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88 Cups of Tea

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!
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 30, 2017

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 
Dec 21, 2017

Carmen Maria Machado is a fiction writer, critic, and essayist whose work has appeared in the New YorkerGrantaTin HouseGuernicaGulf 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
Dec 14, 2017

Poet, novelist, and essayist, Erika L. Sanchez was a Fulbright Scholar, CantoMundo Fellowship recipient, and Bread Loaf Scholar. Her debut young adult novel, “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter”, is a New York Times Bestseller and was named a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.  

In this episode, Erika walks us through how she pushed through the difficulty of finding a job during the recession. We discuss why it’s crucial to live for yourself and to live truthfully, and for writers, we talk about how to alleviate writer’s block.

Say 'Hi' to Erika 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!

--- 

"Writing is an ongoing conversation with writers of the past and writers of the future.” 

-Erika L. Sánchez (Click to tweet!)

“If you’re not surprising yourself, you’re not surprising the reader.”

-Erika L. Sánchez (Click to tweet!)

 ---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • How Erika pushed through the difficulty of finding a job during the recession
  • Why it’s crucial to live for yourself and to live truthfully
  • How to alleviate writers block
Dec 7, 2017

Ryan T. Higgins is the bestselling author and illustrator of the picture book “Mother Bruce” which received the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor.

In this episode, Ryan walks us through the storyboarding and editing process of illustrating his children’s books and he delves into the importance of looking at your story in small chunks to avoid overthinking about your book as a whole. Ryan shares tips on breaking into the publishing world and landing representation, and how to self-publish and promote your work. We also discuss ways to prevent writer’s block and why it’s so important to have a critique partner to help grow story ideas.

Say 'Hi' to Ryan on Twitter and follow him on Instagram to check out his awesome sketches! Check out the books and resources mentioned in his 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!

--- 

"Every day is Friday for authors and illustrators.” 

-Ryan T. Higgins (Click to tweet) 

“At the end of the day it’s what makes the story better.”

-Ryan T. Higgins (Click to tweet)

 ---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Ryan shares the storyboarding and editing process of illustrating his children's books 
  • Why it's crucial to have a critique partner to help grow story ideas 
  • How to self-publish and promote your work 
  • Advice on breaking into the publishing world and landing representation 
  • Ways to prevent writer’s block 
  • The importance of looking at your story in small chunks to avoid overthinking about your book as a whole 
  • How Ryan manages his social media presence without over sharing his work
Nov 30, 2017

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

---

Rebecca Green is an incredibly talented illustrator and painter, and is the picture book author of "How to Make Friends with a Ghost". In this episode, Rebecca walks us through what a dummy book is and how it fits into the picture book creation process, how an agent can help manage and protect your creative time, and why it’s crucial to surround yourself with a strong and creative publishing team.

Rebecca also shares the different mediums she uses to create her illustrations, why it’s so important to be realistic about your workload and learning how to say no, and we discuss ways to stay inspired as an artist, writer, and a creative.

Say 'Hi' to Rebecca on Instagram! Check out the books and resources 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 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!

--- 

“I definitely try to make things a little funnier and play with your expectations a little bit.” 

-Rebecca Green

“You’re just sort of filling a pantry with skills and with these skills you’ll be able to pull them out at certain times throughout your life and make use of them.”

-Rebecca Green

 ---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Why it’s crucial to surround yourself with a strong and creative publishing team 
  • Rebecca walks us through the different mediums she uses to create her illustrations 
  • The importance of being realistic about your workload and learning how to say no 
  • How an agent can help manage and protect your creative time
  • What a dummy book is and how it fits into the picture book creation process 
  • Ways to stay inspired as an artist, writer, and creative
  • A look into Rebecca’s community inspired studio space
Nov 23, 2017

Greg Pizzoli is an author, illustrator and screenprinter.He is the author of "Good Night Owl", a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book, "Templeton Gets His Wish", "Number One Sam", and "The Watermelon Seed", which received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.

In this episode, Greg walks us through his writing process, how his method can help you develop your story ideas, and shares advice on creating brevity in your picture books. We discuss the importance of standing out in the publishing market by highlighting your personality and getting your artwork noticed in the industry by sending out postcards of your illustrations to editors and art directors.

We also get into the nitty gritty about preparing your portfolio to be successful at writing conferences, what a picture book dummy is and how it can help you showcase your work to editors and publishers, and how to approach query letters in the picture book world.

Further into the episode, we discuss why diversification is the key to earning money while supporting your storytelling dreams and how Greg creates silkscreen style illustrations.

Say 'Hi' to Greg on Twitter! Check out the books and resources 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!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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 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!

--- 

“I definitely try to make things a little funnier and play with your expectations a little bit.” 

-Greg Pizzoli (Click to tweet)

“You’re just sort of filling a pantry with skills and with these skills you’ll be able to pull them out at certain times throughout your life and make use of them.”

-Greg Pizzoli (Click to tweet)

 

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • How Greg fell in love with illustrating and writing children’s literature 
  • Tips on focusing on brevity in your picture books
  • A look into Greg’s writing process and how his method can help you develop your story ideas
  • The importance of standing out in the publishing market by promoting in a way that authentically shows your personality
  • Getting your artwork noticed in the industry by sending postcards of your illustrations to editors and art directors  
  • Why diversification is the key to earning money while supporting your storytelling dreams 
  • Ways to prepare your portfolio for success at writing conferences
  • What a picture book dummy is and how it can help you showcase your work to editors and publishers 
  • How to approach query letters in the picture book world  
  • Actionable steps to help reach your writing and illustrating goals
  • How Greg creates silkscreen style illustration
Nov 17, 2017

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

---

Susan Dennard is the author of the Something Strange and Deadly series as well as the New York Times bestselling books Truthwitch and Windwitch. Susan is one our community’s most requested authors for the show and is known for her really helpful and eye-opening resources for writers. And not to mention, she also has a solid reputation of being known as an author who really cares about the writing community.

This episode is a must for listeners who love conversations about the craft of writing. We cover how to create a successful “plan of attack” for your novel’s revision process, how to develop a strong magic system, advice on crafting a believable male point of view who isn’t a stereotype or a personification of female idealism, and Susan shares the three phases of writing that helps her turn ideas into concrete stories.

We discuss ways for writers to overcome perfectionist tendencies and use it to your advantage, how to discover and fine-tune your writing process to help you reach your writing goals, how a beta-reader or a critique partner can help you avoid info-dumping in your world building, and why it’s crucial to distance yourself from your story idea in order to help it grow.

We also talk about how Susan learned to be self-motivated, how to cope with the loneliness that usually comes along with a writing career, and the importance of sharing your experiences with a writing community who truly understands what you are going through.

Say 'Hi' to Susan on Twitter! Check out the books and resources mentioned in her episode by clicking here!

For NaNoWriMo participants, join Susan's 'The Mighty Pens" fundraiser 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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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 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!

--- 

“What one person likes, is not what someone else is going to like.” 

-Susan Dennard (Click to tweet)

“If it doesn’t feel right, if the cookie is not there, I can’t write it.”

-Susan Dennard (Click to tweet)

“Be kind to yourself. It’s okay if you don’t write everyday.” 

-Susan Dennard (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Ways for writers to overcome perfectionist tendencies and use it to your advantage
  • How Susan learned to be self-motivated 
  • Where to find affordable writing workshops to help improve your craft
  • The importance of doing your research when querying literary agents
  • Susan’s advice on how to format your manuscript and query letter
  • How to cope with the loneliness that usually comes along with a writing career
  • The importance of patience when facing rejection
  • How Susan’s travels inspire her story ideas 
  • How trusting your instincts will help you learn more about yourself as a writer
  • Susan’s three phases of writing that helps her turn ideas into concrete stories
  • The importance of sharing your experiences with a writing community who truly understands what you are going through
  • How to discover and fine-tune your writing process to help you reach your writing goals
  • Why it’s crucial to distance yourself from your story ideas to help them grow
  • Writing tips on developing a strong magic system
  • Creating a successful plan of attack for your novel’s revision process 
  • Tips on crafting a believable male point of view who isn’t a stereotype or a personification of female idealism
  • How a beta-reader or critique partner can help you avoid info-dumping in your world building
Nov 9, 2017

Sara Shepard is the author of the popular NYT bestselling series "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Lying Game". She takes us behind the scenes of her newest book, "Follow Me", the second book in "The Amateurs" series.

We unpack how ghostwriting can help hone your craft and develop your own novel, and how ghostwriting created opportunities for Sara to develop the “Pretty Little Liars” book series with Alloy Entertainment. For “Pretty Little Liars” fans, we dive into detail about the book series and Sara’s thoughts on the TV series adaptation.

Further into our conversation, we talk about coping with imposter syndrome as a writer,  ways to overcome writer’s block and unlock new plot lines, how outlining can help you keep track of complicated plot lines during your writing process, and how to manage the pressure of strict deadlines.

We also talk about how to protect your emotions when writing about dark and intense scenes or characters, how to create a villain readers won’t forget, and how to write action scenes that will captivate your readers.

We discuss the importance of community and support when you are going through a hardship and the importance of giving back and showing gratitude to your fans and support.

Say 'Hi' to Sara on Twitter! Check out the books and resources 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!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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 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!

--- 

“Don’t worry about getting it perfect.” 

-Sara Shepard (Click to tweet)

“As a writer, you have to put yourself in your character’s shoes and understand what they are feeling and the temptations that go with that.”

-Sara Shepard (Click to tweet)

“There are ups and downs and sometimes what you are doing is really popular and sometimes it’s not. It’s ok when it’s not. You still write what you love and still do what you love to do.” 

-Sara Shepard (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • How Sara’s career explorations lead her to becoming a published author and novelist
  • How ghostwriting can help hone your craft and develop your own novel 
  • How to understand and cope with imposter syndrome as a writer
  • How Sara and Alloy Entertainment developed the concept for her series “Pretty Little Liars” 
  • How to manage the pressure of strict deadlines 
  • Sara’s thoughts on the TV series adaptation  of “Pretty Little Liars” 
  • Ways to overcome writer’s block and unlock new plot lines 
  • How outlining can help you keep track of complicated plot lines during your writing process 
  • The importance of understanding that your story’s first draft may transform into a completely new story 
  • A look into the world of Sara’s new series called “The Amateurs”
  • How to protect your emotions when writing about dark and intense scenes or characters 
  • How to create a villain readers won’t forget
  • How to write action scenes that will captivate your readers
  • The importance of community and support when you are going through a hardship 
  • The importance of giving back and showing gratitude to your fans and supporters
Nov 2, 2017

In today’s new episode, we have Maggie Shen King, author of "An Excess Male". In her novel,she explores the marriage plot in a dystopian future and follows in the footsteps of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”. It’s the story of one excess male, the less-than-perfect family he seeks to join, and the fight for their version of home, for the freedom to be their true selves, and for the country they have lost to a totalitarian regime that aims to control sex and define the boundaries of marriage in the name of the public good.

I’ve been really looking forward to this conversation with Maggie as her story is inspired by actual statistics. China’s One Child Policy was originally implemented to control overpopulation and according to stats, by the year 2030, China will have unintentionally created a society which more than 25% of men in their late thirties will never have married.

In our discussion, Maggie shares more insight into China’s One Child Policy, one of the most radical social experiments in history.  She walks us through the research process for writing “An Excess Male” and the importance of targeted research to prevent the loss of writing time.

Maggie belongs to two different writing groups and we dive into the benefits of joining one, and how they’ve helped her tremendously in her writing career. We also discuss the importance of having an editor to help move your story forward. For craft-focused writers, we cover how to improve your world building as a linear writer, and what a style sheet is, and how it can help you create dynamic characters.

Say 'Hi' to Maggie on Twitter! Check out the books and resources 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!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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 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!

---

 

“It’s adding a piece of the puzzle at a time and once you create it, then there’s a place to add more.” 

-Maggie Shen King

“Learning to listen to the criticism and encouragement and suggestions is a really good thing to develop.”

-Maggie Shen King

“Once you have something on the page, you can work on it.” 

-Maggie Shen King

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • A detailed look at China’s One Child Policy, one of the most radical social experiments in history
  • Maggie walks us through the research process for writing “An Excess Male”
  • The importance of targeted research to prevent the loss of writing time
  • Why it’s crucial to join writing groups
  • How editors help to move your story forward
  • How to improve your world building as a linear writer
  • Learn what a style sheet is and how it can help you create dynamic characters.
Oct 26, 2017

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 new episode, we have Holly Black, the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of the popular books that many of you recognize her from are the “The Spiderwick Chronicles” and The Modern Faerie Tale series. She’s also hugely popular for “The Coldest Girl in Coldtown” and the Magisterium series. Holly’s been a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award, the Mythopoeic Award and a Newbery Honor.

In the episode, we talk about the importance of understanding your character’s oppositions to move your plot forward, how to make the most out of critique groups and get the best constructive feedback for your story, the importance of being a part of a community that understands the ups and downs of the industry and ways you can find that community for yourself, and the characteristics you want to ideally find in your critique partner.

We also discuss how to overcome self-doubt as a writer and Holly shares a bunch of writing tools that help set writing goals. We dive into what it means to fast draft and how it pushes you past your critical eye to finish your first draft. For listeners especially focused on the craft of writing, you are going to freaking love today’s episode because Holly also shares how she starts a story with a character and a feeling, and how that navigates her to write the rest of the novel with an image in mind that evokes that specific feeling. Holly unpacks why it’s crucial to describe the fantastical elements at the same level of reality when writing contemporary fantasy, and how to craft narrative voices that resonate with your intended audience by thinking about what you cared about during that age.

Heads up: This episode is so good.

Say 'Hi' to Holly on Twitter! Check out the books and resources 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!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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 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!

---

“A lot of times we are doing things that have nothing to do with our writing until someday it does.” -Holly Black (Click to tweet!)

“Write for your reader-self, not your writer-self.” -Holly Black (Click to tweet!)

“The more real that you can make the real world, the more real the fantasy is going to feel.” -Holly Black (Click to tweet!)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • How Holly discovered her love for fantasy and folklore
  • How writing a manuscript also serves as a journey of self-discovery
  • The importance of understanding your character’s oppositions to move your plot forward
  • How to make the most out of critique groups and get the best constructive feedback for your story
  • The importance of being a part of a community that understands the ups and downs of the industry and ways you can find that community for yourself
  • The characteristics you want to ideally find in your critique partner
  • How to overcome self-doubt as a writer
  • Holly shares writing tools that help set writing goals
  • Holly walks us through the technique of fast drafting and how it pushes you past your critical eye to finish your first draft
  • Starting the story with a character and a feeling and writing the rest of the novel with an image in mind that evokes that specific feeling
  • Why it's crucial to describe the fantastical elements at the same level of reality when writing contemporary fantasy
  • How to craft narrative voices that resonate with your intended audience by thinking about what you cared about during that age
Oct 19, 2017

E. Lockhart is the author of the New York Times bestseller "We Were Liars".  In this episode, we dig deep into her newest novel, "Genuine Fraud", where you’ll learn about the inspiration behind the book and its main characters.

She walks us through how she structured her novel and tackled the challenging timeline, and how she wrote her first action sequence by studying other great action sequences. Further into our conversation, we discuss how E. creates effective and realistic story settings, and how she creates emotional resonance in her writing. Craft-focused writers will love our chat about unreliable narrators and why it’s crucial to never lie to the readers.

On a more personal note, E. walks us through one of the most difficult times in her career and how it became a blessing in disguise that navigated her way to success. We wrap up the episode with actionable advice for you to achieve your writing goals. This episode is packed with some fantastic knowledge bombs and I’m excited for you to dive in. 

Say 'Hi' to E. Lockhart on Twitter! and check out the books/resources 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!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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 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!

---

“If they [the characters] feel very close to people, it’s because they’re close to me.” -E. Lockhart (Click to tweet)

“Sometimes the door opens but it’s not the door you thought you were knocking on, but it’s still a door.” -E. Lockhart (Click to tweet)

“I’m not going to create my best work if I stay in totally familiar territory.” -E. Lockhart (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • We deep-dive into the writing inspiration and process behind "Genuine Fraud" and the main characters 
  • Learn how she structured her novel and tackled the challenging timeline in “Genuine Fraud”
  • How E. wrote her first action sequence by studying other great action sequences
  • Learn how she challenges herself as a writer by shifting genres
  • Creating emotional resonance in your writing
  • Writing effective and realistic story settings 
  • Learn who and what was edited out of “Genuine Fraud”
  • E. shares details about one of the most difficult times in her career and how it became a blessing in disguise
  • Learn what it’s like for her to shift between from lighter contemporary novels to darker thrillers 
  • We discuss what makes a narrator unreliable and how E. writes truthfully for all her characters
  • E. walks us through actionable advice for you to achieve your writing goals
Oct 12, 2017

We have Nic Stone in our new episode, author of the incredibly powerful debut, "Dear Martin". Her new novel releases on October 17 and I am incredibly excited that we can reveal an excerpt from "Dear Martin" that’s exclusive to our 88 Cups of Tea community. To read the exclusive excerpt, click here! 

In our conversation, you’ll learn what inspired the idea for Nic’s debut and what helped to shape the voice of her main character Justyce McAllister. She shares how to create emotional resonance in our work by being vulnerable and writing like a reader. We discuss the importance of having an honest and visionary editor on your team, the importance of diverse representation in the publishing industry, and how playing with the format of your book can help you cater to specific audiences.

We talk about the detrimental problems caused by systemic racism and we deep-dive into understanding that the root of anger can lead to compassion, and how to create change through self-reflection. We wrap up the interview chatting about Nic’s next novel that she is currently working on!

Say 'Hi' to Nic on Twitter! and check out the books/resources 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!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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 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!

---

“I wasted time trying to find balance instead of just working with what I had.” -Nic Stone (Click to tweet)

“I have to do my art, I have to write, I have to do these things that keep me thriving and keep me going and keep me feeling alive.” -Nic Stone (Click to tweet)

“Write like a reader and read like a writer.” -Nic Stone (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Learn how Nic fell in love with storytelling and YA fiction
  • Nic shares how you can learn to write through reading 
  • Learn why it’s important to not feel guilty when you fail in certain areas while succeeding in others 
  • How our country’s systemic racism crumbled Nic’s world and shaped the voice of Justyce in “Dear Martin” 
  • How understanding the root of your anger can lead to compassion 
  • Creating change through self-reflection and finding the space in which you thrive
  • The importance of your rhetoric when interacting with people with problematic thinking 
  • Nic shares exciting news about her novel that she is currently working on
  • The importance of having an honest and visionary editor on your team
  • How playing with the format of your book can help you cater to specific audiences
  • How personifying your world’s settings can create more life in your novel 
  • Create emotional resonance in your work by being vulnerable and writing like a reader
  • The importance of diverse representation in the publishing industry 
Sep 14, 2017

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 new episode, we have a highly motivating roundup of interview clips from guests we’ve had on the show throughout the past two years. There’s so much that’s been going on around us, and an overwhelming amount of devastating news lately, and it’s honestly no surprise that there are many of us hitting a wall with our creativity. I’ve been keeping a close eye on our community and some of you have not been able to write lately, and several have been feeling stuck for quite some time now. So I went through some of your top favorite and most popular episodes to pull out highlights I found would be most helpful for you right now, and will hopefully give you a massive boost of inspiration.

In the roundup, you’ll be hearing clips from interviews with Jacqueline Woodson, Victoria V.E. Schwab, Rita Williams-Garcia, Jeff Zentner, Angie Thomas, and Leigh Bardugo, in that specific order. We talk about writing as a catharsis to push through grief, facing self-doubt, making time for writing, and learning to fall back in love with your writing.

I hope that after you listen to this episode, it feels like a warm tight hug for your soul and anytime you hit a rough spot again with your writing, I encourage you to re-listen to this episode to remind you that you are not alone.

Say 'Hi' to our featured authors on Twitter!

Jacqueline Woodson

Victoria V.E. Schwab

Rita Williams-Garcia

Jeff Zentner

Angie Thomas

Leigh Bardugo

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!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you 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!

---

Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here!

---

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

---

Click on the following links to be brought to each author’s full interview on 88 Cups of Tea: 

Jacqueline Woodson

Victoria V.E. Schwab

Rita Williams-Garcia

Jeff Zentner

Angie Thomas

Leigh Bardugo

Sep 7, 2017

In today’s new episode, we have award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder of the “Study” series.

In our conversation, you’ll learn what inspired the idea for Maria’s novel "Poison Study", the first book to kick off the Study series. We have a detailed look inside her research and writing process, and what her revision process is like. We discuss the importance of creating a story bible and keeping track of the details when writing a book series, and how to develop and maintain romantic relationships throughout.

You’ll learn how writing and critique groups create deadlines and provide support for your writing. And Maria shares advice on finding your voice as a mother and a writer, and how to create intentional writing time with a busy schedule.

Say 'Hi' to Maria on Facebook and check out the books/resources 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!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you 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!

---

Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here!

---

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

---

“Since I discover my story as I write, revision is a big part of it for me.” -Maria V. Snyder 

“Getting support from other writers is really important.” -Maria V. Snyder 

“My dream is not the destination, it’s the time.” -Maria V. Snyder 

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Learn how Maria merges her two passions of meteorology and writing
  • Learn what inspired the idea for "Poison Study"  
  • How writing and critique groups create deadlines and provide support for your writing
  • Maria’s advice on finding your voice as a mother and a writer 
  • How to create intentional writing time with a busy schedule
  • The importance of keeping track of the details and creating a story bible when writing a series 
  • A look into Maria’s creative research and writing processes 
  • How to develop and maintain romantic relationships throughout a series
  • Learn how Maria revises her novels 
  • How children’s non-fiction books can serve as great resources for your story
Aug 28, 2017

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

---

We have Ruta Sepetys on 88 Cups of Tea this week! Ruta is a New York Times bestseller and a Carnegie Medal winning crossover author whose critically acclaimed novels are read by both teens and adults. Ruta was awarded The Rockefeller Foundation’s prestigious Bellagio Center writing residency for her historical novel “Salt to the Sea”. The feature film adaptations of “Salt to the Sea” and her debut “Between Shades of Gray” are also on their way to theaters.

In our conversation, we talk about the real-life details that inspired “Salt to the Sea” and Ruta’s emotional process while writing the novel. We walk through a massive deep-dive of her research process, and she shares tips on interviewing techniques along with advice on how to respectfully approach people to interview for your own novels.

For our craft-focused listeners, you’re going to love our discussion about writing from multiple POVs and how to master each voice. Along that same topic, Ruta shares why it’s important for listeners to not shy away from writing dark and emotional POVs. We also touch on how she writes emotionally challenging characters.

Further into our conversation, we cover the role of rejection and how failure helps to set us up for future success, and how admitting your fears can help you move beyond them.

Say 'Hi' to Ruta on Twitter and check out the books/resources 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!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you 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!

---

Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here!

---

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

Aug 24, 2017

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

---

We're back with episode 101 and we have literary agent Barry Goldblatt, founder of Barry Goldblatt Literary, on 88 Cups of Tea today.

In our conversation, Barry shares how he transitioned from an 11-year career in the rights and contracts departments at various publishing houses to opening his own literary agency. Barry walks us through the elements of a story that attracts him to a novel for representation, his manuscript wish list, the categories he represents and what he’s actively seeking. We discuss Barry’s relationship with his clients, how he meets their needs, and how he guides their work to publication.

Further into our conversation, we get into the nitty gritty of the technicalities like how literary agents match authors and their manuscripts with editors and publishing houses, and what happens to a manuscript after it’s sold to an editor and publishing house. Barry also walks us through what exactly subsidiary rights are in the publishing world.

If you’re about to query a literary agent, you’re in luck because Barry covers the do’s and don’ts of a query letter. 

Say 'Hi' to Barry on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in his episode over at his 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!

---

Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you 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!

Aug 10, 2017

Oh..My..LAWD: It’s our 100th episode.

I can not believe how far we’ve come. Thank you all for helping me grow 88 Cups of Tea into the incredible community it is today. 

We have a really fun mash-up of voice messages from our listeners and interviews with my loved ones.

I can’t wait for you all to hear from your fellow listener-friends. Thank you so much to Andrew Pryor, Jessica Lemmons, Sarah Suk, Tracy Badua, Jeanne Rodrigue, Melissa See, Jennifer Chen, Megan Lynch, and Kit Grant for taking the time to share their stories. They recorded such heartfelt and inspiring voice messages for our 100th episode and I was moved to tears. Their stories are incredible.

For the interviews, I asked Moonlynn and my best friends Micky Shiloah and Aimee Teegarden to hop on a recorded conversation so that listeners can learn more about me. These three specific people are my nearest and dearest who know me the best and they all bring so much happiness to my life. I’ve never shared so much about my personal life or behind-the-scenes about the podcast. I’ll be honest, I’m a little nervous because there’s so much of me in this episode, but I’m also excited to hear from you and learn what you resonated with or found most exciting.

In our conversations, we get into some serious real talk about what it’s like running the podcast, the pros and cons of producing our show, relationships, how I’m feeling about turning 30, and we made sure to get to our listener questions for this episode.

Thank you so much for getting us to episode 100 and for helping us reach 88 Cups of Tea’s 2nd birthday. I have so much love for you all!

Head over to the shownotes page for the time stamps of our interviews and listener-messages by clicking here!

Xo

Yin

PS. To see what Moonlynn, Micky and Aimee are up to, follow them on Instagram!

Moonlynn (click here)

Micky (click here)

Aimee (click here)

---

To keep up with what Micky and Aimee are up to in the acting world, click on their IMDB pages: 

Micky's IMDB

Aimee's IMDB

---

To check out the short film I wrote/directed (mentioned in this episode), click here! (FYI: It's a silent film)

---

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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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 fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. And have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

Aug 3, 2017

Hena Khan is an award-winning picture book and middle grade author whose work includes an Islam-themed picture book for the Curious George books. Hena was tapped to write the first release of Simon & Schuster’s groundbreaking imprint Salaam Reads, where she wrote the highly acclaimed middle grade novel “Amina’s Voice”.

Hena and I discuss the inspiration behind “Amina’s Voice” and her universal story of self-acceptance and the acceptance of others. Hena walks us through how she introduces Islam to her young readers and we continue to talk about how important it is to have diverse representation in children’s literature.  

Further into our conversation, Hena unpacks how she strengthens her character’s voice by knowing exactly what they want, and we touch on ways that writers can instill accountability to inspire a finished story. For those of you who are currently looking for writing groups to be a part of, Hena shares the specific characteristics of writing groups you should look out for when finding your perfect group.

Say 'Hi' to Hena on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!

Happy listening!

Xo

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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you 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!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

---

“Stories have the power to change hearts and minds.” -Hena Khan (Click to tweet)

“We are not a monolith and one story can’t represent all of us.” -Hena Khan (Click to tweet)

“Having people say that these books…matters to them and it made a difference to them in some way is how I define success.” -Hena Khan (Click to tweet)

“I realized I couldn’t understand other people’s loss until I had experienced it myself.” -Hena Khan (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • The importance of the imprint Salaam Reads in our current political climate
  • Hena shares how she introduces Islam to her young audience
  • How to strengthen your character’s voice by knowing what they want
  • Ways you can instill accountability to inspire you to finish your story
  • The characteristics of writing groups you should search for when finding your perfect group
  • How Hena got the opportunity to write “It’s Ramadan, Curious George”  
  • The importance of diverse representation in children’s literature
  • Finding empathy after experiencing loss
Jul 31, 2017

Laura Atkins is an author, teacher and independent children’s book editor with over twenty years of editorial experience. She’s worked with publishing companies helping to produce winners of the Coretta Scott King Award and American Library Association Notable Book selections. I’m so excited to bring her on the show to discuss her passion about diversity and her work as a co-author of the children’s book "Fred Korematsu Speaks Up".

"Fred Korematsu Speaks Up" is the first book of the “Fighting for Justice” series which introduces young readers to real-life heroes and heroines of social progress. The story of Fred Korematsu’s fight against discrimination explores the life of one courageous person who made the United States a fairer place for all Americans, and it encourages all of us to speak up for justice.

In today’s episode, Laura walks us through the world-building of her children’s book, and how she and her co-author Stan Yogi used a focus group to help them craft their novel for their intended audience. We continue to discuss the importance of a detailed research process to accurately represent history, and how Laura and Stan used multiple storytelling techniques to make all the of the information more accessible for the young readers. We also talk about the responsibility the publishing industry has to diversify representation in the literary world.

Say 'Hi' to Laura on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at 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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you 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!

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

---

“We want to have this be a window that people can come through and then feel like they have the tools to dig deeper and go further.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)

“I tend to think structurally as if I was closing my eyes and seeing a landscape and then seeing shapes emerge.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)

“What I am looking for right now is self-belief and confidence as a writer and a creator.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • A look into the world-building of "Fred Korematsu Speaks Up"
  • Laura shares how she and her co-author Stan used a focus group to craft their novel for the children’s book audience
  • How Laura and her co-author used multiple storytelling techniques to make their story accessible to young readers
  • How the format will present itself as it’s own creative process in your novel 
  • The importance of a detailed research process to represent history accurately 
  • How Laura and Stan ended their novel by giving their readers outlets to learn more about Fred Korematsu’s story 
  • Laura introduces Biddy Mason as the subject of her next novel 
  • Laura discuss the responsibility the publishing industry has to diversify representation in the literary world
Jul 27, 2017

Laurin Mayeno is the author of “One of a Kind, Like Me/ Unico Como Yo”, a bilingual children’s book inspired by her own experiences with her son and her community activism. In “One of a Kind Like Me”, a young boy fights gender stereotypes by dressing up as a princess for the school parade. Laurin’s book is breaking ground as one of few bilingual, multicultural children’s books about gender diversity, and its inspired much-needed conversation about gender diversity with educators, families, and children.

Laurin's episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby'. I just borrowed audiobooks through "Libby" last week and it's been AH-mazing. For those of you who are new to it, "Libby" is a brand new reading app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In today’s episode, we dive deeper into Laurin’s relationship with her son Danny, and how he’s shown her a world where love is not limited by gender. Laurin has tirelessly dedicated her time to working with organizations, schools, and families to create spaces where gender-diverse young people and their families can thrive. Today’s conversation is a really special one for me as I hope all parents of LGBTQ children will be as supportive and loving as Laurin is today. Especially in light of the news yesterday, Laurin’s work and contributions are needed now more than ever.

Further into our conversation, we discuss why it’s beneficial for writers to work with a writing coach and how a writing coach helped to shape Laurin’s story. Laurin walks us through her process of being a first-time writer where we cover how to publish, the learning curves she had to go through, and how to market your book. And we also touch on self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

Say 'Hi' to Laurin on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at 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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook 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. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

 

“Learn and keep learning. It’s not a process that ends, it’s a process that continues.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)

“People have immense capacity to go through challenging times and learn and grow if they’re given the opportunity.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)

“Society has some learning and growth to do.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Laurin shares the personal experiences that inspired her to create "One of a Kind, Like Me"
  • Why it’s beneficial for writers to work with a writing coach and Laurin shares how a writing coach helped to shape her story
  • How Laurin stays proactive in learning about the LGBTQ community
  • Advice for parents who are worried about their LGBTQ children being harmed in public
  • The challenges and sobering realities of parents who have children who are LGBTQ
  • Why it’s crucial to highlight diverse literature for children
  • Laurin walks us through her process of being a first-time writer: How to publish, learning curves, how to market
  • How to turn a story that wasn’t meant to be a children’s story, into a children’s story
  • Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
  • Why it’s important to get your book on as many lists as possible
Jul 20, 2017

Kate Schatz is the New York Times-bestselling author of "Rad American Women A-Z" and "Rad Women Worldwide". Her books introduce readers to a list of powerful female role models and change-makers. From activists and artists, to scientists and rock stars, Kate highlights brave women who’ve impacted and altered our history for the better. I am so grateful for books like these.

Kate's episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby'. I just borrowed audiobooks through "Libby" last week and it's been AH-mazing. For those of you who are new to it, "Libby" is a brand new reading app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In addition to delving into detail about the inspiration that led her to writing her books, we discuss her collaborative relationship with the illustrator of her books, Miriam Klein Stahl. Kate also walks us through what the heavy research process was like, and which of the women’s stories surprised her most during the research phase.

Further into our conversation, Kate gives really solid and helpful advice on rediscovering yourself and owning your identity in motherhood. We continued to discuss the importance of joining a writing community to inspire your craft and create accountability for yourself, how to gain the courage to claim yourself as a writer, and she shares her strategy on finding literary agents who are the perfect fit for your writing.

Say 'Hi' to Kate on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at 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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

“Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself as a writer.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)

“Trust your intuition. Trust that you’re good at what you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing it.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)

“I understand my process; it’s kind of messy. I just start writing and it takes shape at some point.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Kate walks us through the inspiration that led her to writing her books
  • She shares what it’s like working with her illustrator Miriam Klein Stahl and having a collaborative relationship
  • The importance of joining a writing community to inspire your craft and create accountability for yourself
  • How to gain the courage to claim yourself as a writer
  • How to find yourself again and own your identity in motherhood
  • Kate’s strategy on finding literary agents who are the perfect fit for your writing
Jul 13, 2017

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Publishers Weekly internationally bestselling author of many critically acclaimed novels. Her "Blue Bloods" series has sold over three million copies, and the "Witches of East End" series became an hour-long television drama on the Lifetime network.

I'm thrilled this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In today’s episode, Melissa shares the inspiration behind her book "Alex and Eliza" and what the writing process was like. We also discuss her novel "Something in Between" which follows an overachieving Filipino high schooler who came to the U.S. when she was a child. Though not autobiographical in any way, we touch on how Melissa’s own move from the Philippines to the U.S. and her experiences with a complicated green card situation laid down the emotional foundation for her character’s voice.

Further into our conversation, we talk about why it’s important for writers to have a solid support system and good critique partners. For listeners working on a manuscript or entering the query trenches, you’ll definitely want to keep an ear out for her advice about dealing with rejections and recognizing when you’ve finished your novel.

Say 'Hi' to Melissa on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at 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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

 

“Send it out, get rejected, develop a tough skin, and keep on knocking on that door.” -Melissa de la Cruz (Click to tweet)

“It’s really important to teach kids…how to see people who are different as fully human as you are.” -Melissa de la Cruz (Click to tweet)

“When you make writing the sole purpose…you’re not paying attention to the life around you.” -Melissa de la Cruz (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Melissa’s experience moving to the U.S.
  • Knowing when you’ve finished your novel
  • Why having a support system is crucial for writers
  • The importance of finding a good critique partner
  • The inspiration and writing process behind “Alex and Eliza”
  • Retelling classic stories
  • Why it’s important to teach children how to be empathetic
  • Querying advice: How to query literary agents with fearlessness
Jul 6, 2017

Zoraida Cordova is the author of "The Vicious Deep" trilogy, the "On the Verge" series, and the Brooklyn Brujas series. Her latest novel, "Labyrinth Lost", was a Tor.com Best Book of 2016 and an NPR Best Young Adult Book of 2016.“Labyrinth Lost” was also optioned for film by Paramount Studios.

I'm thrilled this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In today’s episode, Zoraida walks us through the inspiration behind “Labyrinth Lost” and how she created the religion in the novel. She also shares how the editing journey for her novel inspired new story lines and stronger characters, and what it was like to land the movie deal.

Further into our conversation, we talk about the importance of surrounding yourself with honest people in the writing community who push you to do better.

For craft-focused listeners, we discuss how your own family structure can inspire world-building ideas, and why Zoraida doesn’t always rationalize the characters’ emotions.

Say 'Hi' to Zoraida on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here. And don't forget to follow her hiking journey on Instagram 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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

“At the end of the day, the only thing I can control are the words that I put on the page.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)

“When we talk about mirror images in media and in society, it’s really important to be able to see a reflection of part of yourself.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)

“Read widely…It helps you figure out who you are as a writer and how you want to tell your stories.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • Landing a movie deal for “Labyrinth Lost”
  • How your own family structure can inspire world-building ideas
  • The importance of surrounding yourself with honest people in the writing community who push you to do better
  • How the editing journey for “Labyrinth Lost” inspired new story lines and stronger characters
  • The sources of inspiration Zoraida drew from to create the religion in “Labyrinth Lost”
  • A look into Zoraida’s organized writing process
  • The importance of giving your characters justice by not always rationalizing their emotions

 

Jun 29, 2017

Erin Chack is a senior editor at BuzzFeed and the author of “This Is Really Happening”, a profoundly transparent collection of essays written in a sharply observant voice that’s refreshingly candid. Erin describes her book as “an essay collection about the best, the worst, and the weirdest moments” of her life so far.

I'm thrilled this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

We kick off our discussion today by talking about how Erin uses comedy to point out the realities of life. She also shares the story of a life-changing email that paved the way to writing her memoir.

Further into our conversation, we unpack why it’s crucial for memoir writers to write with honesty and confidence, and how to prevent self-doubt from holding you back in telling your story. We also talk about the steps Erin took to hone her craft of writing.

I am so excited for you to hear this episode. Erin is one of those down-to-earth, effortlessly funny, and honest peeps you immediately want to become fast friends with after meeting for the first time. I can’t wait for you to form a new friend-crush after hearing her episode.

Say 'Hi' to Erin on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at 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! 

PPS. 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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

“My biggest mistake was ever thinking that my stories aren’t worth telling.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)

“Just start writing because there is no reason to not just dive right in.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)

“It’s about the journey and the way that people can relate to the story.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)

---

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM TODAY'S EPISODE: 

  • How Erin uses comedy to talk about the realities of life
  • The steps Erin took to hone her writing craft
  • Why honesty and confidence are vital characteristics to have as a memoir writer
  • How to prevent self-doubt from holding you back in telling your story
  • How to truthfully write about loved ones while also writing about them in a positive light
Jun 22, 2017

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

---

Nina LaCour is the author of the William C. Morris Honor Book, “Hold Still”. Los Angeles Times perfectly describes her writing in which they write, “LaCour has a knack for capturing the unique intensity of teenage characters discovering love, sex and intense friendship for the first time while also giving them talents and interests that make moving into adulthood look cool.” In describing her newest novel, “We Are Okay”, New York Times said her latest book is, “Short, poetic and gorgeously written…The world LaCour creates is fragile but profoundly humane.”

In our conversation proudly brought to you by Sun Basket and 'Libby', Nina shares the personal experiences that inspired “We Are Okay”, and how she weaved her experiences with tragedy into her novel “Hold Still”. We discuss why it’s important to immerse yourself in diverse communities, and how to spark inspiration and motivation for your writing by reading short stories.

We cover the importance of brevity in your story and how subplots may distract your readers from the main ideas. For craft-related topics, we talk about writing strong character relationships, writing about grief, and how to write a captivating ending that remains ambiguous. Nina also shares her personal experience querying literary agents the traditional way.

Say 'Hi' to Nina on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at 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! 

PPS. 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 WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

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