88 Cups of Tea with Yin Chang

A podcast that features kick-ass creative souls to empower the heck out of your writing aspirations.

Featured Podcast Episode


TAMORA PIERCE: Believing In Your Craft

Have your insecurities ever driven you to writer’s block? How can we use feedback, rejection, and self-encouragement to break out of writing-related anxiety? We unpack all of that and so much more with today’s guest Tamora Pierce. Tamora, a #1 New York Times bestseller and recipient of the 2013 Margaret A. Edwards Award, is the author of Alanna: The First Adventure, Lady Knight, Wild Magic, and many, many more. Her most recent novel, Tempests and Slaughter, begins the journey into her new series called The Numair Chronicles and is out on the shelves now. In our conversation, Tamora takes us on a journey throughout her life and describes the moments she first fell in love with writing, found her passion for crafting female heroes, what she’s learned from rejection, and much more. We talk about creative block and how we can encourage ourselves to believe in our craft. Her wisdom shines through as she discusses her research process into the world of magic, how she builds dynamic characters, and how she approaches writing more serious topics for young adults. Click here to listen to her full episode!

Featured Podcast Episode


KWAME ALEXANDER: On Being a 26-Year Overnight Success

What exactly does it mean to be a ’26-year overnight success’? How do we get through challenges of rejections both in our writing and at our day job? We get into all of it and so much more with today’s guest Kwame Alexander. Kwame is a poet, educator, and the New York Times Bestselling author of 28 books, including “Swing”, “Solo”, and “Rebound”, the follow-up to his Newbery medal-winning middle-grade novel, “The Crossover”. Some of his other works include “Booked”, a National Book Award Nominee. This conversation is full of wisdom and transparency as we discuss Kwame’s “26-year overnight success” and the challenges of writing-related rejections, being laid-off from a job, the daily personal woes of being a human being, in particular, being an African American man and how it challenges the view of humanity and of the world. Further into the conversation, we dive into Kwame’s journey writing “Rebound” and how it reflected his own journey writing that story and at the same time, learning to rebound in life while his mother was in the hospital. We talk about the inspiration that we need to keep us going through the challenging times of a writer’s journey, managing writing around day-time jobs, and writing groups. We go into detail about his newest novel “Swing” and what it’s like to work with a co-author. Click here to listen to his full episode!

Our 3-Year Anniversary Event Re-Cap!

Top Pick for Inspiration Overload

VICTORIA ‘V.E.’ SCHWAB: Cultivating Stubborn Hope & Earning Your Way Into The Tribe

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TOMI ADEYEMI: Storytelling with Heart and Soul

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Top Pick for Pushing Past Your Writing Struggles

LEIGH BARDUGO: Pushing Past Writing Struggles & Outlining Your Story Idea

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Top Pick for Co-Author & Friendship Goals

AMIE KAUFMAN & MEAGAN SPOONER: Building a Healthy and Successful Collaboration as Co-Authors

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Top Pick for Listeners Who Hustle

JEFF ZENTNER: Writing Strong Character Relationships & Being Creative Around The Edges of A Normal Life

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Top Picks for Conversations That Will Empower You

JACQUELINE WOODSON: A Fearless Changemaker Discusses Realities & Writing

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HOLLY BLACK: Navigating The World of Contemporary Fantasy & Finding Your Community

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Conversations with Literary Agents

ERIC SMITH: Breaking Down the Query Letter & Life as a Literary Agent and Author

JENNY BENT: The Path of a Literary Agent and Founder of The Bent Agency

BARRY GOLDBLATT: The Journey of Leading Young Adult Fiction into Mainstream

PARK LITERARY & MEDIA: Pete Knapp, Emily Sweet, Andrea Mai

GAIL HOCHMAN: Literary Agent and President of Brandt & Hochman on Query Letters and Finding Mentors

MOLLY JAFFA: The Entrepreneurial & Emotional Grit of a Successful Literary Agent

JOANNA VOLPE: New Leaf Literary & Media President and Literary Agent Discusses Entrepreneurialism, Leadership, Artist Representation

Top Pick for Advice on Tackling The First Draft

MARIE LU: Confronting The Blank Page and Writing Tips on Creating a Complex Villain

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Top Pick for Creative Minds Looking for Crazy Motivation

KATIE LOWES: “SCANDAL” Actor Discusses What It Takes To Have A Successful Creative Career

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