Lilliam Rivera on Creating Complex Characters & Representing Underappreciated Voices

Lilliam Rivera interviews with podcast 88 Cups of Tea with Yin Chang

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“I don’t believe in writer’s block. I believe that there’s always something you write.” -Lilliam Rivera

We have Lilliam Rivera on the show today! Lilliam is the debut author of The Education of Margot Sanchez and she was recently named a 2017 Face to Watch by the LA Times.

In today’s episode, we dive right into the heartwarming inspiration that influenced Lilliam’s book and her experiences growing up in NY. For my craft-driven writers, you’re going to LOVE Lilliam’s advice and craft tips on building complex characters and how writing a character study will help you make decisions in your novel that are true to your character.

Lilliam walks us through writing emotionally heavy scenes, and how to capture universal ideas in your story while representing underappreciated voices.

We unpack Lilliam’s experience with the PEN Center Emerging Voices Fellowship and the kinds of resources it provides writers, and we go even further to discuss how writers can financially support their writing with grants and fellowships.

We also discuss how to write query letters and where to find writing mentors. Listeners, if you’re working on your own manuscripts or are approaching literary agents for representation, you especially do not want to miss Lilliam’s episode!

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“I want my work to be out there, so I’m always thinking of where I could go next or what I can do next.” -Lilliam Rivera

“You can’t win it unless you’re in it.” -Lilliam Rivera

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

- How Lilliam used writing to cope with her fears and anxieties growing up
- How to capture universal ideas in your story while representing underappreciated voices
- How to build complex characters
- How writing a character study will help you make decisions in your novel that are true to your character
- How to write emotionally heavy scenes with patience
- Why it’s crucial to surround yourself with a supportive writing circle
- How the deadlines from Lilliam’s journalism background helped her with novel-writing
- Methods for coping with rejection
- Financially support your writing with grants and fellowships
- Lilliam’s experience with the PEN Center Emerging Voices Fellowship and the resources it provides writers
- Where to find a writing mentor
- How to write a successful query letter

Pretty in Pink comes to the South Bronx in this bold and romantic coming-of-age novel about dysfunctional families, good and bad choices, and finding the courage to question everything you ever thought you wanted—from debut author Lilliam Rivera.

Learn More About Lilliam Rivera

Lilliam Rivera is an award-winning writer and author of The Education of Margot Sanchez (Simon & Schuster), a contemporary young adult novel. Recently named a 2017 Face to Watch by the LA Times, Lilliam’s work has appeared in Tin House, Tahoma Literary Review, Los Angeles Times, Latina, USA Today, Cosmo for Latinas, Sundog Lit, Midnight Breakfast, Bellevue Literary Review and The Rumpus. She lives in Los Angeles with her family where she’s completing her second novel.