88 Cups of Tea

“It’s good to go out of your comfort zone. It’s good to understand how hard you can work and what you are capable of.” -Tara Thompson Rasmus

We have Tara Thompson Rasmus on the show with us today! Today's episode is proudly brought to you by Gotham Writers. Tara is a freelance writer, editor and consultant who started her writing career with Refinery29 andLucky Magazine, she now writes and consults for publications and brands including SELF Magazine, Barneys The Window, Condé Nast 23 Stories, Neutrogena, and Fresh.

I’m so grateful to Tara for really peeling back the layers of what it’s like to wear many different hats, and to transition between each new job opportunity. She really bares it all and details the highs and lows of being a writer, and the realities of working for major brands.

We have a brutally honest discussion about burnouts and how to prevent it, and overcome it.  We also unpack the fears and worries that comes with leaving a job and taking on new challenges that push you to grow. For freelance writers, you’ll want to pay special attention to the part where Tara walks us through step-by-step on how she created her own job position at one of her favorite lifestyle blogs, and how you can too by finding ways to be unique to a brand and pitching your work.

Xo,

Yin

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“You can be confident in the decisions that you make because at the end of the day the only person you are answering to is yourself.” -Tara Thompson Rasmus

“Always look out for your writing first because your name is going on it.” -Tara Thompson Rasmus

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• Tara’s transition from being a TV and film actor to identifying as a writer

• Why it’s crucial to adapt quickly as a freelance writer

• Tara’s roles and responsibilities while working at Refinery29 and Lucky Magazine and the takeaways from her experiences there

• The importance of networking and maintaining professional relationships through social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook

• How Tara created an opportunity which then led to a position at Camille Styles

• How writers can create job opportunities for themselves by recognizing their strengths and skills to pitch to a company

• Why it’s beneficial to work with a brand or company that pushes you past your comfort zone

Tara Thompson Rasmus is a freelance writer, editor and consultant based in Brooklyn, NY. After holding positions at Refinery29 and Lucky Magazine, she now writes and consults for publications and brands including SELF Magazine, Barneys The Window, Condé Nast 23 Stories, Neutrogena, and Fresh.

Tara lives in Brooklyn and is expecting a son with her husband in January 2017. Her interests include food and cooking, yoga, and women’s health and nutrition.

Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time byBrigid Schulte

Motherhood Around the World by A Cup of Jo 

Bringing up Bébé: One American  Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman

Oprah’s “Supreme Destiny” Video

Camille Styles: The Decoder 

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Vacationers by Emma Straub

Modern Lovers by Emma Straub

“Opening up is one of the first ways depression loses its power.” -Hannah Brencher

Today’s episode features Hannah Brencher, TED Speaker and author of “If You Find This Letter”. Hannah founded the global organization More Love Letterswhose mission is to use social media to write and mail letters to strangers all over the world, and she was named one of the White House’s “Women Working to Do Good.”

In Hannah’s episode proudly brought to you by VCFA, we uncover the inspiration behind the love letters written to strangers and how it impacts people’s lives. Hannah is incredibly honest when we dive into a discussion about depression, and why it’s so important to be present with those around us.

Xo,

Yin

PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Share it with someone who needs a boost of inspiration!

Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking here. Your honest feedback helps to shape the show. Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!

“Be present and let people know what they mean to you.” -Hannah Brencher

“I love the idea that you have to go out and you have to live a good life in order to write about it.” -Hannah Brencher

About "If You Find This Letter":

"A heartwarming memoir of love and faith from Hannah Brencher—founder ofThe World Needs More Love Letters—who has dedicated her life to showing total strangers that they are not alone in the world.

Fresh out of college, Hannah Brencher moved to New York ready to change the world. Instead, she found a city full of people who knew where they were going and what they were doing and didn’t have time for a girl still trying to figure it all out. Lonely and depressed, she noticed a woman who looked like she felt the same way on the subway. Hannah did something strange—she wrote the woman a letter. She folded it, scribbled “If you find this letter, it’s for you…” on the front and left it behind."

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM TODAY'S EPISODE: 

• What inspired Hannah to begin writing love letters to strangers

• How leaving love letters around New York City helped Hannah to cope with depression

• The importance of being present and telling the people around you what they mean to you

• How being open is one of the first ways depression loses its power

• Writing about hard topics with passion and grace

• How Hannah’s Ted Talk helped her spread her message

Hannah Brencher is a TED Speaker, and blogger dedicating her life and work to the brokenhearted. She founded the global organization More Love Letters in 2011. Her memoir “If You Find This Letter” is now in bookstores across the country. Named as one of the White House’s “Women Working to Do Good” and a spokesperson for the United States Postal Service, Hannah and her work have been featured in publications such as CNN World News, the Wall Street Journal, Oprah.com, and Glamour among others. She calls Atlanta, Georgia home.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy by Donald Miller

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Anne Lamott

Flannery O’Connor

Hannah’s Ted Talk

Hey Storytellers! Quick update in today's episode. 

Xo,

Yin

“If you don’t know the craft, your talent can’t be unleashed.” -David Grae (click to tweet)

We have Executive Producer and TV writer David Grae on the show with us today! His episode is proudly brought to you by Gotham Writers. David started his television career as a staff writer on the Emmy-nominatedJoan of Arcadia. He has also been a writer on Without a Trace, Gilmore Girls andCastle. He is currently an Executive Producer on CBS’s hit show Madam Secretary. His play Moose Mating has received several regional and international productions and is published by Dramatists Play Service. He is also the co-founder of Gotham Writers.

In David’s episode, we really get to pick his brain about the TV industry, how to break in as a TV writer, and what goes on in the writers’ room at the studios. We also talk about the opportunities David created for himself and the importance of building relationships with people. We unpacked the business side of how David helped to start and build Gotham Writers from ground up, one of America’s leading private creative writing schools whose interactive online classes was selected “Best of the Web” by Forbes. 

Xo,

Yin

PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Please share it with someone you think the episode can inspire!

PPS. Your honest feedback helps to shape the show. Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking here. When prompted, either enter your iTunes info on your phone, or click ‘Launch Application’ on your computer. Once you’re at the 88 Cups of Tea iTunes page, click on the tab that says “Ratings and Reviews”.  Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!

“Writers write because you keep getting better the more you write.” -David Grae (click to tweet)

“Read books that inspire you.” -David Grae (click to tweet)

• Building relationships with people in your field

• Unpacking what spec scripts are and why writing one is your calling card into the TV writing world

• How David created his own opportunities that led him to success

• How writers come up with story ideas in the writing room

• Exploring your talents and understanding your weaknesses

• The difference between writing for comedy and drama

• Why it’s so important to take a writing class to improve and strengthen your craft

Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting by William Goldman

Phillip Roth

Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York’s Acclaimed Writing Schoolby Gotham Writers Workshop

Writing Movies: The Practical Guide to Creating Stellar Screenplays by Gotham Writers Workshop

HEY STORYTELLER TRIBE!

Jumping in super quick with a special announcement—-88 Cups of Tea turned 1 years old TODAY! On August 8th! 

Please take a quick moment to listen into today's episode. I’m so grateful to you listeners for being there every step of the way of our podcasting journey. To celebrate together, we're hosting the most EPIC giveaway contest we've ever done.

DIRECTIONS FOR GIVEAWAY CONTEST:

1) The giveaway contest is held for U.S. residents only and it starts today on August 8th and ends on August 15th. 

2) Follow us on social media & share your favorite 88 CUPS OF TEA podcast episode

3) Tag a friend you think who would love the podcast.

4) Super important to tag @88cupsoftea and include #88cupsturns1

5) Good luck and have so much fun!

Thank you all for the incredibly touching birthday wishes and shout-outs so far— you guys are AMAZING.

Xo,

Yin

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

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We have another amazing literary agent on the show! Molly Jaffa is a literary agent and the Co-Director of International Rights at Folio Literary Management in New York City. Her extremely selective and small list of clients include authors like Julie Murphy, a #1 New York Times bestselling author of DUMPLIN' whose novel is currently being developed into a teen movie by Disney.

In today's episode proudly brought to you by Vermont College of Fine Arts, Molly walks us through what it's like to be a literary agent on the daily, the kind of hard work it takes to advance in the world of literary agents, and of course we dive into the topic of query letters and what stands out to her. Writers, you don't want to miss this episode!

Xo,

Yin

PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Share it with someone who needs a boost of inspiration!

Could you help us spread the word about this podcast by clicking here and leaving a review? Your honest feedback not only helps others find the show, but it also helps to shape the show. Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!

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“It’s really important that an author and an agent have the same editorial vision for a project.” -Molly Jaffa (click to tweet)

“To be a literary agent you have to be really entrepreneurial.” -Molly Jaffa (click to tweet)

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SAY 'HI' TO MOLLY: 

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ABOUT FOLIO LITERARY MANAGEMENT: 

Everyone at Folio Literary Management strongly believes that books can and do change lives, and that well-told stories make a difference in the world. They are the people who help bring an author’s vision to life, and help open readers’ eyes to new vistas, new experiences, and new perspectives. For Folio agents, their work is not a job – it’s a passion and an adventure they dive into every day.

They like to think that at Folio, they have the best of both worlds. With over 20 agents, they have the experience, expertise, and strength people would expect from a company that is among the largest agencies in the business, but because of the types of people they attract, they have that same spark and ingenuity people expect from much smaller agencies.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: 

• Molly’s daily routine as a literary agent

• Working your way up the ladder to becoming a literary agent

• The characteristics a successful literary agent needs to have

• Writing conferences where you can meet reputable agents and editors

• How Molly pitches books to publishers all over the world

• What Molly looks for in a query letter

• Creating a query letter that is unique and stands out

• Molly’s ideal agent-client relationship

• Recommended writing conferences

• Molly’s advice on improving your writing

• How reading flap copies can help you improve your query letter

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LEARN MORE ABOUT MOLLY JAFFA:

Molly Jaffa is a literary agent and the Co-Director of International Rights at Folio Literary Management in New York City, where she has been since 2008. She represents exclusively middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction, along with the rare picture book. Her clients include Julie Murphy (#1 NYT bestselling author of DUMPLIN’), Jeramey Kraatz (the Cloak Society series), Mahtab Narsimhan (MISSION MUMBAI), and Paula Garner (PHANTOM LIMBS, forthcoming from Candlewick Press in September 2016).

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MOLLY'S RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND RESOURCES: 

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner

DFW Writers Conference

Nebraska Writers Conference

SCBWI

“Even when we seemingly don’t have anything, we still have so much to give each other.” -Lily Wilson (click to tweet)

We have a special episode today that’s near and dear to my heart. A huge part of why this podcast was created was to help listeners with actionable advice for their writing goals. A majority of our episodes touch on the business side and the how-to of getting ahead with a creative career. Rarely do I get to talk about the artistry in creativity and the almost-spiritual sense of creating art with our innate gifts.  Today’s episode is a gem because we’re bringing it back to the basics about why we’re even creating in the first place: Why we must create for the livelihood of our souls and for the world.

Today’s interview features Lily Wilson, our first musician on the podcast! It’s incredibly eye-opening to see how art, from music to writing, has the power to connect us all at the very core of our experiences. Lily describes the heart-warming moment she shared with a kind homeless man named Charlie, and how they inspired in each other a second chance at life.

We discuss the hurt and darkness that engulfs us artists when the rug is tugged right out from under our feet, how we can find healing, and what it takes to resurrect our deep love for creating and making that art. We talked about goals and plans; the freedom in not having any and going with the flow, that following our intuition can, more often than not, lead to opportunities and abundance that we ourselves could not foresee.

Storyteller Tribe, I felt my heart expand in this one. Listen in and give yours a good stretch.

Xo,

Yin

PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Please share it with someone you think the episode can inspire!

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“I just love being around art. I’m really fueled by that.” -Lily Wilson (click to tweet)

“To be in that safe space, I personally need to be where someone can’t hear me.” -Lily Wilson (click to tweet)

“I’m really just so drawn to people who have talents that I don’t have.” -Lily Wilson (click to tweet)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: 

• Disengaging negative inner voices

• Awareness of unconscious mental blocks

• Creating your artistic work in safe spaces

• Recognizing and accepting your talents and strengths

• How collaborating with another artist can bring out a creative side of you

LEARN MORE ABOUT LILY WILSON:

Lily Wilson’s music has a way of drawing the listener in and reminding us of the simple beauty of life. Her voice has been described as being “soothing in some other worldly way.”

On her newest release, “Harbour,” she says, “With all the craziness in the world right now, I am reminded of the things I have to be thankful for.  This group of songs feels like a twinkling harbour filled with welcoming front porches and real friends.”

Lily grew up on her family’s farm in Napa, California with lots of outside time and open space to roam and create.  Bands like Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills and Nash provided the backdrop for her childhood, and influenced her deeply.  Her career in music started when she moved to Spain in college.  She was drawn to the Flamenco songs coming from gypsy caves above the city.  She started writing songs, and soon was performing on street corners, teashops, and clubs all over Andalusia.

Growing up in such a remote place gave her a hunger to collaborate and perform for larger audiences. Now based in Los Angeles, she has released five CDs independently, and is currently writing and recording with producer/ bassist, Mark Browne (Melissa Etheridge, Simple Minds).  She recently won the L.A. Music Awards “Best Female Vocal Performance” in the AC category, and she has been lending her voice to other artists’ projects as well.  She has performed and recorded with Melissa Etheridge, Beth Thornley, Kiki Ebsen, Philip Sayce, Kenny Loggins, Patty Griffin, and John Batdorf.

LILY'S RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

Lily’s Newest Album “Harbour”

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

Bandcamp

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

Los Angeles Fire Department

SAY 'HI' TO LILY:

“Imagine all the great writing that’s being done secretly by people who are ashamed to share it.” -Matt de la Peña (click to tweet!)

Exciting new episode today with the one-and-only Matt de la Peña!  Matt is one of the most grounded human beings and great observers of the world, and just so happens to be the 2016 Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street.

Today’s episode is proudly brought to you by VCFA! It's filled with personal stories about creative and personal growth that will inspire you. We discuss a whole lot about being present and living in the moment, how our experiences and honesty in our work create vibrancy, pacing ourselves to avoid writer’s block, the impact of having mentors, and so much more.

Xo,

Yin

“I don’t even know what my books are about until I finish it.” -Matt de la Peña (click to tweet!)

“You will never finish a book if you don’t write the book.” -Matt de la Peña (click to tweet!)

“I think sometimes writer’s block is a function of looking at the big picture too soon.” -Matt de la Peña (click to tweet!)

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"Last Stop on Market Street"is the Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal, a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book, and a 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, a New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of 2015 and a Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book of 2015.

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.   This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: 

• Personal stories about creative growth and personal growth that will inspire you (and make your day!)

• How reading changed Matt’s life and how it teaches the writer about the writing process

• Living in the moment and how that effects us and our work

• Vibrant work created from experience and honesty 

• Breaking through writer’s block by pacing yourself and working on the “now”

• How you and your work will benefit tremendously by ‘keeping it simple’

• Mentorship and how its effected Matt and his career as an author

Matt de la Peña is the 2016 Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street. He is the author of several critically-acclaimed young adult novels, as well as the celebrated picture book A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, which was New York Times Top 10 Illustrated Book of 2011, a Booklist Editor’s Choice Best Book of 2011, and an SLJ Best Book of 2011. Matt lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Powerful video of police officer’s response to ruthless police shootings (Must watch!)

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Drown by Junot Díaz

Linda Sue Park 2002 Newbery Medal Winner for “A Single Shard”

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

“If the end result is a book, then you are a writer.” -Harriet Reuter Hapgood

We have Harriet Reuter Hapgood on the show today! Harriet is a freelance journalist who has worked with Marie Claire, ELLE, and InStyle in the U.K. Teen Vogue named her debut novel, The Square Root of Summer, the “Best New Book of 2016”.  In today’s episode, we discuss writing about heartbreak, quantum physics and time travel, the heavy research process for Harriet’s novel, creating multiple layers of plot to enhance your story, and why it’s important to sacrifice our own personal ties with the story for the ‘bigger picture’. We even dive into what it’s like to have depression and anxiety, and how we as writers can push through and stay on course with our writing goals with special attention to self-care.  I’m so excited for you to learn about Harriet and her journey as a writer!

Today's episode is proudly brought to you by Gotham Writers.

“The voice in your head that says you can’t finish the book or that it’s not worth it, ignore that bad voice.”-Harriet Reuter Hapgood

“You have to sacrifice what you think should happen versus what is good for the book and what is good for the character.”-Harriet Reuter Hapgood

• How Harriet weaves quantum physics into her novel The Square Root of Summer

• Why you need to remove your personal connection from the story

• Sacrificing what you want to happen in your story for what is best for your book and its characters

• How to thread different themes together to create a multi-dimensional story without losing focus of your main theme

• Harriet addresses writer’s block and gives us advice on how to use outlining to break free from it

• Why self-care is so crucial to your happiness and success as a writer

• How Harriet created a dream list of literary agents and pitched to them

“Success can be a moment, fulfillment is a lifetime.” -Renee Ahdieh (Click to tweet)

We have #1 New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh of The Wrath and the Dawn and The Rose and the Dagger duology in today’s brand new episode brought to you by Vermont College of Fine Arts. We break down Renée’s character-driven writing process and delve into building multi-dimensional characters. Renée takes it one step further and generously walks us through exactly how she sets up a scene to highlight the main character’s attributes. It’s the perfect example of the infamous show-don’t-tell rulefor writers.

We discuss why it’s important to be responsible and respectful when writing about different cultures, and why we have to allow ourselves latitude in our writing. As if the episode couldn’t get any better, we dive even deeper and deconstruct what it means to have anxiety and how to combat it with gratitude and empathy.

Xo,

Yin

PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Share it with someone who needs a boost of inspiration!

Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking here. Your honest feedback helps to shape the show. Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!

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“Your thoughts influence your feelings. Your feelings influence your actions.”-Renee Ahdieh (Click to tweet)

“If we’re not questioning ourselves, we’re not pushing ourselves to do better.”-Renee Ahdieh (Click to tweet)

“Everyone is the hero of his or her own story.”-Renee Ahdieh (Click to tweet)

• Crafting characters who live in morally gray areas in the “The Wrath & The Dawn” and “The Rose & The Dagger” duology  

• We unpack Renée’s dynamic character-driven writing process

• Specific writing techniques to help build multi-dimensional character

• How to write scenes that showcase a character’s attributes

• When weaving in different cultures in our stories, why there’s a heavy responsibility in doing so respectfully

• Combatting anxiety with gratitude and empathy

• Creating room for freedom and spontaneity in our writing

• Finding satisfaction and gratitude in our work as creatives

• Why it’s crucial to set a clear purpose for your plot 

“You have to continuously challenge and question yourself." -Renee Ahdieh (Click to tweet)

“I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners. The architects plan everything ahead of time, like an architect building a house. They know how many rooms are going to be in the house, what kind of roof they’re going to have, where the wires are going to run, what kind of plumbing there’s going to be. They have the whole thing designed and blueprinted out before they even nail the first board up. The gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it. They kind of know what seed it is, they know if planted a fantasy seed or mystery seed or whatever. But as the plant comes up and they water it, they don’t know how many branches it’s going to have, they find out as it grows. And I’m much more a gardener than an architect.” -George R.R. Martin (the quote referenced in this episode)

Renée Ahdieh is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn and The Rose and the Dagger. In her spare time, she likes to dance salsa and collect shoes. She is passionate about all kinds of curry, rescue dogs, and college basketball. The first few years of her life were spent in a high-rise in South Korea; consequently, Renée enjoys having her head in the clouds. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and their tiny overlord of a dog.