[PART 2] DAN SANTAT: 2015 CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER on Setting Small Steps towards Great Success & Marketing Yourself with Social Media

“If you can reveal everything about yourself, then you can write about anything.”

 

Hello Storytellers! I just arrived in Singapore about two hours ago– I love how efficient their public transportation is!

Today’s episode marks the 25th episode for 88 CUPS OF TEA— Happy 25th Episode, storytellers!  88 CUPS OF TEA wouldn’t be here without you amazing listeners. Thank you so much for listening in each week and making the storyteller tribe what it is today.

We have part 2 of Dan Santat’s interview today! Please listen to Part 1 of Dan’s interview if you haven’t yet. In Part 1, you get an idea of how his creative mind works through examples of how and why he created Caldecott Medal winning book “THE ADVENTURES OF BEEKLE: THE UNIMAGINARY FRIEND”. (According to a Variety article published in May, “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend” has been adapted into a DreamWorks Animation movie that will be directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jason Reitman.)

 

I’m so excited about today’s Part 2 episode with Dan because you really get an idea of the values that guides Dan’s choices with his career, family, and life overall. He is an incredible example of what it means to be an artist, a storyteller, and a human being. Aside from a ton of actionable advice he generously shares, we dive pretty deep into Dan’s personal life and what drives him to be the father and husband that his family can always count on, all while managing and balancing a wildly successful career as an illustrator and author.

 

In today’s episode, Dan is going to take us through examples of how social media, like Facebook, allows him to network in a genuine and authentic way. Listeners will also learn how social media can act like a portfolio to land jobs for artists and storytellers.

 

This is a super special interview I saved to celebrate my 25th episode on 88 CUPS OF TEA so please soak in every word Dan says and take them to heart!

 

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

• How social media became an authentic and genuine way for Dan to network and how you can use social media as a portfolio to land a job
• The importance of marketing your writing towards librarians and teachers
• Why it’s crucial that writers should not search for a dollar value during their writing process
• The importance of surrounding yourself with friends that can provide you with constructive criticism
• How setting small goals for himself allowed Dan to achieve great success
• Why Dan believes that you should never put aside your happiness for financial stability
• How being open and honest can allow you to write about anything

“I control my own destiny.”