88 Cups of Tea

In today's episode, we discuss the traditional roles of women and the family values ingrained in the Taiwanese culture. Gloria walks us through the details of her revision process and the most important thing she learned about revisions. We also talk about crafting the main character's voice, the most exciting thing that's happened during her debut year, and the difficulties she faced trying to market a YA book set in college. We touch on the inspiration for American Panda's cover design, how much input Gloria had with the design process, and how one of the details inspired Gloria to tweak a part of her story.

We've got some exciting things for you below, like an exclusive excerpt from "American Panda" just for our 88 Cups of Tea community and an adorable cartoon to go along with the excerpt. For our writers, look out for Gloria's writing prompt at the bottom of this page– Also exclusive for our listeners! If you're particularly stuck with writer's block, you'll want to grab your copy of the prompt.

Gloria is also launching our very first Instagram story takeover today, on February 1st. You'll get a sneak peek of her life as a writer and one lucky winner will receive a signed copy of "American Panda". To enter for a chance to win, be sure to look out for Gloria's announcement of her giveaway on her Instagram story takeover and reply to that story by tapping the heart button. You have exactly 24 hours to enter from the time that story is first posted so you'll want to act fast.

Say 'Hi' to Gloria on Twitter and check out an exclusive excerpt from "American Panda" along with an adorable cartoon that ties in with the excerpt over at her shownotes page by clicking here! For writers, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of Gloria's shownotes page to download her writing prompt for our storytellers!

I couldn't be more ecstatic to kick off 2018 with Gloria'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!

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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!

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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!

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

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"I knew that this would take a lot longer to get an agent and a book deal if it ever did and I was still ok with going for it because I felt it was important enough to the story to give it a shot."

-Gloria Chao (Click to tweet!)

"With plotting and drafting, every book is different. You have to re-learn how the process is going to work for that specific book."

-Gloria Chao (Click to tweet!)

"A lot of revision went into making sure that it [American Panda] was readable for everyone but at the same time it was very honest and it portrayed everything accurately."

-Gloria Chao (Click to tweet!)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Traditional roles of women and men ingrained in the Taiwanese culture
• Family values in Taiwanese culture
• The inspiration for the book cover design, how much input Gloria had with the design process, and how one of the details inspired Gloria to tweak a part of her story
• Tools and methods Gloria used to help with revising and plotting
• How she crafted the main character's voice
• Gloria shares one of the most important things she learned about revisions
• She walks us through the most exciting and challenging things about debut year
• We discuss the difficulties she faced trying to market a YA book set in college
• The details of Gloria's revision process

https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea

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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!

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

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"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!)

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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

Carmen Maria Machado is a fiction writer, critic, and essayist whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, Granta, Tin House, Guernica, Gulf Coast, NPR, and more. Carmen's debut short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties, was a finalist for the National Book Award, the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard Prize, and the winner of the Bard Fiction Prize. NPR describes "Her Body and Other Parties" as an abrupt, original, and wild collection of stories, full of outlandish myths that somehow catch at familiar, unspoken truths about being women in the world that more straightforward or realist writing wouldn't."

In this episode, we kick it off by discussing Carmen's earliest memories of a story she wrote as a kid called "The Biggest Turkey Can't Find The Farm" and you'll understand why it's become her famous family story shared at gatherings. We then discuss Carmen's thoughts about MFA programs and if she thinks they're necessary for a successful or a stable writing career. We talk about maximizing a productive writing schedule by figuring out a system that works for you, how Carmen organizes her thoughts during her writing process, and why it's so important to not get fixated on being published to the point where you lose yourself and are unable to provide your best work possible.

Later, we touch on abuse in same sex relationships and how that ties in with her memoir "House in Indiana" releasing in 2019. Carmen also shares how to recognize some warning signs of an abusive relationship. We then wrap up our conversation by talking more about "Her Body and Other Parties" and how her editor played a crucial role in the process. She also shares how to recognize signs of a good editor and how to make yourself visible as a short story writer.

Say 'Hi' to Carmen on Twitter and check out the book mentioned in her episode by clicking here!

Happy listening!

Xo,

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!

---

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

---

For EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS to our shop, meet fellow members in our community and check in about your work-in-progress, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things, join our private Facebook group! You can really feel the love and support in our community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. Fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you request to join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!

---

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

---

"Publication is not the end all be all in making good art."

-Carmen Maria Machado (Click to tweet!)

"I think a part of becoming an artist of any kind, writer in particularly, is figuring what kind of obsessions you have."

-Carmen Maria Machado (Click to tweet!)

"A good editor is worth their weight in gold."

-Carmen Maria Machado (Click to tweet!)

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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

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!)

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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

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)

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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

https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea

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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

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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

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

https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea

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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)

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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

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)

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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

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!

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"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

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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.