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!

Tochi Onyebuchi on Finding Joy in your Writing Process 10/29/2020

Stacey Lee On Uncovering Untold Stories 10/01/2020

Stacey Lee On Uncovering Untold Stories Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: If you’re looking for a super intimate space where you can meet fellow storytellers and experience what it’s like to be a part of our community, come hang out with us in our private Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea. We check in with each other on the daily, and have weekly threads where you can update each other about your work-in-progress, along with swapping recommendations for books and tv shows, and there’s a whole lot more that happens in there. Join us at ! --------------------------------------- We are thrilled to announce we are beginning the process of building out 88 Cups of Tea’s volunteer positions and would love to hear from you if you’re passionate about 88 Cups of Tea and want to be a part of building out our future. Fill out our application here: --------------------------------------- Stacey Lee is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary young adult fiction, including , , , and her most recent novel, . In our conversation, Stacey reflects on how she cultivated her inner confidence as a storyteller at a young age and how it's continued to grow throughout her writing career. She opens up about the invaluable writing strategies she learned as a lawyer that helps her see the importance of every single word on the page and craft authenticity in her characters. Filled with crafting advice on detailed research processes, using metaphors to write strong protagonists, finding critique partners, and more, our conversation will be sure to spark inspiration and joy. Please say 'Hi' to Stacey on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/16228451

Kat Cho on Writing as a Source of Solace and Joy 09/21/2020

Kat Cho on Writing as a Source of Solace and Joy Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: If you’re looking for a super intimate space where you can meet fellow storytellers and experience what it’s like to be a part of our community, come hang out with us in our private Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/88cupsoftea. We check in with each other on the daily, and have weekly threads where you can update each other about your work-in-progress, along with swapping recommendations for books and tv shows, and there’s a whole lot more that happens in there. Join us at ! --------------------------------------- We are thrilled to announce we are beginning the process of building out 88 Cups of Tea’s volunteer positions and would love to hear from you if you’re passionate about 88 Cups of Tea and want to be a part of building out our future. Fill out our application here: --------------------------------------- Kat Cho is the international bestselling author of and and the co-host of the . In our conversation, we reflect on our experiences navigating the pandemic as a human, a creative, and an author. Kat shines a light on the act of writing as a transformative source of solace and joy in the most challenging of times as we discuss her journey moving through grief, and fleshing out her stories that emerged from the rawest heartbreak that evolved into the most powerful form of hope. In a conversation lined with transparency and vulnerability, Kat shares wisdom on the human experience beyond her years. Please say 'Hi' to Kat on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/16094384

Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam In Conversation With Lelina Chang 09/03/2020

Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam In Conversation With Lelina Chang Warm welcome to our new listeners, you can to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. And to experience the warmth and encouragement of our community first-hand! --------------------------------------- In this special edition 88 Cups of Tea podcast episode, we feature National Book Award Finalist Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam of The Exonerated Five in conversation with 88 Cups of Tea guest-host Lelina Chang, an advocate whose work is focused on the intersection of racial equity and environmental justice. In 1989, Dr. Yusef Salaam was just fifteen years old when he was tried and convicted in the “Central Park Jogger Case” along with four other Black and Latino boys. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. Since then, they received a multi-million-dollar settlement from the City of New York for its injustice and were profiled in award-winning films, including documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon and the award-winning Netflix limited series , written and directed by Ava DuVernay. In our podcast episode, Lelina interviews Yusef and Ibi about their newest co-authored novel in verse and how the book came to fruition. Yusef talks about the power of self-purpose and hope and how his spiritual journey was mirrored through the main character Amal while Ibi shares how she embraced and holistically weaved Yusef‘s stories and philosophies to craft a story told from a young Muslim, Black boy’s point of view. Further in, they break down and analyze two influential poems in the novel that speak to Yusef’s experience being boxed in with his thoughts and his own devices in his jail cell, and the power DNA has to tie individuals to the collective injustices of the past. Ibi shares how crafting her poems in different shapes and forms helps bring to life the meaning of the poems on the page. And later, they discuss what it means to bring about diversity with diversity and the crucial work that still needs to be done to create a holistic representation of communities of color in the literary world. Please say 'Hi' to Yusef Salaam on Twitter! Please say 'Hi' to Ibi Zoboi on Twitter! Head over to their shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in their episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/15867878

Molly O'Neill On The Roles Of A Literary Agent Part 2 08/06/2020

Molly O'Neill On The Roles Of A Literary Agent Part 2 Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: You can to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Curious about the different roles of an editor? How they help authors transform their stories and make them come alive? How about the ways to break into the publishing industry as an editor or literary agent? Or tips for crafting a strong query letter and the value a literary agent will bring to your career? We talk about it all and more with Molly O'Neill. Molly is a literary agent with . Books that Molly has worked on have gone on to become #1 New York Times Bestsellers, have been made into major motion pictures, and received countless awards, honors, and accolades. Most recently, her clients’ books have been honored to receive National Book Awards longlist nomination, the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, the Schneider Family Book Award, and as ALA Odyssey Honors for Audiobooks and Goodreads Choice Awards nominees, among many others. In part 2 of our conversation, we discuss how she discovers and pursues new writing talent and matches them with the best editor to help their stories come alive. She shares how an author’s social media presence and writing competition victories can be a path to grabbing a literary agent’s attention but it’s not the only journey an aspiring author has to take and that spending your energy on making your writing the best it can be is the most important aspect. Further in, Molly talks about the query letters that have stood out to her the most and tips for improving your own query letters. She lists helpful writing and publishing resources you won’t want to miss, how supporting and contributing to the publishing community will help you create connections and opportunities, and smart financial moves to make when you receive your first book advance. And later, we talk about how your relationship with writing can change when your writing hobby turns into your job, the role self-awareness plays as you’re trying to reach your writing goals, and strategies for finding inspiration and uncovering the story you've always been meant to tell. Please say 'Hi' to Molly on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/15505085

Molly O’Neill On The Roles Of A Literary Agent Part 1 07/23/2020

Molly O’Neill On The Roles Of A Literary Agent Part 1 Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: You can to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Curious about the different roles of an editor? How they help authors transform their stories and make them come alive? How about the ways to break into the publishing industry as an editor or literary agent? We talk about it all and more with Molly O’Neill. Molly is a literary agent with . Books that Molly has worked on have gone on to become #1 New York Times Bestsellers, have been made into major motion pictures, and received countless awards, honors, and accolades. Most recently, her clients’ books have been honored to receive National Book Awards longlist nomination, the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, the Schneider Family Book Award, and as ALA Odyssey Honors for Audiobooks and Goodreads Choice Awards nominees, among many others. Molly shared so much wisdom, industry-knowledge, and publishing advice that we had to make her episode a two-parter! In the first part of our conversation, Molly talks about the power of story and how it helped created bonds between her and her loved ones. She talks about her love for children’s books, how the publishing industry helps establish relationships between stories and humans, and the steps she took to break into the publishing industry. Further in, she discusses how she became the editor for the and the importance of editing or representing books you love versus books that are on-trend. She gives us an in-depth look at the many roles editors hold like helping authors’ stories come alive on the page, acting as the book’s advocate to sales reps, and being an advocate for the readers so they have a great reading experience. And later, Molly begins to tell us how she moved from editor to literary agent! Please say 'Hi' to Molly on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/15323417

Elizabeth Acevedo On Disrupting Priorities 07/09/2020

Elizabeth Acevedo On Disrupting Priorities Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: You can to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Want to learn experimental and playful ways to reinvent your writing process? How to confront your perfectionism when crafting your first draft? Or the ways building patterns can help you tap into your emotional needs? We talk about it all and more with Elizabeth Acevedo. Elizabeth is the New York Times bestselling author of , , and . Her critically-acclaimed debut novel, , won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She is also the recipient of the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award. She was also honored with the 2019 Pure Belpré Author Award for celebrating, affirming, and portraying Latinx culture and experience. In our conversation, we discuss the important role that routine plays in our writing process and how it can help us connect deeper with our characters. Elizabeth shares her experience rebuilding and relearning her own routine during this pandemic and how forgiveness, kindness, and focusing on what is in her control has helped her throughout this difficult time. We then talk about disrupting our priorities to give ourselves permission to slow down and rest. And later, we discuss strategies to help us confront our writing fears and push past perfectionism to allow us to see the beauty in the entire journey from the first draft to the finished piece. Please say 'Hi' to Elizabeth on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/15141230

Daniel José Older On Reaching The Heart Of Your Story 06/25/2020

Daniel José Older On Reaching The Heart Of Your Story Warm welcome to our new listeners, let's continue and build upon the momentum surrounding the active work to create a just and equitable system for the black community. Head over to our page of resources of recommended learning: You can to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Curious to discover the best practices for character development and plotting when crafting a series? Or how to know when it’s time to start or stop writing your story? How about the important role inspirational research serves when trying to get to the heart of your story? We talk about it all and more with Daniel José Older. Daniel is the New York Times bestselling author of the Middle-Grade historical fantasy series , the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, , and the award-winning Young Adult series the , which won the International Latino Book Award and was shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature, the Andre Norton Award, the Locus, the Mythopoeic Award, and named one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read. We begin our conversation discussing how he discovered his creative voice at a young age through drawing, music, and storytelling. We learn about his college days and becoming an EMT to keep him financially stable while working on his craft. We have an honest conversation about the uncertainty of relying on your writing as your main source of income and the moments of instability that it can bring. Further in, Daniel talks about his path to becoming a published author, pushing past rejection, and the importance of mentorship and community during this time. He shares plotting and character development tips for writing a series and the important role inspirational research serves when crafting your stories. And later, we talk about how writing is about listening to yourself and to those around you, being intentional about knowing when to start and stop your story, and why it’s crucial to understand what’s most important in your story so you can be committed to the things that matter the most and be flexible to change other parts to ultimately get to the heart of your story. Please say 'Hi' to Daniel on Twitter! Head over to his shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in his episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/14961194

Let's talk 06/12/2020

Kelly Yang on Persevering Through Unprecedented Times 05/28/2020

Kelly Yang on Persevering Through Unprecedented Times Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Kelly’s episode is edited from a livestream we recorded back in March. Please note that the audio quality isn’t as clear as it’s pulled from our livestream, and you’ll hear some popping sounds in the background which were notifications from the live commenting during the livestream, but the content is so important especially during these times so don’t let the audio quality get in the way! If you’d like to watch our full 2-hour live streamed conversation, head on over to Kelly’s shownotes page at ! --------------------------------------- How do we move through these arduous times? How are writers sustaining creativity? How does one determine when there’s enough research to begin drafting? We discuss these topics and more with Kelly Yang. Kelly is the award-wining author of , the winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, her newly released YA novel , and her upcoming book and sequel of - Three Keys. Kelly and I kick off our conversation diving into Kelly’s experience during Covid-19 as an Asian-American, how she is feeding her creativity during this challenging time, ways she is trying to keep herself and her family emotionally healthy, and how she has redefined her self-care. She also shares ways in which we all can help combat the horrible racism and discrimination in our communities brought about from Covid-19. Further in, she shares her writing journey and her experience so far publishing Asian-American stories. She gives us a snapshot of her newly released novel and a glimpse into her research process drawing from personal experiences and gathering stories from other parachute children. We discuss how to determine when you have compiled enough research to jump into your story, and how drafting the first few chapters of a story idea before committing to writing the whole book can help you figure out if it’s the perfect story for you. And later, Kelly drops some real-talk about making an income as a creative, shares her golden rule in life that’ll inspire you to not give up on your projects, and steps you can take to reach your writing goals, especially during this challenging time. Please say 'Hi' to Kelly on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at to download Kelly's writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/14597759

Marie Rutkoski On Practicing The Art Of Storytelling 05/21/2020

Linda Camacho On Being Persistent With Your Creative Pursuits 05/14/2020

Linda Camacho On Being Persistent With Your Creative Pursuits Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- We Love Our 88 Cups of Tea Sponsors Did you know we collaborated with VCFA’s MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults to curate a thoughtful series of intimate essays and podcast episodes so you can feel empowered throughout your writing journey? to explore the published pieces. Vermont College of Fine Arts is a global community of artists continuously redefining what it means to be an arts college. They’re accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education and offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in a variety of fields, including Writing, Writing for Children & Young Adults, and Writing & Publishing, along with an International MFA in Creative Writing & Literary Translation. With low-residency and fully residential options, VCFA has the graduate program to fit your needs. Be sure to learn more about VCFA by --------------------------------------- Curious about breaking into the publishing industry and becoming a literary agent? Or how to craft the best query letter for your story? How about the common mistakes to avoid as a new author navigating the publishing world? We talk about it all and more with Linda Camacho. Linda is a literary agent with a B.S. in Communication from Cornell University and an MFA in creative writing from the . She’s held various positions at Penguin Random House, Dorchester, Simon and Schuster, Writers House, and Prospect Agency. Now at , Linda is looking for MG, YA, and adult fiction across all genres (especially upmarket, women’s fiction/romance, and literary horror); she’s also seeking select graphic novel writer-illustrators. We kick off the conversation talking about horror movies and how they sparked her love for storytelling inspiring her publishing career. We discuss the publishing world and the different roles she had that lead her to become a literary agent. From this conversation, she shares how crucial it is to uplift your community, not take any opportunities for granted, be relentlessly persistent in your creative pursuits, and to know your worth. Further in, we talk about how to create lasting diversity in publishing. And later, Linda chats about her experience getting her MFA in creative writing from and how her degree helped strengthen her skills as a literary agent and communicate better editorially with her clients. We dive into how to improve your query letter, the common mistakes new authors make navigating the publishing industry, and how to avoid them. Please say 'Hi' to Linda on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at to download one of her favorite query letters and to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/14425562

Week 2 of Our Community Tapestry Project (BONUS EPISODE) 04/20/2020

Samira Ahmed On Saying Yes To Yourself 04/16/2020

Samira Ahmed On Saying Yes To Yourself Warm welcome to our new listeners, and welcome back long-time listeners. Here's the link to join our free self-guided accountability group for the month of April: If you'd love a chance to be one of the voices in the 30-consecutive days of recording for our collective stories throughout this time, head over here to submit: Head over to to watch Samira Ahmed's Instagram takeover filled with exciting behind-the-scenes footage of her writing life! --------------------------------------- Curious to discover creative ways to fit in time for your writing even with a busy schedule? How to be more kind to yourself during your writing journey? Or how to craft dual POVs in your novel? We talk about it all and more with Samira Ahmed. Samira is the author of , , and her newest novel that just released in early April – . Her poetry, essays, and short stories have appeared in anthologies including: , , , , , and the forthcoming Vampires Never Get Old and A Universe of Stories. In Samira’s episode, we discuss her childhood experience growing up in small-town America, how different groups of people are targeted throughout history, and how to safely confront racism by using our power and privilege for a purpose. We then unpack Samira’s career path from working in education to becoming a full-time writer, how she learned to construct a novel, how she discovered the inner workings of the publishing world, and what the process of finding a literary agent was like for her. We talk about creative ways to fit in time for your writing even with a busy schedule, the importance of saying “yes” to yourself and your dreams, and why it’s crucial to be gentle with the language you use towards your writing, especially with your first draft. Further in, we chat about her newly released novel , the inspiration behind the story, and her writing process for crafting dual POVs. And Samira wraps up our conversation with a creative assignment for our listeners that will help you make progress towards your writing goals! Please say 'Hi' to Samira on Instagram! Head over to Samira's shownotes page at to download her writing prompt and to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/14008373

Week 1 of Our Community Tapestry Project (BONUS EPISODE) 04/13/2020

Untitled Community Tapestry Project 04/06/2020

Sara Zarr On Choosing A Gratitude Mindset 04/03/2020

Sara Zarr On Choosing A Gratitude Mindset Warm welcome to our new listeners, and welcome back long-time listeners. Here's the link to join our free self-guided accountability group for the month of April: If you'd love a chance to be one of the voices in the 30-consecutive days of recording for our collective stories throughout this time, head over here to submit: Head over to to watch Sara Zarr's Instagram takeover filled with exciting behind-the-scenes footage of her writing life! --------------------------------------- Are you curious about how to lean into the slower periods and making the most out of that time? How about learning more about publishing deadlines and how to best ask for an extension? Or strategies to help you move closer to your writing goals? We talk about it all and more with Sara Zarr. Sarah is the acclaimed young adult author of , , , and her upcoming novel . She’s a National Book Award finalist and two-time Utah Book Award winner. Her novels have been variously named to annual best books lists of the American Library Association, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, the Guardian, the New York Public Library, and the Los Angeles Public Library and have been translated into many languages. She is a MacDowell Colony Fellow and has served as a judge for the National Book Awards. Sara and I kick off our conversation discussing her emotional and courageous journey to becoming a full-time author and the importance of creating a life that supports your writing. She drops some real-talk on how to financially support yourself and your writing career and how to sustain it long-term. We then dive into the importance of community and a support system to lean on as your career evolves. Further in, we chat about publishing deadlines and how to best make use of the low times during the publishing process to grow other projects or work other jobs to bring in more income. She shares her experience shifting publishers and editors for her book and how she stopped herself from going down the bitterness and resentfulness path and chose a gratitude mindset instead. We talk about how important it is to not compare yourself to others on social media and ration your social media use. And later, we chat about her upcoming YA novel and her first nonfiction novel . She shares the invaluable tip of removing expiration dates you’ve put on your writing goals. And we wrap up our conversation discussing her writing process and the steps that help get her writing flowing. Please say 'Hi' to Sara on Instagram! Head over to Sara's shownotes page at to download her writing prompt and to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/13828457

Akemi Dawn Bowman On The Permission To Slow Down 03/19/2020

Akemi Dawn Bowman On The Permission To Slow Down Warm welcome to our new listeners! Head over to to watch Libba Bray's Instagram takeover filled with exciting behind-the-scenes footage of her writing life! --------------------------------------- Curious to discover how leaning into your emotions can strengthen your writing? How about the actionable steps to reach your writing goals? Or tips for creating a financially viable marketing plan for your novel? We talk about it all and much more with Akemi Dawn Bowman. Akemi is the award-winning author of "Starfish", "Summer Bird Blue", and her newly released novel "Harley in the Sky" which just released on March 10th. It’s been particularly hard on our writing and book community, so please show support however you can, and if you are able, order a copy! She is also a Ravenclaw and Star Wars enthusiast, who served in the US Navy for five years and has a BA in social sciences from UNLV. We kick off our conversation discussing her career path from joining the navy to falling back in love with writing, and ultimately pursuing storytelling full-time as a published author. We discuss how she developed the perseverance to grapple with all the rejections that come along with the querying process and continue on to have a very honest conversation about her mental health, finding the right support system, and how to be a great ally for others. We then dive into how she juggles being the best mom she can to her children, showing up as a partner to her significant other, and a writer while maintaining a healthy mental state by prioritizing what’s most important to her, giving herself permission to slow down and take breaks, and cutting out toxic relationships both in-person and online. She shares how leaning into her emotions helps her craft such beautiful and immersive stories, how her writing voice and character development has changed throughout her career, and her experience being an author with multiple published novels. And later, we get into some real-talk about book sales, contracts, and self-marketing. We wrap up the conversation with a small but powerful step you can take to reach your writing goals. Please say 'Hi' to Akemi on Instagram! Head over to Akemi's shownotes page at to download her writing prompt and to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/13611500

Kekla Magoon on Acknowledging The Grey Areas 03/05/2020

Kekla Magoon on Acknowledging The Grey Areas Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- We Love Our 88 Cups of Tea Sponsors Did you know we collaborated with VCFA’s MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults to curate a thoughtful series of intimate essays and podcast episodes so you can feel empowered throughout your writing journey? to explore the published pieces. Vermont College of Fine Arts is a global community of artists continuously redefining what it means to be an arts college. They’re accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education and offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in a variety of fields, including Writing, Writing for Children & Young Adults, and Writing & Publishing, along with an International MFA in Creative Writing & Literary Translation. With low-residency and fully residential options, VCFA has the graduate program to fit your needs. Be sure to learn more about VCFA by --------------------------------------- Curious to discover ways an MFA program can strengthen your writing craft and provide a thriving community of writers to lean on for the well-being of your creative life? Wondering how to pick yourself up during those heart wrenching bouts of self-doubt during writing setbacks? How about a strong dose of writing advice about creating powerful first-person POV? We talk about it all and more with Kekla Magoon. Kekla is an award-winning author who has published over a dozen novels for children and young adults, including , , , and She received an NAACP Image Award, three Coretta Scott King Honors, the Walter Dean Myers Award Honor, has been long listed for the National Book Award, and more. Kekla holds an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts where she now serves on faculty. In our conversation, Kekla and I jump right in and talk about her love for stories and how being absorbed into a narrative can help you make better sense of the world around you and bring you comfort in times of uncertainty. We dive into her career path to becoming an author and how she discovered Vermont College of Fine Arts where she got her MFA. She shares her childhood experience and discovering her identity which influenced her passion for acknowledging the grey areas, the reality of racial bias, and cognitive dissonance in her writing. Later we dive deeper into her experience at VCFA and how the MFA program helped evolve her writing, grew her reading and critiquing skills, and provided her with a supportive writing community. We wrap up our conversation by discussing how to be compassionate towards yourself during writing setbacks, along with tips to help you move past moments of frustration, and advice for crafting your characters in the first person. Please say 'Hi' to Kekla on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at to download the writing prompt she made special for our community and to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/13428248

Libba Bray On Discovering A Sense Of Place In The World 02/20/2020

Libba Bray On Discovering A Sense Of Place In The World Warm welcome to our new listeners! Head over to to watch Libba Bray's Instagram takeover filled with exciting behind-the-scenes footage of her writing life! --------------------------------------- Curious to discover how to productively take feedback to help you reach your writing goals? Or how to know when it's time to let go of a project? Or strategies to help push yourself out of your comfort zone? How about ways to balance finances as an artist? We talk about it all and more with Libba Bray. Libba is the New York Times bestselling author of , the Michael L. Printz Award-winning , the L.A. Times Book Prize finalist , and which includes the fourth and final book in the series, , out now! In our conversation, Libba and I talk about what it was like living and surviving in NYC when she first moved from Texas and dive into her first love of playwriting and the realities of producing a play. We then get into some real talk about money planning in creative fields and how to make an income while still making time for your craft. We discuss how she began writing YA novels, the steps she took to learn the structure of a novel and discover her writing process, and how learning to receive and give feedback can help shape your writing style. And later in the episode, we go into detail about knowing when it's time to move on from a project, I know there's a lot of listeners in our Facebook group who've been wondering about this, so pay special attention to Libba's experiences and advice and hopefully, it'll help guide you with your decision-making. We wrap up our conversation by discussing how to best work with your writing partners so it's a win-win relationship, and how writing has helped Libba to make sense of her place in the world. Please say 'Hi' to Libba on Twitter! Head over to Libbas's shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/13226996

Adalyn Grace On Morally Gray Characters 02/06/2020

Adalyn Grace On Morally Gray Characters Warm welcome to our new listeners! Head over to to watch Adalyn Grace's Instagram takeover filled with exciting behind-the-scenes footage of the launch day for her debut novel "All the Stars and Teeth"! --------------------------------------- Curious to discover how to find the right critique partner for your story? Or ways to craft multiple magic systems in your novel? How about the revision technique that'll help you weave together multiple plots? We talk about it all and much more with Adalyn Grace. Adalyn graduated from Arizona State University when she was nineteen years old. She spent four years working in live theater and acted as the managing editor of a nonprofit newspaper before studying storytelling as an intern for Nickelodeon animation’s popular series . is her debut novel. We kick off our conversation talking about her experience as a debut author, giving us a behind-the-scenes look into a day in her life prepping for her book’s release while still meeting deadlines for her second novel. She shares her journey from working at Nickelodeon to discovering her career as a novelist, and how she found beta-readers and critique partners who’ve become an intrinsic part of her writing journey. We then dive into her debut novel where she gives us a snapshot of the story, the empowering inspiration behind it, and a look into her world-building and research process. We talk about the importance of keeping your characters’ motivations clear, how your debut novel can set the tone for your writing career, and important questions to think about when picking the right literary agent for you and your story. And later, we chat about her revision process and the revision technique that helped her weave plots and subplots together in a large world, how she tackles significant revisions with her editor, and tips for creating your writing schedule. Please say 'Hi' to Adalyn on Twitter! Head over to Adalyn's shownotes page to download the exclusive writing prompt she created for our listeners over at . You'll also find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/13041314

Grace Lin On Pursuing A Viable Creative Career 01/23/2020

Grace Lin On Pursuing A Viable Creative Career Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Diggin the books you're discovering from our podcast episodes? You'll love learning about Lamar Giles and his debut novel . Be sure to tune into Lamar's interview segment that's proudly brought to you by at the top of this episode and be inspired by his advice on reaching your writing goals! --------------------------------------- Want to discover how to manage strict deadlines or how to best ask for an extension? How about a plotting technique that'll help you build strong character arcs? Or all the ways a writing retreat can help you reach your writing goals? We talk about it all and much more with Grace Lin. Grace is a NY Times bestselling author and illustrator who won the Newbery Honor for her book . Her other award-winning books include , , , and her upcoming novel ! Grace and I kick off the conversation with how she found her passion for writing and illustrating children’s books and the steps she took to turn her dream into a thriving career. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look into her where she highlights the significance of multicultural literature on personal identity and development. She shares an exciting snapshot of her upcoming novel that sets the stage for Disney’s upcoming live-action movie . We then dive into her research process and how she managed the book’s tight deadline, all while giving us crucial advice on how to juggle deadlines all while staying true to your story. We then discuss plotting strong character arcs, why writing retreats are crucial to Grace’s livelihood as a writer, and you’ll be happy to hear that we also touch on finances in this conversation. Please say 'Hi' to Grace on Instagram! Head over to Grace's shownotes page at ‎to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. And be sure to catch her Instagram story takeover by heading over to /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/12855104

Abigail Hing Wen On Claiming Space With Our Stories 01/09/2020

Abigail Hing Wen On Claiming Space With Our Stories Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Curious about choosing the best editor for your story? Ways to carve out writing time amidst a busy schedule? Or how about crafting strong characters? We talk about it all and more with Abigail Hing Wen. Abigail is the author of her debut novel Loveboat, Taipei which just released this week! Abigail and I kick off the conversation talking about how she discovered her love for storytelling at such a young age and how it inspired her career path working in law, business, and being an author. She shares her experience showing her family her writing for the first time and how her vulnerability strengthened her craft. We then dive into her debut novel, Loveboat, Taipei and chat about the inspiration behind the story and how she crafted her characters by drawing from personal experience. She reflects on getting her MFA at Vermont College of Fine Arts and spills her top three takeaways from the program that helped boost confidence in her writing. And later, we talk about her adventurous research process, how to pick the best editor for your story, and tips on finding time to write with an insanely busy schedule. Storytellers, be sure to download the writing prompt that Abigail created just for our community by heading over to her shownotes page at . You’ll also find bonus content over in her shownotes page with things that tie in with our conversation. And be sure to catch Abigail’s Instagram story takeover by heading over to If you’d love a chance at winning a copy of “Loveboat, Taipei”, be sure to check out our Instagram stories for directions! Please say 'Hi' to Abigail on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/12670856

Cassandra Clare On Finding Creativity 01/02/2020

Laura Adams on Marketing Your Writing & Managing Finances 12/12/2019

Marissa Meyer on Finding Joy in Your Story 11/28/2019

Marissa Meyer on Finding Joy in Your Story Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Curious about crafting rich settings and characters in your stories? How about becoming a better critique partner and giving valuable feedback? Or how sparking more joy in your life can leave an impactful influence on your craft? We talk about it all and more with Marissa Meyer. Marissa is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of , , , , and her newly released novel, , the final book of her series. In our conversation, Marissa shares how she intuitively navigates the business side of the publishing world while also giving us a snapshot of her inspiring writing and querying process for her novel . If you’re about to jump into the querying trenches - you definitely don’t want to miss this part of our conversation. We then chat about support systems and their important role in our creative pursuits, why it’s so crucial to carve out time for fun in our writing process, and how diverse representation in children’s literacy is helping to change negative stigmas. Further into our conversation, we chat about series, how she transitions from one popular series to another, and how to balance crafting rich worlds and character development. Storytellers, be sure to check out the incredible writing prompt that Marissa crafted just for our community. To download it, head over to her shownotes page at . Please say 'Hi' to Marissa on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/12191579

Kelly Barnhill on Improving Your Craft By Centimeters 11/14/2019

Kelly Barnhill on Improving Your Craft By Centimeters Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Curious to learn how to overcome self-doubt during your revision process? Or ways to instill a creative headspace? How about tips for crafting dynamic character settings? We talk about it all and more with Kelly Barnhill. Kelly is the award-winning author of , , , and , as well as the novella, . She has been on the New York Times bestseller list for a bunch of weeks now, as well as the Indie Besteller list. She was also a McKnight Artist's Fellowship recipient in Children's Literature. In our conversation, we talk about Kelly’s love for telling stories out loud and how this shaped her writing process. We walk down memory lane of her life adventures that impacted her creative career path to becoming a best selling author and the lessons that helped her write with love and affection. Further in, we discuss how to instill a creative headspace, the importance of giving yourself a break during your drafting process, and powerful revision tools to help you overcome self-doubt. And later on, she pulls back the curtain and gives us a peek into how she forms her stories, crafts her dynamic character settings, and creates a community that helps her through tough days. Storytellers, be sure to check out the incredible writing prompt that Kelly crafted just for our community. The prompt will help you write without fear and spark some new ideas for your stories. To download it, head over to her shownotes page at Please say 'Hi' to Kelly on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/12031169

MAGGIE STIEFVATER: Staying Motivated During Challenging Times 10/31/2019

MAGGIE STIEFVATER: Staying Motivated During Challenging Times Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to so you don't miss out on the next takeover! --------------------------------------- Having trouble pushing past emotional fatigue and brain fog to reach your writing goals? Yearning to craft vivid characters with emotional resonance? Seeking writing tips on plotting a series that still gives you the freedom to explore different storylines? We talk about it all and more with Maggie Stiefvater. Maggie is the #1 NYT Bestselling author of , the , , and other novels for young people and adults. In our conversation, Maggie shares her love for storytelling and gives us a snapshot of her self-taught journey to becoming a best selling author. She chats about her love of music and how she weaves that in with her love of writing. We talk about the most difficult challenge Maggie’s had in her life and from that, we were inspired to discuss how to overcome brain fog and emotional fatigue to reach your writing goals. Further into our conversation, we chat about breaking down societal norms in her writing, how to craft vivid descriptions in your stories for emotional resonance, and how she plotted out her series that still gave her freedom to explore other storylines. She also shares the biggest piece of advice for debut writers that you don’t want to miss. Be sure to check out the writing prompt that Maggie took the time to exclusive create for our community at the bottom of the page. Her writing prompt will help you if you’re stuck on the very first chapter of a new project. Please say 'Hi' to Maggie on Twitter! Head over to her shownotes page at ‎to download her writing prompt and find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/11849774

CHRISTINE RICCIO: Cultivating the Mindset of a Writer 10/16/2019

JULIETTE KIM: Storytelling Through Design 10/03/2019

JULIETTE KIM: Storytelling Through Design Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors! --------------------------------------- Curious to learn what goes into designing a new brand identity? Want a behind-the-scenes look into the creative process of 88 Cups of Tea's new logo? Eager to discover all the hidden messages in our logo that perfectly highlights our community values? We talk about it all and more with designer Juliette Kim. Juliette is a creative director based in South Korea. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design and in 2017 she established her own creative agency , which specializes in identity design and packaging. Juliette is the artist who designed 88 Cups of Tea's lovely new logo and brand identity. In our conversation, we talk about how she discovered her love for storytelling through design and art that inspired her to attend Rhode Island School of Design working. She shares the steps she took to open her own design studio and how important it was to lean on her support system throughout the entire process. Further in, we dive into what brought us together to design 88 Cups of Tea’s new logo and brand identity. She shares a behind-the-scenes look into the design process and how we worked together to create a logo that perfectly highlights 88 Cups of Tea’s uplifting values of community, fun, creativity, and love. She shares all the hidden nuances within the logo you might not catch at a first glance. And later, she shares what she hopes people feel when they see our new logo. Please say 'Hi' to Juliette on Instagram! Head over to her shownotes page at to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. /episode/index/show/88cupsoftea/id/11493818

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