafts exist to give our outlines more shape  Tomi shares her resources that helped her world building process in “Children of Blood and Bone”  

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a> --- You have no idea how excited I am to have Tomi Adeyemi on our show! Tomi is the author of Children of Blood and Bone, a West African-inspired fantasy debut and the first novel in her trilogy that conjures a world of magic and danger, perfect for any of you fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir. It’s been described as “powerful” and “captivating” and Tomi has been hailed as one of the most promising voices in young adult fiction. Entertainment Weekly describes “Children of Blood and Bone” as “a phenomenon” and it landed one of the biggest YA debut novel publishing deals ever. Way before her novel was even released, her entire fantasy trilogy landed a deal to be made into movies produced by the team at Fox 2000 and Temple Hill Productions, the same team who produced the movies “The Fault in Our Stars,” and “Twilight”. “Children of Blood and Bone” releases on March 6th so be sure to grab yourselves a copy to see what everyone’s talking about! In today’s episode, we discuss ALL things “Children of Blood and Bone”, from the story behind the title, to her research, and writing process. Tomi even shares her resources that helped her world building process in the novel. We discuss how Tomi’s awareness of poor representation in her earlier stories inspired her to craft strong representation for her readers, why it’s crucial to recognize our responsibility to give younger generations true representation that creates self-love, and the power a story has to create empathy in humanity and to open our eyes to possibility. For those of you who are currently writing your own manuscripts, you’ll really appreciate all of the helpful and detailed advice Tomi shares for our storyteller community. She walks us through how to craft character descriptions, all about first drafts, how to use rejections to further your story’s success, advice on finding mentors and editors who can help get your story to where you want it to be, and so much more. Say 'Hi' to Tomi on <a href="https://twitter.com/Tomi_Adeyemi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and she'll be taking over our Instagram stories for the release of her episode and it’s going to be AWESOME. Be sure to catch her takeover by <a href="http://instagram.com/88cupsoftea" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> Happy Listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive</a> of episodes by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> ---  “Storytelling became this way to get everything I wanted, so I just kept doing it.”  -Tomi Adeyemi <a href="https://ctt.ec/v17BF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a> “Books are amazing. You explain something so internal, but in such a universal way, that everybody can understand it.” -Tomi Adeyemi <a href="https://ctt.ec/Ot4o9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a> “The best editors help you write the story you thought you wrote the first time.” -Tomi Adeyemi <a href="https://ctt.ec/74S2Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a> “It has been a dream, but it has also been a crazy amount of work, as it should be.” -Tomi Adeyemi <a href="https://ctt.ec/P74bU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a> “The more you write and the more you revise, the more you discover exactly what you need.” -Tomi Adeyemi <a href="https://ctt.ec/0b7Ji" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a> “When you arm yourself with knowledge, everything feels possible.” -Tomi Adeyemi <a href="https://ctt.ec/8KM68" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a>  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:  <ul> <li>How Tomi’s awareness of poor representation in earlier stories inspired her to craft strong representation for her readers </li> <li>Why it’s crucial to recognize our responsibility to give younger generations true representation that creates self-love </li> <li>How to craft beautiful character descriptions </li> <li>Advice on staying current in your genre and in the publishing world </li> <li>How to use rejections to further your story’s success </li> <li>The power a story has to create empathy in humanity and to open our eyes to possibility</li> <li>A detailed look into Tomi’s research and writing process </li> <li>Advice on finding mentors and editors who can help get your story to where you want it to be </li> <li>What is Pitch Wars, how it works, and Tomi’s experience </li> <li>The story behind the title of “Children of Blood and Bone” </li> <li>Tomi shares her experience living her dream as a debut author </li> <li>How first drafts exist to give our outlines more shape </li> <li>Tomi shares her resources that helped her world building process in “Children of Blood and Bone” </li> </ul>

TOMI ADEYEMI: Storytelling with Heart and Soul

Holly Root

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea --------------------------- Are you curious the kind of work that goes into starting a literary agency? Wondering how Holly strategizes career planning with her authors? Want to know what happens when a client’s book doesn’t sell? We get into all of it and so much more with today’s guest Holly Root. Holly has launched over two dozen New York Times bestsellers before founding Root Literary in 2017 where she represents authors of fiction for adults, teens, and children, along with select nonfiction. In today’s episode, Holly walks us through how she first fell in love with the world of storytelling, what she studied in school, and how her path led her to become one of the most successful literary agents today. We deep-dive into the origin story of how she first started Root Literary agency. We touch on what Root Literary does for their clients and how they embrace and encourage the business side of their author clients. This is an absolute must-listen for Storytellers looking out for their own careers and looking into agent representation.  Say 'Hi' to Holly on Twitter @HROOT! Keep tabs on Root Literary on Twitter @ROOTLITERARY! To access her shownotes page, head over to 88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/HOLLY-ROOT! ------ Click here to read our 3-year anniversary event summary by Olivia Liu weaved in with photos by Melora Chang! Make sure you don't miss out on our feature article "Letting the Ghosts In" by J.C. Cervantes, click here to read it!

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a> --------------------------- Are you curious the kind of work that goes into starting a literary agency? Wondering how Holly strategizes career planning with her authors? Want to know what happens when a client’s book doesn’t sell? We get into all of it and so much more with today’s guest Holly Root. Holly has launched over two dozen New York Times bestsellers before founding Root Literary in 2017 where she represents authors of fiction for adults, teens, and children, along with select nonfiction. In today’s episode, Holly walks us through how she first fell in love with the world of storytelling, what she studied in school, and how her path led her to become one of the most successful literary agents today. We deep-dive into the origin story of how she first started Root Literary agency. We touch on what Root Literary does for their clients and how they embrace and encourage the business side of their author clients. This is an absolute must-listen for Storytellers looking out for their own careers and looking into agent representation.  Say 'Hi' to Holly on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/hroot" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@HROOT!</a> Keep tabs on Root Literary on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/RootLiterary" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@ROOTLITERARY!</a> To access her shownotes page, head over to <a href="http://88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/HOLLY-ROOT!" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/HOLLY-ROOT!</a> ------ <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/cheers-to-three-years/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read our 3-year anniversary event summary by Olivia Liu weaved in with photos by Melora Chang! Make sure you don't miss out on our feature article "Letting the Ghosts In" by J.C. Cervantes, <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/letting-the-ghosts-in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to read it!

HOLLY ROOT: Entrepreneurial Mindset as a Literary Agent and as an Author

V.E. SCHWAB

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea  ----------------- Finally, we're releasing the full, non-edited 3 hour long conversation with V.E. Schwab. This bonus episode is proudly brought to you by Fab Fit Fun! (Be sure to use the promo code 'TEA' for $10 off your first box)  Say 'Hi' to V.E. Schwab on Twitter! ---   Have you checked out our archive of episodes by yet?

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a>  ----------------- Finally, we're releasing the full, non-edited 3 hour long conversation with V.E. Schwab. This bonus episode is proudly brought to you by <a href="http://www.fabfitfun.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fab Fit Fun!</a> (Be sure to use the promo code 'TEA' for $10 off your first box)  Say 'Hi' to V.E. Schwab on <a href="https://twitter.com/veschwab" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter!</a> ---   Have you checked out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive of episodes by yet?</a>

V.E. SCHWAB: Bonus Full Episode

Marissa Meyer

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious about crafting rich settings and characters in your stories? How about becoming a better critique partner and giving valuable feedback? Or how sparking more joy in your life can leave an impactful influence on your craft? We talk about it all and more with Marissa Meyer. Marissa is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Renegades, Archenemies, Heartless, The Lunar Chronicles, and her newly released novel, Supernova, the final book of her Renegades series.  In our conversation, Marissa shares how she intuitively navigates the business side of the publishing world while also giving us a snapshot of her inspiring writing and querying process for her novel Cinder. If you’re about to jump into the querying trenches - you definitely don’t want to miss this part of our conversation. We then chat about support systems and their important role in our creative pursuits, why it’s so crucial to carve out time for fun in our writing process, and how diverse representation in children’s literacy is helping to change negative stigmas. Further into our conversation, we chat about The Lunar Chronicles series, how she transitions from one popular series to another, and how to balance crafting rich worlds and character development.  Storytellers, be sure to check out the incredible writing prompt that Marissa crafted just for our community. To download it, head over to her shownotes page at  https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/marissa-meyer/. Please say 'Hi' to Marissa on Twitter! https://twitter.com/marissa_meyer Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/marissa-meyer/. ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious about crafting rich settings and characters in your stories? How about becoming a better critique partner and giving valuable feedback? Or how sparking more joy in your life can leave an impactful influence on your craft? We talk about it all and more with Marissa Meyer. Marissa is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Renegades-Marissa-Meyer/dp/1250044669/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1574810217&amp;sr=8-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=8c534ebb5b5944170eba7ece4374f415&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Renegades</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Archenemies-Renegades-Marissa-Meyer/dp/125007830X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=125007830X&amp;pd_rd_r=d4352787-4ccc-4a74-8bfb-9344034ff72b&amp;pd_rd_w=sfsi6&amp;pd_rd_wg=M8lb1&amp;pf_rd_p=09627863-9889-4290-b90a-5e9f86682449&amp;pf_rd_r=2BWFSEFF251SPEJ12NX0&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=2BWFSEFF251SPEJ12NX0&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=753649c5d46a78ba4f9b862662bbe9d9&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Archenemies</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heartless-Marissa-Meyer/dp/1250044650/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1574811066&amp;sr=1-1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=4b6787f2657a5b74a81b818e38f99127&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Heartless</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lunar-Chronicles-Boxed-Set-Scarlet/dp/1250131588/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=1R2NCSNVJ52JU&amp;keywords=the+lunar+chronicles&amp;qid=1574811131&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=the+lunar+ch,stripbooks,191&amp;sr=1-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=59809e7889ee1ae9842478b9120701ca&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Lunar Chronicles</a>, and her newly released novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Supernova-Marissa-Meyer/dp/1250078385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=169b4febd214950d79878bcfb1c3be43&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Supernova</a>, the final book of her <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Renegades-Marissa-Meyer/dp/1250044669/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1574810217&amp;sr=8-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=8c534ebb5b5944170eba7ece4374f415&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Renegades</a> series.  In our conversation, Marissa shares how she intuitively navigates the business side of the publishing world while also giving us a snapshot of her inspiring writing and querying process for her novel <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Marissa-Meyer/dp/0312641893/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1574704127&amp;sr=1-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=e586d70f33e79482acccc0b295150bf0&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Cinder</a>. If you’re about to jump into the querying trenches - you definitely don’t want to miss this part of our conversation. We then chat about support systems and their important role in our creative pursuits, why it’s so crucial to carve out time for fun in our writing process, and how diverse representation in children’s literacy is helping to change negative stigmas. Further into our conversation, we chat about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lunar-Chronicles-Boxed-Set-Scarlet/dp/1250131588/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=1R2NCSNVJ52JU&amp;keywords=the+lunar+chronicles&amp;qid=1574811131&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=the+lunar+ch,stripbooks,191&amp;sr=1-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=59809e7889ee1ae9842478b9120701ca&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lunar-Chronicles-Boxed-Set-Scarlet/dp/1250131588/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=1R2NCSNVJ52JU&amp;keywords=the+lunar+chronicles&amp;qid=1574811131&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=the+lunar+ch,stripbooks,191&amp;sr=1-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=59809e7889ee1ae9842478b9120701ca&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Lunar Chronicles</a> series, how she transitions from one popular series to another, and how to balance crafting rich worlds and character development. Storytellers, be sure to check out the incredible writing prompt that Marissa crafted just for our community. To download it, head over to her shownotes page at  <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/marissa-meyer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/marissa-meyer/</a>. Please say 'Hi' to Marissa on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/marissa_meyer" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/marissa_meyer</a> Head over to her shownotes page at<a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/marissa-meyer/." rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/marissa-meyer/.</a> ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Marissa Meyer on Finding Joy in Your Story

Maggie Stiefvater

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Having trouble pushing past emotional fatigue and brain fog to reach your writing goals? Yearning to craft vivid characters with emotional resonance? Seeking writing tips on plotting a series that still gives you the freedom to explore different storylines? We talk about it all and more with Maggie Stiefvater. Maggie is the #1 NYT Bestselling author of The Raven Cycle series, the Shiver trilogy, The Scorpio Races, and other novels for young people and adults. In our conversation, Maggie shares her love for storytelling and gives us a snapshot of her self-taught journey to becoming a best selling author. She chats about her love of music and how she weaves that in with her love of writing. We talk about the most difficult challenge Maggie’s had in her life and from that, we were inspired to discuss how to overcome brain fog and emotional fatigue to reach your writing goals. Further into our conversation, we chat about breaking down societal norms in her writing, how to craft vivid descriptions in your stories for emotional resonance, and how she plotted out her series that still gave her freedom to explore other storylines. She also shares the biggest piece of advice for debut writers that you don’t want to miss.   Be sure to check out the writing prompt that Maggie took the time to exclusive create for our community at the bottom of the page. Her writing prompt will help you if you’re stuck on the very first chapter of a new project. Please say 'Hi' to Maggie on Twitter! https://twitter.com/mstiefvater Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/maggie-stiefvater/ ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Having trouble pushing past emotional fatigue and brain fog to reach your writing goals? Yearning to craft vivid characters with emotional resonance? Seeking writing tips on plotting a series that still gives you the freedom to explore different storylines? We talk about it all and more with Maggie Stiefvater. Maggie is the #1 NYT Bestselling author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9123472995/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=7866d83f94c2fe8ff29bcaf0d2095c7d&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Raven Cycle series</a>, the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shiver-Trilogy-Boxed-Maggie-Stiefvater/dp/0545326869/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=Shiver+trilogy&amp;qid=1572354239&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=7b34bdc12eb9f60a949b0e610f219cc2&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Shiver trilogy</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545224918/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=7c5d1848448e55f84c0672a8eab94172&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Scorpio Races</a>, and other novels for young people and adults. In our conversation, Maggie shares her love for storytelling and gives us a snapshot of her self-taught journey to becoming a best selling author. She chats about her love of music and how she weaves that in with her love of writing. We talk about the most difficult challenge Maggie’s had in her life and from that, we were inspired to discuss how to overcome brain fog and emotional fatigue to reach your writing goals. Further into our conversation, we chat about breaking down societal norms in her writing, how to craft vivid descriptions in your stories for emotional resonance, and how she plotted out her series that still gave her freedom to explore other storylines. She also shares the biggest piece of advice for debut writers that you don’t want to miss.   Be sure to check out the writing prompt that Maggie took the time to exclusive create for our community at the bottom of the page. Her writing prompt will help you if you’re stuck on the very first chapter of a new project. Please say 'Hi' to Maggie on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/mstiefvater" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/mstiefvater</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href=":%20https:/88cupsoftea.com/podcast/maggie-stiefvater/%20%E2%80%8E" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/maggie-stiefvater/</a> ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

MAGGIE STIEFVATER: Staying Motivated During Challenging Times

TAMORA PIERCE

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea --------------------------------------- Have your insecurities ever driven you to writer’s block? How can we use feedback, rejection, and self-encouragement to break out of writing-related anxiety? We unpack all of that and so much more with today’s guest Tamora Pierce. Tamora, a #1 New York Times bestseller and recipient of the 2013 Margaret A. Edwards Award, is the author of Alanna: The First Adventure, Lady Knight, Wild Magic, and many, many more. Her most recent novel, Tempests and Slaughter, begins the journey into her new series called The Numair Chronicles and is out on the shelves now. In our conversation, Tamora takes us on a journey throughout her life and describes the moments she first fell in love with writing, found her passion for crafting female heroes, what she’s learned from rejection, and much more. We talk about creative block and how we can encourage ourselves to believe in our craft. Her wisdom shines through as she discusses her research process into the world of magic, how she builds dynamic characters, and how she approaches writing more serious topics for young adults.  Say 'Hi' to Tamora on:  Facebook at "Tamora Pierce, Fantasy Author"Twitter at @TamoraPierce To access her shownotes page, head over to: 88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/TAMORA-PIERCE

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a> --------------------------------------- Have your insecurities ever driven you to writer’s block? How can we use feedback, rejection, and self-encouragement to break out of writing-related anxiety? We unpack all of that and so much more with today’s guest Tamora Pierce. Tamora, a #1 New York Times bestseller and recipient of the 2013 Margaret A. Edwards Award, is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ZJCQYW/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=88cuofte0a-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B002ZJCQYW&amp;linkId=363895602767053334bfc2e47d8a263d" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Alanna: The First Adventure</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375829083/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=88cuofte0a-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0375829083&amp;linkId=a8a2fd222b41c21f0cf349e657403444" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Lady Knight</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00304XCNK/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=88cuofte0a-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B00304XCNK&amp;linkId=654546abf4d20d31bf67eb39a18186c6" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wild Magic</a>, and many, many more. Her most recent novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375847111/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=88cuofte0a-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0375847111&amp;linkId=764f08ec456dc269ba976d8b7b5aaa2b" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Tempests and Slaughter</a>, begins the journey into her new series called The Numair Chronicles and is out on the shelves now. In our conversation, Tamora takes us on a journey throughout her life and describes the moments she first fell in love with writing, found her passion for crafting female heroes, what she’s learned from rejection, and much more. We talk about creative block and how we can encourage ourselves to believe in our craft. Her wisdom shines through as she discusses her research process into the world of magic, how she builds dynamic characters, and how she approaches writing more serious topics for young adults.  Say 'Hi' to Tamora on: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Tamora-Pierce-Fantasy-Author-95235563005/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Facebook at "Tamora Pierce, Fantasy Author"</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TamoraPierce" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter at @TamoraPierce</a> To access her shownotes page, head over to: <a href="http://88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/TAMORA-PIERCE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/TAMORA-PIERCE</a>

TAMORA PIERCE: Believing In Your Craft

ERIC SMITH

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea  ----------------- Where does a literary agent find new author clients? What are specific examples of query letters that really catch an agent's attention? We get into all of that (and so much more) with today’s special guest: Eric Smith. He’s an author, blogger, podcaster, and literary agent for P.S. Literary. As an author, his first humor book, The Geek's Guide to Dating, was an Amazon 2013 Best Book of the Year selection in Humor, as well as a Best of the Year pick by PopSugar and Wired's GeekDad. He’s also the author of the young adult novels “Inked” and its sequel “Branded”. Eric’s newest Young Adult novel “The Girl and the Grove” was just released this month. You know I love picking our guests' brains, and I give Eric a million and one brownie points for being so transparent, genuine, and generous during our conversation. Say 'Hi' to Eric on Twitter and be sure to head over to his shownotes page. There's a downloadable PDF featuring a query letter guide where I compiled notes, transcriptions of examples, and quotes to help ease your querying process. Be sure to download the guide by heading over to his shownotes page and scrolling to the bottom of the page. Click here! Get ready to dive into the nitty-gritty and happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you got some awesome takeaways from this episode and would love to show your appreciation, the best way would be through any of the following:  • Grab our story idea prompts  • Contribute tokens of love • Sign up to receive email updates about 88 Cups of Tea • Subscribe to us on iTunes and leave a rating and a review • Tell your friends about our podcast and why you believe it would benefit them We dedicate a ton of heart and soul into fostering a space that encourages learning, creativity, growth, and community. The most sincerest thank you for your love and support!  --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! --- Have you checked out our archive of episodes by yet? ---  “The way you promote yourself is the way you promote other people.”  -Eric Smith   --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:   Flashback: Eric’s earliest memory of when he first fell in love with storytelling [6:00] The light-bulb moment when Eric discovered his immediate connection to the YA voice and audience [11:23] How his job at Quirk Books led to his first book deal for “The Geek’s Guide to Dating” [12:43] How to approach opportunities working in different areas of the literary world [13:41] Is it necessary for our listeners to build a digital platform for ourselves? [15:06] Fun random side note in the episode: We talk about my big road trip move from California to New York and how we were hearing about each other through the community meetups in Chicago and Ann Arbor! [17:34] What prompted Eric to look into being a literary agent [19:05] Cameo featuring the one and only Auggie [19:50] Eric’s early days as a literary agent, learning how to negotiate for his authors, and how negotiations are made [21:37] Where Eric finds new author clients to bring on [23:26] What kinds of stories attract him most when bringing on new representation [24:55] Example of a great hook used to describe a novel to editors [30:39] Eric unpacks the “hook, book, cook” idea of writing query letters and grabbing the attention of literary agents [31:15] Two specific exemplary examples of query letters that caught Eric’s attention [32:27] What comp titles are and why they’re important to include in your query letter [35:10] How Eric develops and guides his authors’ careers and his role as an agent [38:38] We dive into our listeners' Q&amp;A segment of the episode (If you'd love to submit your questions for upcoming guests, join our private Facebook group):  As a disabled writer working on an #ownvoices YA novel I would love to know: What does he feel is the most important part of a novel that is written by someone who shares their character’s marginalization? As a white cisgender person, I have a hard time writing outside of my lane mainly because I’m worried it isn’t my place. Is there any advice he can give about writing diversely, while also being respectful of the fact that you are not part of those marginalized groups? Who is more helpful as an assistant: Langston or Auggie? Positive voices can be so hard to find in the confusing, tortuous, and anxiety-riddled labyrinth that is publishing. How do you stay human in an industry that can feel at times so dehumanizing with goal posts always moving and the only certainty is uncertainty? I would love to know a little about anthology editing: How do you go about finding the authors to write the stories on the theme; where does agent representation come into it; and how you find an editor to publish the work? Does he have any tips for writers balancing full-time jobs? Please ask him how his corgi is doing for me because I am very invested thanks.   

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a>  ----------------- Where does a literary agent find new author clients? What are specific examples of query letters that really catch an agent's attention? We get into all of that (and so much more) with today’s special guest: Eric Smith. He’s an author, blogger, podcaster, and literary agent for P.S. Literary. As an author, his first humor book, The Geek's Guide to Dating, was an Amazon 2013 Best Book of the Year selection in Humor, as well as a Best of the Year pick by PopSugar and Wired's GeekDad. He’s also the author of the young adult novels “Inked” and its sequel “Branded”. Eric’s newest Young Adult novel “The Girl and the Grove” was just released this month. You know I love picking our guests' brains, and I give Eric a million and one brownie points for being so transparent, genuine, and generous during our conversation. Say 'Hi' to Eric on <a href="https://twitter.com/ericsmithrocks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and be sure to head over to his shownotes page. There's a downloadable PDF featuring a query letter guide where I compiled notes, transcriptions of examples, and quotes to help ease your querying process. Be sure to download the guide by heading over to his shownotes page and scrolling to the bottom of the page. <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/eric-smith" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here!</a> Get ready to dive into the nitty-gritty and happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you got some awesome takeaways from this episode and would love to show your appreciation, the best way would be through any of the following:  • Grab our <a href="https://gum.co/GCzEb" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">story idea prompts</a> • <a href="https://gum.co/tbsy" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Contribute tokens of love</a> •<a href="http://www.subscribepage.com/88cupsoftea" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Sign up</a> to receive email updates about 88 Cups of Tea •<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/88-cups-of-tea-with-yin-chang/id1027586565?mt=2" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Subscribe to us</a> on iTunes and leave a rating and a review • Tell your friends about our podcast and why you believe it would benefit them We dedicate a ton of heart and soul into fostering a space that encourages learning, creativity, growth, and community. The most sincerest thank you for your love and support!  --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/fbgroup/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to join our private Facebook group! --- Have you checked out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive of episodes by yet?</a> ---  “The way you promote yourself is the way you promote other people.”  -Eric Smith   --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:  <ul> <li>Flashback: Eric’s earliest memory of when he first fell in love with storytelling [6:00]</li> <li>The light-bulb moment when Eric discovered his immediate connection to the YA voice and audience [11:23]</li> <li>How his job at Quirk Books led to his first book deal for “The Geek’s Guide to Dating” [12:43]</li> <li>How to approach opportunities working in different areas of the literary world [13:41]</li> <li>Is it necessary for our listeners to build a digital platform for ourselves? [15:06]</li> <li>Fun random side note in the episode: We talk about my big road trip move from California to New York and how we were hearing about each other through the community meetups in Chicago and Ann Arbor! [17:34]</li> <li>What prompted Eric to look into being a literary agent [19:05]</li> <li>Cameo featuring the one and only Auggie [19:50]</li> <li>Eric’s early days as a literary agent, learning how to negotiate for his authors, and how negotiations are made [21:37]</li> <li>Where Eric finds new author clients to bring on [23:26]</li> <li>What kinds of stories attract him most when bringing on new representation [24:55]</li> <li>Example of a great hook used to describe a novel to editors [30:39]</li> <li>Eric unpacks the “hook, book, cook” idea of writing query letters and grabbing the attention of literary agents [31:15]</li> <li>Two specific exemplary examples of query letters that caught Eric’s attention [32:27]</li> <li>What comp titles are and why they’re important to include in your query letter [35:10]</li> <li>How Eric develops and guides his authors’ careers and his role as an agent [38:38]</li> <li>We dive into our listeners' Q&amp;A segment of the episode (If you'd love to submit your questions for upcoming guests, <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/fbgroup/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">join</a> our private Facebook group): <ul> <li>As a disabled writer working on an #ownvoices YA novel I would love to know: What does he feel is the most important part of a novel that is written by someone who shares their character’s marginalization?</li> <li>As a white cisgender person, I have a hard time writing outside of my lane mainly because I’m worried it isn’t my place. Is there any advice he can give about writing diversely, while also being respectful of the fact that you are not part of those marginalized groups?</li> <li>Who is more helpful as an assistant: Langston or Auggie?</li> <li>Positive voices can be so hard to find in the confusing, tortuous, and anxiety-riddled labyrinth that is publishing. How do you stay human in an industry that can feel at times so dehumanizing with goal posts always moving and the only certainty is uncertainty?</li> <li>I would love to know a little about anthology editing: How do you go about finding the authors to write the stories on the theme; where does agent representation come into it; and how you find an editor to publish the work?</li> <li>Does he have any tips for writers balancing full-time jobs?</li> <li>Please ask him how his corgi is doing for me because I am very invested thanks.</li> </ul> </li> </ul>

ERIC SMITH: Breaking Down the Query Letter & Life as a Literary Agent and Author

Stephanie Garber

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea  ----------------- Have you ever reached a point where you wanted to give up on your creative dreams after piles of rejections? Have you been struggling to push past a serious creative block? How about knowing when to put a story aside, and when to start a new one? We get into all of that (and so much more) with today’s special guest: Stephanie Garber. Stephanie is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of "Caraval" and "Legendary" that just released this week! Her debut novel, Caraval, has been translated into over 30 languages, and the film rights for it have been optioned by 20th Century Fox. I can’t get enough of soul-filling conversations and this chat with Stephanie fulfilled that need to a tee (or shall I say, tea?) This episode is longer than most and I promise you it’s worth every minute. Say 'Hi' to Stephanie on Twitter and be sure to head over to her shownotes page. It's PACKED with highlights of the topics that are covered from her episode along with time stamps. We also put up our favorite quotes and a list of all the helpful books and resources that she mentions throughout our conversation. Click here! Xo, Yin --- If you got some awesome takeaways from this episode and would love to show your appreciation, the best way would be through any of the following:  • Help sustain 88 Cups of Tea by making a monthly gift in any amount through our ‘tokens of love’ page  • Pick up our carefully crafted writing prompts with your gift of $10 or more • Sign up to receive email updates about 88 Cups of Tea • Subscribe to us on iTunes and leave a rating and a review • Hang out with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in our private Facebook group • Tell your friends about our podcast and why you believe it would benefit them We dedicate a ton of heart and soul into fostering a space that encourages learning, creativity, growth, and community. The most sincerest thank you for your love and support!    --- Have you checked out our archive of episodes by yet?

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a>  ----------------- Have you ever reached a point where you wanted to give up on your creative dreams after piles of rejections? Have you been struggling to push past a serious creative block? How about knowing when to put a story aside, and when to start a new one? We get into all of that (and so much more) with today’s special guest: Stephanie Garber. Stephanie is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of "Caraval" and "Legendary" that just released this week! Her debut novel, Caraval, has been translated into over 30 languages, and the film rights for it have been optioned by 20th Century Fox. I can’t get enough of soul-filling conversations and this chat with Stephanie fulfilled that need to a tee (or shall I say, tea?) This episode is longer than most and I promise you it’s worth every minute. Say 'Hi' to Stephanie on <a href="https://twitter.com/SGarberGirl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and be sure to head over to her shownotes page. It's PACKED with highlights of the topics that are covered from her episode along with time stamps. We also put up our favorite quotes and a list of all the helpful books and resources that she mentions throughout our conversation. <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/stephanie-garber" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here!</a> Xo, Yin --- If you got some awesome takeaways from this episode and would love to show your appreciation, the best way would be through any of the following:  • Help sustain 88 Cups of Tea by making a <a href="https://gum.co/tbsy" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">monthly gift in any amount</a> through our ‘tokens of love’ page  • Pick up our <a href="https://gum.co/GCzEb" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">carefully crafted writing prompts</a> with your gift of $10 or more •<a href="http://www.subscribepage.com/88cupsoftea" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Sign up</a> to receive email updates about 88 Cups of Tea •<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/88-cups-of-tea-with-yin-chang/id1027586565?mt=2" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Subscribe to us</a> on iTunes and leave a rating and a review • Hang out with us on <a href="https://twitter.com/88cupsoftea" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, or in our private <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/fbgroup/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook group</a> • Tell your friends about our podcast and why you believe it would benefit them We dedicate a ton of heart and soul into fostering a space that encourages learning, creativity, growth, and community. The most sincerest thank you for your love and support!  --- Have you checked out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive of episodes by yet?</a>

STEPHANIE GARBER: Overcoming Fear By Letting Go

Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of more than fifty novels in a diverse range of genres and categories. She has been honored with multiple awards from RT Booklovers Association and the Texas Library Association, and was honored with two spots on the 2012 “Most Favorite Books of UK Schoolchildren” list. More recently in 2017, she began writing thrillers with the huge bestsellers "Stillhouse Lake" and "Killman Creek". In early July of this year, she’ll also be releasing “Smoke and Iron”, her 4th book in the Great Library Series where she continues the adventures of her unforgettable characters from "Ink and Bone", "Paper and Fire", and "Ash and Quill". In Rachel’s episode, we discuss how she first fell into storytelling, how her musical background taught her to be in the moment with her writing, and how she met her first editor and then sold her first book. Be sure to pay special attention to the helpful advice on carving out time for your writing around a full-time job from the time management queen herself. We also dive into the details about the inspiration behind her stories that helped establish the urban fantasy genre, how she proactively gets the word out about her novels, advice on navigating the world of conventions, conferences, and school visits to promote your work, and how Rachel and her team packages her different genres to make her series distinct from one another. Further into our conversation, we discuss how to go about the writing business by taking control of your expectations, the different ways to overcome writing difficult scenes in your story, crafting a plot that interacts naturally with your characters, and advice on how to decide which point of view works best for your story. We also discuss why it’s important to keep the passion with your story alive throughout the entire process. Say 'Hi' to Rachel on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page for a list of resources mentioned in the episode by clicking here. Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! ---  “Writing is unique business in that there is so much of it that you can’t control. You can only control what you do and nothing else.”  -Rachel Caine (Click to tweet!) “You have to figure out what your expectations are and how you can best apply yourself to the process.” -Rachel Caine (Click to tweet!) "You have to learn to balance just like you balance your work and your family life and all that. You’ve got to learn how to balance writing and everything else. If it’s a matter of your health, then I think you have to choose your health.” -Rachel Caine (Click to tweet!) “As far as points of view, you pick the person to whom the story matters the most. That’s my general rule.” -Rachel Caine (Click to tweet!)  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:   How Rachel met her first editor and sold her first book A look into Rachel’s musical background that taught her how to be in the moment with her writing Ways you can carve out time for your writing while working a full-time job The importance of taking care of your health and the tips and tools that can help you stay healthy as a writer The inspiration behind Rachel Caine and her stories that helped establish the urban fantasy genre How taking control of your expectations will help you navigate the writing business How Rachel proactively promotes and gets the word out about her novels Advice on how to strategically navigate the world of conventions, conferences, and school visits to promote your work An exciting look at all the projects Rachel is currently working on How a conversation on Twitter pushed Rachel and Ann Aguirre together to craft the “Honor Among Thieves” series Ways to overcome writing difficult scenes in your story How Rachel and her team packages her different genres to make her series distinct from one another The importance of crafting a plot that interacts naturally with your characters Rachel’s experience with writing from different points of view and advice on how to decide which point of view works best for your story The importance of keeping the passion and attraction you have towards your story alive throughout the entire process 

Rachel Caine is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of more than fifty novels in a diverse range of genres and categories. She has been honored with multiple awards from RT Booklovers Association and the Texas Library Association, and was honored with two spots on the 2012 “Most Favorite Books of UK Schoolchildren” list. More recently in 2017, she began writing thrillers with the huge bestsellers "Stillhouse Lake" and "Killman Creek". In early July of this year, she’ll also be releasing “Smoke and Iron”, her 4th book in the Great Library Series where she continues the adventures of her unforgettable characters from "Ink and Bone", "Paper and Fire", and "Ash and Quill". In Rachel’s episode, we discuss how she first fell into storytelling, how her musical background taught her to be in the moment with her writing, and how she met her first editor and then sold her first book. Be sure to pay special attention to the helpful advice on carving out time for your writing around a full-time job from the time management queen herself. We also dive into the details about the inspiration behind her stories that helped establish the urban fantasy genre, how she proactively gets the word out about her novels, advice on navigating the world of conventions, conferences, and school visits to promote your work, and how Rachel and her team packages her different genres to make her series distinct from one another. Further into our conversation, we discuss how to go about the writing business by taking control of your expectations, the different ways to overcome writing difficult scenes in your story, crafting a plot that interacts naturally with your characters, and advice on how to decide which point of view works best for your story. We also discuss why it’s important to keep the passion with your story alive throughout the entire process. Say 'Hi' to Rachel on <a href="https://twitter.com/rachelcaine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter!</a> Head over to her shownotes page for a list of resources mentioned in the episode by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/rachel-caine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive</a> of episodes by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> ---  “Writing is unique business in that there is so much of it that you can’t control. You can only control what you do and nothing else.”  -Rachel Caine <a href="https://ctt.ec/QF71c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “You have to figure out what your expectations are and how you can best apply yourself to the process.” -Rachel Caine <a href="https://ctt.ec/DmbUu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> "You have to learn to balance just like you balance your work and your family life and all that. You’ve got to learn how to balance writing and everything else. If it’s a matter of your health, then I think you have to choose your health.” -Rachel Caine <a href="https://ctt.ec/Qz3OU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “As far as points of view, you pick the person to whom the story matters the most. That’s my general rule.” -Rachel Caine <a href="https://ctt.ec/S355I" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a>  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:  <ul> <li>How Rachel met her first editor and sold her first book</li> <li>A look into Rachel’s musical background that taught her how to be in the moment with her writing</li> <li>Ways you can carve out time for your writing while working a full-time job</li> <li>The importance of taking care of your health and the tips and tools that can help you stay healthy as a writer</li> <li>The inspiration behind Rachel Caine and her stories that helped establish the urban fantasy genre</li> <li>How taking control of your expectations will help you navigate the writing business</li> <li>How Rachel proactively promotes and gets the word out about her novels</li> <li>Advice on how to strategically navigate the world of conventions, conferences, and school visits to promote your work</li> <li>An exciting look at all the projects Rachel is currently working on</li> <li>How a conversation on Twitter pushed Rachel and Ann Aguirre together to craft the “Honor Among Thieves” series</li> <li>Ways to overcome writing difficult scenes in your story</li> <li>How Rachel and her team packages her different genres to make her series distinct from one another</li> <li>The importance of crafting a plot that interacts naturally with your characters</li> <li>Rachel’s experience with writing from different points of view and advice on how to decide which point of view works best for your story</li> <li>The importance of keeping the passion and attraction you have towards your story alive throughout the entire process</li> </ul>

RACHEL CAINE: Balancing A Successful Writing Career and Multiple Day Jobs

SUZIE TOWNSEND

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea --------------------------------------- Are you curious about what a literary agent does behind the scenes to sell a book? Or how to write a query letter that will grab a literary agent's attention? We dive into this and so much more in Suzie Townsend's episode! Suzie is a literary agent over at New Leaf Literary and Media who represents all brands of children's and adult fiction. She loves women’s fiction and all subgenres of romance, fantasy, and crime fiction. She also represents children’s fiction and particularly loves YA and Middle-Grade novels. Some of Suzie’s best- known projects include #1 NYT Bestseller "Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard (a previous guest on 88 Cups of Tea), and many more.  In our conversation, Suzie takes us on a journey of how her love for storytelling and fantasy books lead her to the path of a literary agent. We get into the nail-biting story of when she sold her first manuscript, how she pitches books to editors, and how to form a great agent to author relationship. She also shares eye-opening query letter tips that will help you catch the attention of literary agents. Say 'Hi' to Suzie on Twitter @SZTOWNSEND81! Say 'Hi' to your fellow Storyteller, Katlyn Duncan, on Twitter @KATLYN_DUNCAN! To access Suzie's shownotes page, the time stamps of highlights throughout the episode, and the bonus downloadable query letter guide, head over to: 88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/SUZIE-TOWNSEND

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a> --------------------------------------- Are you curious about what a literary agent does behind the scenes to sell a book? Or how to write a query letter that will grab a literary agent's attention? We dive into this and so much more in Suzie Townsend's episode! Suzie is a literary agent over at New Leaf Literary and Media who represents all brands of children's and adult fiction. She loves women’s fiction and all subgenres of romance, fantasy, and crime fiction. She also represents children’s fiction and particularly loves YA and Middle-Grade novels. Some of Suzie’s best- known projects include #1 NYT Bestseller "Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard (a previous <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/victoriaaveyard/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">guest on 88 Cups of Tea</a>), and many more.  In our conversation, Suzie takes us on a journey of how her love for storytelling and fantasy books lead her to the path of a literary agent. We get into the nail-biting story of when she sold her first manuscript, how she pitches books to editors, and how to form a great agent to author relationship. She also shares eye-opening query letter tips that will help you catch the attention of literary agents. Say 'Hi' to Suzie on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/sztownsend81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@SZTOWNSEND81!</a> Say 'Hi' to your fellow Storyteller, Katlyn Duncan, on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/katlyn_duncan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@KATLYN_DUNCAN!</a> To access Suzie's shownotes page, the time stamps of highlights throughout the episode, and the bonus downloadable query letter guide, head over to: <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/suzie-townsend" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/SUZIE-TOWNSEND</a>

SUZIE TOWNSEND: On Becoming A Literary Agent

Cassandra Clare

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious to learn how to inspire creativity during challenging times? Or ways to manage strict deadlines while still practicing self-care? We talk about it all and more with Cassandra Clare. Cassandra is the award-winning author of City of Bones – the first book of her Mortal Instruments series – The Infernal Devices series, The Dark Artifices series, The Magisterium Series and many more novels. Cassandra and I kick off our conversation chatting about her recent travels around Southeast Asia, and this will be a very fun part of the conversation for those of you who love to travel or would love to travel one day in the near future. We continue to talk about her storytelling journey and touch on ways to bring in income while writing your novel. We dive into the inspiration behind her first novel City of Bones and discuss the emotional side of writing. Towards the end, we talk about querying, the importance of reading through your contracts and being aware of your legal rights, and how to best manage stressful deadlines while still taking care of yourself. Later, she shares how to prevent yourself from giving up on your career when you’re feeling down, and she shares her favorite writing technique that’ll help you reach your writing goals.  Please say 'Hi' to Cassandra on Twitter! https://twitter.com/cassieclare Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/cassandra-clare/‎. ‎to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious to learn how to inspire creativity during challenging times? Or ways to manage strict deadlines while still practicing self-care? We talk about it all and more with Cassandra Clare. Cassandra is the award-winning author of City of Bones – the first book of her Mortal Instruments series – The Infernal Devices series, The Dark Artifices series, The Magisterium Series and many more novels. Cassandra and I kick off our conversation chatting about her recent travels around Southeast Asia, and this will be a very fun part of the conversation for those of you who love to travel or would love to travel one day in the near future. We continue to talk about her storytelling journey and touch on ways to bring in income while writing your novel. We dive into the inspiration behind her first novel City of Bones and discuss the emotional side of writing. Towards the end, we talk about querying, the importance of reading through your contracts and being aware of your legal rights, and how to best manage stressful deadlines while still taking care of yourself. Later, she shares how to prevent yourself from giving up on your career when you’re feeling down, and she shares her favorite writing technique that’ll help you reach your writing goals.  Please say 'Hi' to Cassandra on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/cassieclare" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/cassieclare</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/cassandra-clare/%E2%80%8E" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/cassandra-clare/‎.</a> ‎to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Cassandra Clare On Finding Creativity

Roshani Chokshi

Roshani Chokshi is the author of the instant New York Times bestselling novel, “The Star-Touched Queen”, and “A Crown of Wishes”, and her recently released middle grade debut "Aru Shah and the End of Time". In today’s episode, we discuss ALL things "Aru Shah and the End of Time", from the story inspiration to the research process and Roshani’s world building.  We touch on adapting mythology and folklore into your story and how to craft lush and vivid descriptions. Further into our conversation, we talk about the importance of sharing your work and being open to critical feedback as a writer, and Roshani shares advice on maintaining your author brand while writing across different age groups. Say 'Hi' to Roshani on Twitter! She will also be taking over our Instagram stories for the release of her episode and it’s going to be so much fun! Be sure to catch her takeover on Instagram by clicking here.  We're teaming up with Roshani and her team to giveaway a copy of "Aru Shah and the End of Time" to TWO lucky winners, so look out for the directions in our Instagram stories. Roshani also created a wonderful writing prompt exclusive for our community, scroll down to the bottom of this page to download your copy. Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! ---  “I realized I was writing around my own stories trying to write what I saw in the world when what I needed to be doing was write what I didn’t see and what I wanted to see.”  -Roshani Chokshi (Click to tweet!) “What is the thing that I really want to read and how would I want it presented to me?” -Roshani Chokshi (Click to tweet!) “The minute that I waver on the voice, I’ve lost the whole thread of the story. It doesn’t matter if the plot is there. If the voice isn’t there, the soul of it’s gone.” -Roshani Chokshi (Click to tweet!) “Find time just to refresh your soul with someone else’s words.” -Roshani Chokshi (Click to tweet!)  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:    Roshani’s journey to becoming a bestselling author   The importance of sharing your work and being open to critical feedback as a writer   A discussion on all things “Aru Shah and The End of Time”   How to respectfully adapt mythology and folklore into your story   Advice on maintaining your author brand while writing across different age groups   Tips on crafting lush and vivid descriptions in your stories   Roshani walk us through the research process for her world building  

Roshani Chokshi is the author of the instant New York Times bestselling novel, “The Star-Touched Queen”, and “A Crown of Wishes”, and her recently released middle grade debut "Aru Shah and the End of Time". In today’s episode, we discuss ALL things "Aru Shah and the End of Time", from the story inspiration to the research process and Roshani’s world building.  We touch on adapting mythology and folklore into your story and how to craft lush and vivid descriptions. Further into our conversation, we talk about the importance of sharing your work and being open to critical feedback as a writer, and Roshani shares advice on maintaining your author brand while writing across different age groups. Say 'Hi' to Roshani on <a href="https://twitter.com/roshani_chokshi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter!</a> She will also be taking over our Instagram stories for the release of her episode and it’s going to be so much fun! Be sure to catch her takeover on Instagram by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here.</a>  We're teaming up with Roshani and her team to giveaway a copy of "Aru Shah and the End of Time" to TWO lucky winners, so look out for the directions in our Instagram stories. Roshani also created a wonderful writing prompt exclusive for our community, scroll down to the bottom of this page to download your copy. Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive</a> of episodes by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> ---  “I realized I was writing around my own stories trying to write what I saw in the world when what I needed to be doing was write what I didn’t see and what I wanted to see.”  -Roshani Chokshi <a href="https://ctt.ec/ybzE3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “What is the thing that I really want to read and how would I want it presented to me?” -Roshani Chokshi <a href="https://ctt.ec/eGrfF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “The minute that I waver on the voice, I’ve lost the whole thread of the story. It doesn’t matter if the plot is there. If the voice isn’t there, the soul of it’s gone.” -Roshani Chokshi <a href="https://ctt.ec/xDEY7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “Find time just to refresh your soul with someone else’s words.” -Roshani Chokshi <a href="https://ctt.ec/7a7x6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a>  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:  <ul> <li> Roshani’s journey to becoming a bestselling author </li> <li> The importance of sharing your work and being open to critical feedback as a writer </li> <li> A discussion on all things “Aru Shah and The End of Time” </li> <li> How to respectfully adapt mythology and folklore into your story </li> <li> Advice on maintaining your author brand while writing across different age groups </li> <li> Tips on crafting lush and vivid descriptions in your stories </li> <li> Roshani walk us through the research process for her world building </li> </ul>

ROSHANI CHOKSHI: Writing What You Want To See In The World

Nova Ren Suma

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea  ----------------- Are you wondering what the financial realities are for writers? Are you on the fence about MFA programs? Are you facing a creative block? Get ready for this motivating conversation featuring today’s special guest Nova Ren Suma. Today's new episode is proudly brought to you by Scrivener, a writing software that is regularly used by new writers and New York Times bestselling authors alike. Many of our own podcast guests and listeners are loyal fans of Scrivener. If you haven’t tried them out yet, they’re giving our Storytellers a special 20% discount by using the code '88CUPSOFTEA' at checkout, WOOHOO! You're supporting our show by grabbing yourself a copy to try Scrivener for yourself.  Click here to grab it now and be sure to let me know what you think!   Nova is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The Walls Around Us, which was an Edgar Award finalist. She also wrote Imaginary Girls and 17 &amp; Gone and is co-creator of FORESHADOW: A Serial YA Anthology. Her newest novel, “A Room Away from the Wolves” releases September 4th. Nova’s episode is motivating to the core, we discuss anything and everything from finances as an artist, relationships, writing through creative blocks, advice about applying for MFA programs, artist residencies, literary agents, and so much more.  Say 'Hi' to Nova on Twitter! To access Nova's shownotes page, click here! ------ Click here to read our 3-year anniversary event summary by Olivia Liu weaved in with photos by Melora Chang! Make sure you don't miss out on our brand new feature article "Letting the Ghosts In" by J.C. Cervantes, click here to read it!

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a>  ----------------- Are you wondering what the financial realities are for writers? Are you on the fence about MFA programs? Are you facing a creative block? Get ready for this motivating conversation featuring today’s special guest Nova Ren Suma. Today's new episode is proudly brought to you by Scrivener, a writing software that is regularly used by new writers and New York Times bestselling authors alike. Many of our own podcast guests and listeners are loyal fans of Scrivener. If you haven’t tried them out yet, they’re giving our Storytellers a special 20% discount by using the code '88CUPSOFTEA' at checkout, WOOHOO! You're supporting our show by grabbing yourself a copy to try Scrivener for yourself. <a href="https://store2.esellerate.net/store/checkout/CustomLayout.aspx?s=STR5463446766&amp;pc=&amp;page=MultiCart.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Click here</a> to grab it now and be sure to let me know what you think!   Nova is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The Walls Around Us, which was an Edgar Award finalist. She also wrote Imaginary Girls and 17 &amp; Gone and is co-creator of FORESHADOW: A Serial YA Anthology. Her newest novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616203730/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=88cuofte0a-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=1616203730&amp;linkId=7a006ef3e3347619e38fbd72862d3256" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">“A Room Away from the Wolves”</a> releases September 4th. Nova’s episode is motivating to the core, we discuss anything and everything from finances as an artist, relationships, writing through creative blocks, advice about applying for MFA programs, artist residencies, literary agents, and so much more.  Say 'Hi' to Nova on <a href="https://twitter.com/novaren" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter!</a> To access Nova's shownotes page, <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/nova-ren-suma" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click here!</a> ------ <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/cheers-to-three-years/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read our 3-year anniversary event summary by Olivia Liu weaved in with photos by Melora Chang! Make sure you don't miss out on our brand new feature article "Letting the Ghosts In" by J.C. Cervantes, <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/letting-the-ghosts-in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to read it!

NOVA REN SUMA: Writing Through the Darkness

Christine Riccio

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. We even have an Instagram story takeover by today’s guest Christine Riccio so make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/.  --------------------------------------- Curious about juggling multiple creative pursuits around a busy schedule? How about tangible actions you can take to shift into a productive mindset? We talk about it all and more with Christine Riccio. Christine is a Youtuber and New York Times Best Selling author, Her Youtube channel PolandbananasBOOKS has nearly half a million book-loving subscribers. She makes comedic book reviews, vlogs, sketches, and writing videos chronicling the creation of her own novel, Again, But Better. She’s also one of the three YouTubers behind BOOKSPLOSION- Youtube’s longest-running book club! In our conversation, we talk about Christine’s journey to becoming a best selling author and one of the most influential booktubers. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look into how she started her YouTube career, her writing and filming process, and how she works around her busy schedule. Further into our conversation, we talk about tangible actions you can take to shift into a writing mindset and the importance of self-care. She shares advice on growing your platform and reaching your writing goals, and we discuss her novel Again, but Better. Please say 'Hi' to Christine on Twitter! https://twitter.com/xtineMAY Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/christine-riccio/to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. We even have an Instagram story takeover by today’s guest Christine Riccio so make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a>.  --------------------------------------- Curious about juggling multiple creative pursuits around a busy schedule? How about tangible actions you can take to shift into a productive mindset? We talk about it all and more with Christine Riccio. Christine is a Youtuber and New York Times Best Selling author, Her Youtube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/polandbananasBOOKS" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">PolandbananasBOOKS</a> has nearly half a million book-loving subscribers. She makes comedic book reviews, vlogs, sketches, and writing videos chronicling the creation of her own novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/125029925X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=36a205c9f116d583e3c3402584dab8a2&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Again, But Better</a>. She’s also one of the three YouTubers behind <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI1E6KCAIDez0FEcvVEuY9A" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">BOOKSPLOSION</a>- Youtube’s longest-running book club! In our conversation, we talk about Christine’s journey to becoming a best selling author and one of the most influential booktubers. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look into how she started her YouTube career, her writing and filming process, and how she works around her busy schedule. Further into our conversation, we talk about tangible actions you can take to shift into a writing mindset and the importance of self-care. She shares advice on growing your platform and reaching your writing goals, and we discuss her novel <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/125029925X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=36a205c9f116d583e3c3402584dab8a2&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Again, but Better</a>. Please say 'Hi' to Christine on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/xtineMAY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/xtineMAY</a> Head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/?post_type=podcast&amp;p=7531&amp;preview=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/christine-riccio/</a>to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

CHRISTINE RICCIO: Cultivating the Mindset of a Writer

Madeline Miller

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! --------------------------------------- Curious to know how you can draw inspiration for your story during your research process? Or how to not let setbacks in your writing process create writer's block? How about strategies to help you craft smooth transitions in your story? We talk about it all and much more with Madeline Miller! Madeline is the New York Times bestselling author of The Song of Achilles and her most recent, critically-acclaimed novel, Circe, which is currently being adapted for an 8-episode series for HBO Max.  In our conversation, we dive deep into how Madeline fell in love with Greek mythology and found her passion to craft strong female characters in classical settings. We discuss how crucial it is to change the narrative by creating the core of strong female characters, what to do when facing setbacks in your writing process, and strategies to lure out new ideas for your stories. Madeline also shares advice on crafting a seamless narrative when the plot has gaps, and how leaning on your characters can help you create smooth transitions. Further into our conversation, we discuss the importance of finding your support system and creating a research process that works best for your voice.  Say 'Hi' to Madeline Miller on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeline.e.miller Head over to Madeline's shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/madeline-miller/ to download the first 1,000 words of her newest novel Circe! You’ll also find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. --- If you enjoyed this episode and would love to support our show, Patreon is the best way! Patrons at certain tiers get early access to our full, uncut interview with Rachel Hawkins and early access to author Madeline Miller's episode this month along with a collection of fantastic extended interviews from previous podcast episodes! If you’re not yet a Patron and you’d love early access to these interviews in addition to other cool benefits (snailmail, Storyteller Welcome Box, livestream hangouts with bookhaul and mystery box giveaways, etc.) head on over to patreon.com/88cupsoftea to sign up! 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">archive</a> of episodes by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> --------------------------------------- Curious to know how you can draw inspiration for your story during your research process? Or how to not let setbacks in your writing process create writer's block? How about strategies to help you craft smooth transitions in your story? We talk about it all and much more with Madeline Miller! Madeline is the New York Times bestselling author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Song-Achilles-Novel/dp/B007HI3IQ6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=2TGPAOHQHLIAV&amp;keywords=the+song+of+achilles+by+madeline+miller&amp;qid=1566447781&amp;s=gateway&amp;sprefix=the+song+of+ac,aps,673&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=aed9de8c17496e243fc09ed4e637629b&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Song of Achilles</a> and her most recent, critically-acclaimed novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Circe/dp/B07944YFPW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=Crice&amp;qid=1566447824&amp;s=audible&amp;sr=1-1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=1d65bb05ab6c73b7291c8615034e367b&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Circe</a>, which is currently being adapted for an 8-episode series for HBO Max.  In our conversation, we dive deep into how Madeline fell in love with Greek mythology and found her passion to craft strong female characters in classical settings. We discuss how crucial it is to change the narrative by creating the core of strong female characters, what to do when facing setbacks in your writing process, and strategies to lure out new ideas for your stories. Madeline also shares advice on crafting a seamless narrative when the plot has gaps, and how leaning on your characters can help you create smooth transitions. Further into our conversation, we discuss the importance of finding your support system and creating a research process that works best for your voice.  Say 'Hi' to Madeline Miller on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/madeline.e.miller" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/madeline.e.miller</a> Head over to Madeline's shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/madeline-miller/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/madeline-miller/</a> to download the first 1,000 words of her newest novel Circe! You’ll also find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. --- If you enjoyed this episode and would love to support our show, Patreon is the best way! Patrons at certain tiers get early access to our full, uncut interview with Rachel Hawkins and early access to author Madeline Miller's episode this month along with a collection of fantastic extended interviews from previous podcast episodes! If you’re not yet a Patron and you’d love early access to these interviews in addition to other cool benefits (snailmail, Storyteller Welcome Box, livestream hangouts with bookhaul and mystery box giveaways, etc.) head on over to <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea?fbclid=IwAR3Bo86ols6ZENZY410TY5WEhD344WLunGRxvsQpeUrUeJ1Q6TX4Cd0akac" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a> to sign up!

MADELINE MILLER: Redefining The Narrative

Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado is a fiction writer, critic, and essayist whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, Granta, Tin House, Guernica, Gulf Coast, NPR, and more. Carmen’s debut short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties, was a finalist for the National Book Award, the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, and the winner of the Bard Fiction Prize. NPR describes “Her Body and Other Parties” as an abrupt, original, and wild collection of stories, full of outlandish myths that somehow catch at familiar, unspoken truths about being women in the world that more straightforward or realist writing wouldn’t.” In this episode, we kick it off by discussing Carmen’s earliest memories of a story she wrote as a kid called “The Biggest Turkey Can’t Find The Farm” and you’ll understand why it’s become her famous family story shared at gatherings. We then discuss Carmen’s thoughts about MFA programs and if she thinks they’re necessary for a successful or a stable writing career. We talk about maximizing a productive writing schedule by figuring out a system that works for you, how Carmen organizes her thoughts during her writing process, and why it’s so important to not get fixated on being published to the point where you lose yourself and are unable to provide your best work possible. Later, we touch on abuse in same sex relationships and how that ties in with her memoir “House in Indiana” releasing in 2019. Carmen also shares how to recognize some warning signs of an abusive relationship. We then wrap up our conversation by talking more about “Her Body and Other Parties” and how her editor played a crucial role in the process. She also shares how to recognize signs of a good editor and how to make yourself visible as a short story writer. Say 'Hi' to Carmen on Twitter and check out the book mentioned in her episode by clicking here! Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page! --- For EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS to our shop, meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. Fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you request to join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! ---  "Publication is not the end all be all in making good art.”  -Carmen Maria Machado (Click to tweet!) “I think a part of becoming an artist of any kind, writer in particularly, is figuring what kind of obsessions you have.” -Carmen Maria Machado (Click to tweet!) “A good editor is worth their weight in gold.” -Carmen Maria Machado (Click to tweet!)  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:   Listen in on Carmen’s famous family story, “The Biggest Turkey Can’t Find The Farm” (Warning: It’s hilarious!) Hear Carmen’s thoughts about MFA programs and if they are necessary for a successful or stable writing career Maximizing a productive writing schedule by figuring out a system that works for you How Carmen organizes her thoughts during her writing process We touch on abuse in same sex relationships and how that ties in with her memoir “House in Indiana” releasing in 2019 How to recognize warning signs of an abusive relationship Signs of a good editor Why it’s crucial not to get fixated on being published to the point where you lose yourself and are unable to provide the best work possible Why you should never settle and to only work with the right editor and agent  How to make yourself visible as a short story writer 

Carmen Maria Machado is a fiction writer, critic, and essayist whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, Granta, Tin House, Guernica, Gulf Coast, NPR, and more. Carmen’s debut short story collection, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155597788X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=88cuofte0a-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=155597788X&amp;linkId=c5ca108e5605aad6ad43a8a0f1bb40ae" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Her Body and Other Parties</a>, was a finalist for the National Book Award, the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, and the winner of the Bard Fiction Prize. NPR describes “Her Body and Other Parties” as an abrupt, original, and wild collection of stories, full of outlandish myths that somehow catch at familiar, unspoken truths about being women in the world that more straightforward or realist writing wouldn’t.” In this episode, we kick it off by discussing Carmen’s earliest memories of a story she wrote as a kid called “The Biggest Turkey Can’t Find The Farm” and you’ll understand why it’s become her famous family story shared at gatherings. We then discuss Carmen’s thoughts about MFA programs and if she thinks they’re necessary for a successful or a stable writing career. We talk about maximizing a productive writing schedule by figuring out a system that works for you, how Carmen organizes her thoughts during her writing process, and why it’s so important to not get fixated on being published to the point where you lose yourself and are unable to provide your best work possible. Later, we touch on abuse in same sex relationships and how that ties in with her memoir “House in Indiana” releasing in 2019. Carmen also shares how to recognize some warning signs of an abusive relationship. We then wrap up our conversation by talking more about “Her Body and Other Parties” and how her editor played a crucial role in the process. She also shares how to recognize signs of a good editor and how to make yourself visible as a short story writer. Say 'Hi' to Carmen on <a href="https://twitter.com/carmenmmachado" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and check out the book mentioned in her episode by <a href="http://www.88cupsoftea.com/podcast/carmen-maria-machado" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to go directly to our iTunes page! --- For EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS to our shop, meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to join our private Facebook group! IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. Fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you request to join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive</a> of episodes by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> ---  "Publication is not the end all be all in making good art.”  -Carmen Maria Machado <a href="https://ctt.ec/SQyUh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “I think a part of becoming an artist of any kind, writer in particularly, is figuring what kind of obsessions you have.” -Carmen Maria Machado <a href="https://ctt.ec/dIzPv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “A good editor is worth their weight in gold.” -Carmen Maria Machado <a href="https://ctt.ec/IzUt4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a>  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:  <ul> <li>Listen in on Carmen’s famous family story, “The Biggest Turkey Can’t Find The Farm” (Warning: It’s hilarious!)</li> <li>Hear Carmen’s thoughts about MFA programs and if they are necessary for a successful or stable writing career</li> <li>Maximizing a productive writing schedule by figuring out a system that works for you</li> <li>How Carmen organizes her thoughts during her writing process</li> <li>We touch on abuse in same sex relationships and how that ties in with her memoir “House in Indiana” releasing in 2019</li> <li>How to recognize warning signs of an abusive relationship</li> <li>Signs of a good editor</li> <li>Why it’s crucial not to get fixated on being published to the point where you lose yourself and are unable to provide the best work possible</li> <li>Why you should never settle and to only work with the right editor and agent </li> <li>How to make yourself visible as a short story writer</li> </ul>

CARMEN MARIA MACHADO: Staying Focused on Creating Your Best Work

Kelly Barnhill

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious to learn how to overcome self-doubt during your revision process? Or ways to instill a creative headspace? How about tips for crafting dynamic character settings? We talk about it all and more with Kelly Barnhill. Kelly is the award-winning author of The Girl Who Drank The Moon, The Witch's Boy, Iron Hearted Violet, and The Mostly True Story of Jack, as well as the novella, The Unlicensed Magician. She has been on the New York Times bestseller list for a bunch of weeks now, as well as the Indie Besteller list. She was also a McKnight Artist's Fellowship recipient in Children's Literature. In our conversation, we talk about Kelly’s love for telling stories out loud and how this shaped her writing process. We walk down memory lane of her life adventures that impacted her creative career path to becoming a best selling author and the lessons that helped her write with love and affection. Further in, we discuss how to instill a creative headspace, the importance of giving yourself a break during your drafting process, and powerful revision tools to help you overcome self-doubt. And later on, she pulls back the curtain and gives us a peek into how she forms her stories, crafts her dynamic character settings, and creates a community that helps her through tough days.  Storytellers, be sure to check out the incredible writing prompt that Kelly crafted just for our community. The prompt will help you write without fear and spark some new ideas for your stories. To download it, head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/kelly-barnhill. Please say 'Hi' to Kelly on Twitter! https://twitter.com/kellybarnhill Head over to her shownotes page athttps://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/kelly-barnhill ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">follow us on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@88CUPSOFTEA</a> to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/</a> so you don't miss out on the next takeover!  --------------------------------------- Curious to learn how to overcome self-doubt during your revision process? Or ways to instill a creative headspace? How about tips for crafting dynamic character settings? We talk about it all and more with Kelly Barnhill. Kelly is the award-winning author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Drank-Winner-Newbery-Medal/dp/1616207469/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=QHP22T7QALPF&amp;keywords=the+girl+who+drank+the+moon&amp;qid=1573702314&amp;sprefix=the+girl+wh+,aps,202&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=f0885b489d56964dbc223e1c30280780&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Girl Who Drank The Moon</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ITYVRUG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=f447c4d021394cf29b0223dfd12378f3&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Witch's Boy</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Hearted-Violet-Kelly-Barnhill-ebook/dp/B0076BQG2C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B0076BQG2C&amp;pd_rd_r=000ae672-d4e2-4e9b-97ab-2f094eb8b81f&amp;pd_rd_w=1vzo4&amp;pd_rd_wg=UfgaB&amp;pf_rd_p=5abf8658-0b5f-405c-b880-a6d1b558d4ea&amp;pf_rd_r=4VW0P6W826WD11NAZ3S0&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=4VW0P6W826WD11NAZ3S0&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=10d0a427354a19085a2335d1dda8a1ac&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Iron Hearted Violet</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mostly-True-Story-Jack-ebook/dp/B0047Y17BQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B0047Y17BQ&amp;pd_rd_r=e13da56d-b185-4568-ab49-a45aeec516f8&amp;pd_rd_w=Jcdwc&amp;pd_rd_wg=bHIHm&amp;pf_rd_p=5abf8658-0b5f-405c-b880-a6d1b558d4ea&amp;pf_rd_r=NYAGJNJBRVRSSKHK8973&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=NYAGJNJBRVRSSKHK8973&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=7e7b2c97df58980abce1d6814310b72c&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Mostly True Story of Jack</a>, as well as the novella, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unlicensed-Magician-Kelly-Barnhill-ebook/dp/B01CLDSS66/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=24A234YGVOTLR&amp;keywords=the+unlicensed+magician&amp;qid=1573702703&amp;sprefix=the+unlice,aps,189&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=88cuofte0a_88cupsoftealist-20&amp;linkId=5a86bae1ca262821de2a0acee66ebe88&amp;language=en_US" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Unlicensed Magician</a>. She has been on the New York Times bestseller list for a bunch of weeks now, as well as the Indie Besteller list. She was also a McKnight Artist's Fellowship recipient in Children's Literature. In our conversation, we talk about Kelly’s love for telling stories out loud and how this shaped her writing process. We walk down memory lane of her life adventures that impacted her creative career path to becoming a best selling author and the lessons that helped her write with love and affection. Further in, we discuss how to instill a creative headspace, the importance of giving yourself a break during your drafting process, and powerful revision tools to help you overcome self-doubt. And later on, she pulls back the curtain and gives us a peek into how she forms her stories, crafts her dynamic character settings, and creates a community that helps her through tough days.  Storytellers, be sure to check out the incredible writing prompt that Kelly crafted just for our community. The prompt will help you write without fear and spark some new ideas for your stories. To download it, head over to her shownotes page at <a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/kelly-barnhill/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/kelly-barnhill.</a> Please say 'Hi' to Kelly on Twitter! <a href="https://twitter.com/kellybarnhill" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/kellybarnhill</a> Head over to her shownotes page at<a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/kelly-barnhill/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/kelly-barnhill</a> ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

Kelly Barnhill on Improving Your Craft By Centimeters

Nnedi Okorafor

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea --- Nnedi Okorafor is an international award-winning novelist of African-based science fiction, fantasy and magical realism for both children and adults. She’s most recognized for weaving African culture into creative evocative settings and memorable characters. Some of the titles she has authored are "Who Fears Death", the "Akata" series, the "Binti" novella trilogy, "Zahrah the Windseeker", and many more. Her novel “Who Fears Death” has been optioned by HBO and is in early development as a TV series with George RR Martin from the "Game of Thrones" series as executive producer. As if all these accolades and achievements weren’t enough, Nnedi is also currently writing a Black Panther series for Marvel. In describing Nnedi and her work, The New York Times wrote, “Nnedi Okorafor has made a name for herself with novels that combine politically complex science fiction and lyrical fantasy.“ In this episode, Nnedi walks us through her research process for the “Akata” series, and she also shares what her writing process was like for the books. We discuss the power of listening and how it helps you with your writing, how to find an ideal editor for your story, and why she encourages writers to have a messy first draft. We also touch on her thoughts about expanding one’s worldview, and how science fiction helps authors craft stories about cultures and politics. Nnedi also shares helpful advice on managing a storytelling career and motherhood.   Say 'Hi' to Nnedi on Twitter and check out the book mentioned in her episode by clicking here! I’ve been so excited to wrap up 2017 with Nnedi’s episode, happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page! --- For EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS to our shop, meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! ---  “Science fiction is one of the most effective forms of political writing and it’s because it takes from science and it also takes from the art of storytelling.”  -Nnedi Okorafor (Click to tweet!) “Even if you only have time to write a paragraph a day, write a paragraph a day.” -Nnedi Okorafor (Click to tweet!) “If you are going to write from those points of view that are not natural to you, that are outside of yourself, sitting back and listening is one of the best ways to grab it.” -Nnedi Okorafor (Click to tweet!)  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:   Nnedi walks us through her research process for the “Akata” series  The power of listening and how it helps you with your writing How science fiction helps authors craft stories about cultures and politics A look into Nnedi’s writing process  Advice on managing a storytelling career and motherhood  Thoughts on expanding one’s worldview Why Nnedi encourages a messy first draft How to find an ideal editor for your story  

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a> --- Nnedi Okorafor is an international award-winning novelist of African-based science fiction, fantasy and magical realism for both children and adults. She’s most recognized for weaving African culture into creative evocative settings and memorable characters. Some of the titles she has authored are "Who Fears Death", the "Akata" series, the "Binti" novella trilogy, "Zahrah the Windseeker", and many more. Her novel “Who Fears Death” has been optioned by HBO and is in early development as a TV series with George RR Martin from the "Game of Thrones" series as executive producer. As if all these accolades and achievements weren’t enough, Nnedi is also currently writing a Black Panther series for Marvel. In describing Nnedi and her work, The New York Times wrote, “Nnedi Okorafor has made a name for herself with novels that combine politically complex science fiction and lyrical fantasy.“ In this episode, Nnedi walks us through her research process for the “Akata” series, and she also shares what her writing process was like for the books. We discuss the power of listening and how it helps you with your writing, how to find an ideal editor for your story, and why she encourages writers to have a messy first draft. We also touch on her thoughts about expanding one’s worldview, and how science fiction helps authors craft stories about cultures and politics. Nnedi also shares helpful advice on managing a storytelling career and motherhood. Say 'Hi' to Nnedi on <a href="https://twitter.com/nnedi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and check out the book mentioned in her episode by <a href="http://www.88cupsoftea.com/podcast/nnedi-okorafor" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> I’ve been so excited to wrap up 2017 with Nnedi’s episode, happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to go directly to our iTunes page! --- For EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS to our shop, meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive</a> of episodes by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> ---  “Science fiction is one of the most effective forms of political writing and it’s because it takes from science and it also takes from the art of storytelling.”  -Nnedi Okorafor <a href="https://ctt.ec/8a7tC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “Even if you only have time to write a paragraph a day, write a paragraph a day.” -Nnedi Okorafor <a href="https://ctt.ec/4w5Jb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a> “If you are going to write from those points of view that are not natural to you, that are outside of yourself, sitting back and listening is one of the best ways to grab it.” -Nnedi Okorafor <a href="https://ctt.ec/6cy90" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet!)</a>  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:  <ul> <li>Nnedi walks us through her research process for the “Akata” series </li> <li>The power of listening and how it helps you with your writing</li> <li>How science fiction helps authors craft stories about cultures and politics</li> <li>A look into Nnedi’s writing process </li> <li>Advice on managing a storytelling career and motherhood </li> <li>Thoughts on expanding one’s worldview</li> <li>Why Nnedi encourages a messy first draft</li> <li>How to find an ideal editor for your story </li> </ul>

NNEDI OKORAFOR: The Power of Listening for Storytelling

VICTORIA AVEYARD

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea --- In today’s episode, we’re featuring our conversation with Victoria Aveyard from the archives! During the time of the original release back in January 2016, Victoria just celebrated her 21st week on the New York Times list for “Red Queen”, the first book in her series. Movie rights for the series were also sold to Universal Pictures with Gennifer Hutchison (from "Breaking Bad") penning the film adaptation and Elizabeth Banks in talks to direct. According to The Hollywood Reporter, RED QUEEN is similar to HUNGER GAMES, GAME OF THRONES, X-MEN, and CINDERELLA. Since the time of her episode release back in 2016, Victoria has now published three #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling books, and two New York Times bestselling novellas. The Red Queen series is currently being translated into 37 languages and counting, and the fourth and final book to conclude her beloved series, “War Storm”, is releasing next week on May 15! In the archived episode, we discuss story ideas and character development, how Victoria got her foot in the door with her literary agency, the ups and downs throughout her writing career, the publishing community, the importance of family, and a lot more incredibly inspiring stories and advice. I specifically pulled this conversation from the archives because a lot of our listeners have shared that they’ve been struggling with getting through their first draft and are held back by the idea of "perfection". If you’re struggling with this too, be sure to pay special attention to Victoria’s episode. You’ll learn so much and my hope is for you to feel just as refreshed, inspired, and motivated as I did after our interview! Say 'Hi' to Victoria on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page by clicking here. Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! ---  “Finish. Finishing is the most important thing no matter what you have to do.” -Victoria Aveyard (Click to tweet)  “I must be writing, in some way, shape, or form, to be happy.” -Victoria Aveyard (Click to tweet)   --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:   Victoria’s journey of transitioning from screenwriting to crafting her first novel How Victoria built her RED QUEEN series off of a single image and how this techniquecan help you craft your next story How Victoria creates an outline for her novels and how her advice can help you find your perfect outline structure The importance of knowing where your character comes from to create their perfect personality How writing for the fanfiction world indirectly became a writing workshop for Victoria Victoria shares writing techniques and tips used to grab readers’ attention at the beginning of a novel 

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. <a href="https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea</a> --- In today’s episode, we’re featuring our conversation with Victoria Aveyard from the archives! During the time of the original release back in January 2016, Victoria just celebrated her 21st week on the New York Times list for “Red Queen”, the first book in her series. Movie rights for the series were also sold to Universal Pictures with Gennifer Hutchison (from "Breaking Bad") penning the film adaptation and Elizabeth Banks in talks to direct. According to The Hollywood Reporter, RED QUEEN is similar to HUNGER GAMES, GAME OF THRONES, X-MEN, and CINDERELLA. Since the time of her episode release back in 2016, Victoria has now published three #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling books, and two New York Times bestselling novellas. The Red Queen series is currently being translated into 37 languages and counting, and the fourth and final book to conclude her beloved series, “War Storm”, is releasing next week on May 15! In the archived episode, we discuss story ideas and character development, how Victoria got her foot in the door with her literary agency, the ups and downs throughout her writing career, the publishing community, the importance of family, and a lot more incredibly inspiring stories and advice. I specifically pulled this conversation from the archives because a lot of our listeners have shared that they’ve been struggling with getting through their first draft and are held back by the idea of "perfection". If you’re struggling with this too, be sure to pay special attention to Victoria’s episode. You’ll learn so much and my hope is for you to feel just as refreshed, inspired, and motivated as I did after our interview! Say 'Hi' to Victoria on <a href="https://twitter.com/victoriaaveyard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter!</a> Head over to her shownotes page by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/victoriaaveyard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/fbgroup/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive</a> of episodes by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> ---  “Finish. Finishing is the most important thing no matter what you have to do.” -Victoria Aveyard <a href="http://ctt.ec/0iyeR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a> “I must be writing, in some way, shape, or form, to be happy.” -Victoria Aveyard <a href="http://ctt.ec/Ab2xv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a>  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:  <ul> <li>Victoria’s journey of transitioning from screenwriting to crafting her first novel</li> <li>How Victoria built her RED QUEEN series off of a single image and how this techniquecan help you craft your next story</li> <li>How Victoria creates an outline for her novels and how her advice can help you find your perfect outline structure</li> <li>The importance of knowing where your character comes from to create their perfect personality</li> <li>How writing for the fanfiction world indirectly became a writing workshop for Victoria</li> <li>Victoria shares writing techniques and tips used to grab readers’ attention at the beginning of a novel</li> </ul>

VICTORIA AVEYARD [From The Archives]: Pulling Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps

Arvin Ahmadi

Arvin Ahmadi is the author of “Down and Across”. From Buzzfeed, “Ahmadi writes with head and heart, captivating readers with passages that leap beautifully from the pages.” Publishers Weekly describes his debut as “witty, smart, and inspiring” and The Washington Post says it’s a “humorous” and “deeply human coming-of-age story.” In today’s episode, Arvin walks us through the inspiration behind “Down and Across”. We unpack how to manage writing difficult and emotional scenes with your characters, how to maintain authenticity in your story throughout your editing process, and how to improve your craft through reading within your genre. We also discuss why it’s crucial to seek feedback from your writing community, and Arvin shares tips on writing in a first-person point of view that’s different from your own. Please say 'Hi' to Arvin on Twitter and he'll be taking over our Instagram stories for the release of his episode and it’s going to be SO much fun! Be sure to catch his takeover on Instagram by clicking here.  We also announce some H-U-G-E 88 Cups of Tea news in the intro of Arvin's episode. Don't forget to respond to the announcement by hitting us up on Twitter by clicking here! And help us spread the word about our announcement by sharing about it on social media! Happy Listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- We recently restocked our limited edition 88 Cups of Tea mugs with only ONE box of mugs. We are creating a different line of 88 Cups of Tea mugs each year and they'll be available for a limited amount of time! We first announced this in our private FB group and I can’t believe our last box of mugs are already halfway gone. If you'd love a mug for yourself before they are completely sold out for GOOD, head over here. Our mugs are AWESOME at giving you a boost in morale throughout your day! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! ---  “This is the book where I learned to write a book.”  -Arvin Ahmadi (Click to tweet) “You build out this world in your head. As a writer, why would you crush that for your reader, this world that they’ve imagined and characters that have become so real to them?” -Arvin Ahmadi (Click to tweet) “My first draft was very raw and very authentic and kind of poorly written too. Of course I went through ten, eleven, twelve drafts before I even sold to Penguin and a lot of that was trying to maintain that authenticity while fiddling with the structure to make it a better book.” -Arvin Ahmadi (Click to tweet)  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:   Arvin unpacks the inspiration behind his novel “Down and Across”  The artistic insight behind the cover art of Arvin’s novel  How to maintain authenticity in your story throughout your editing process The importance of seeking feedback in the writing community  Improve your craft through reading within your genre  How to manage writing difficult and emotional scenes with your characters  Tips on writing in a first-person point of view that's different from your own  Arvin’s thoughts on satisfying endings  

Arvin Ahmadi is the author of “Down and Across”. From Buzzfeed, “Ahmadi writes with head and heart, captivating readers with passages that leap beautifully from the pages.” Publishers Weekly describes his debut as “witty, smart, and inspiring” and The Washington Post says it’s a “humorous” and “deeply human coming-of-age story.” In today’s episode, Arvin walks us through the inspiration behind “Down and Across”. We unpack how to manage writing difficult and emotional scenes with your characters, how to maintain authenticity in your story throughout your editing process, and how to improve your craft through reading within your genre. We also discuss why it’s crucial to seek feedback from your writing community, and Arvin shares tips on writing in a first-person point of view that’s different from your own. Please say 'Hi' to Arvin on <a href="https://twitter.com/arvinahmadi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and he'll be taking over our Instagram stories for the release of his episode and it’s going to be SO much fun! Be sure to catch his takeover on Instagram by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here.</a> We also announce some H-U-G-E 88 Cups of Tea news in the intro of Arvin's episode. Don't forget to respond to the announcement by hitting us up on Twitter by <a href="https://twitter.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> And help us spread the word about our announcement by sharing about it on social media! Happy Listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- We recently restocked our limited edition 88 Cups of Tea mugs with only ONE box of mugs. We are creating a different line of 88 Cups of Tea mugs each year and they'll be available for a limited amount of time! We first announced this in our private FB group and I can’t believe our last box of mugs are already halfway gone. If you'd love a mug for yourself before they are completely sold out for GOOD, head over <a href="https://gumroad.com/88cupsoftea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Our mugs are AWESOME at giving you a boost in morale throughout your day! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can <a href="http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1027586565" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to join our private Facebook group! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive</a> of episodes by <a href="http://88cupsoftea.com/archive/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking here!</a> ---  “This is the book where I learned to write a book.”  -Arvin Ahmadi <a href="https://ctt.ec/6aqnL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a> “You build out this world in your head. As a writer, why would you crush that for your reader, this world that they’ve imagined and characters that have become so real to them?” -Arvin Ahmadi <a href="https://ctt.ec/1DUb6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a> “My first draft was very raw and very authentic and kind of poorly written too. Of course I went through ten, eleven, twelve drafts before I even sold to Penguin and a lot of that was trying to maintain that authenticity while fiddling with the structure to make it a better book.” -Arvin Ahmadi <a href="https://ctt.ec/OCxIb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Click to tweet)</a>  --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:  <ul> <li>Arvin unpacks the inspiration behind his novel “Down and Across” </li> <li>The artistic insight behind the cover art of Arvin’s novel </li> <li>How to maintain authenticity in your story throughout your editing process</li> <li>The importance of seeking feedback in the writing community </li> <li>Improve your craft through reading within your genre </li> <li>How to manage writing difficult and emotional scenes with your characters </li> <li>Tips on writing in a first-person point of view that's different from your own </li> <li>Arvin’s thoughts on satisfying endings </li> </ul>

ARVIN AHMADI: Overcoming Fear by Writing Through It

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