How does a creative professional build a portfolio of 18 books? My guest today, Navi' Robins, is a Chicago-born author and graphic designer who does just that. His creative perspective was shaped by a childhood spent living across five continents. In our conversation, Navi' shares the inspiration behind his new Black Lotus trilogy, a futuristic world where men have been eradicated, and how real-world political events sparked the idea. We dig into his process as a "freestyle writer", his secrets to dynamic world-building, and the fearless habit he relies on to push the boundaries of his imagination.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Navi' Robins

01:47 - Releasing the Black Lotus Trilogy

03:08 - The Inspiration: From Trump's Escalator to Roe v. Wade

04:41 - Inside the Black Lotus: A World Without Men

07:56 - Early Influences: Reading Stephen King in Secret

10:31 - Writing the First Book: Combining 10 Stories into One

15:32 - The Approach to World-Building

19:00 - What Frightens People the Most?

20:38 - The Habit of Being Fearless

22:17 - Daily Routines: Afrobeat and Freestyle Writing

26:39 - Overcoming Writer's Block

28:00 - Finding an Artistic Voice

Connect with Navi:

Follow Navi' on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navirobins/

Navi's Website: https://www.navirobins.net/

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This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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