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In today’s new episode, we have Holly Black, the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of the popular books that many of you recognize her from are the “The Spiderwick Chronicles” and The Modern Faerie Tale series. She’s also hugely popular for “The Coldest Girl in Coldtown” and the Magisterium series. Holly’s been a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award, the Mythopoeic Award and a Newbery Honor.

In the episode, we talk about the importance of understanding your character’s oppositions to move your plot forward, how to make the most out of critique groups and get the best constructive feedback for your story, the importance of being a part of a community that understands the ups and downs of the industry and ways you can find that community for yourself, and the characteristics you want to ideally find in your critique partner.

We also discuss how to overcome self-doubt as a writer and Holly shares a bunch of writing tools that help set writing goals. We dive into what it means to fast draft and how it pushes you past your critical eye to finish your first draft. For listeners especially focused on the craft of writing, you are going to freaking love today’s episode because Holly also shares how she starts a story with a character and a feeling, and how that navigates her to write the rest of the novel with an image in mind that evokes that specific feeling. Holly unpacks why it’s crucial to describe the fantastical elements at the same level of reality when writing contemporary fantasy, and how to craft narrative voices that resonate with your intended audience by thinking about what you cared about during that age.

Heads up: This episode is so good.

Say ‘Hi’ to Holly 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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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!

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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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“A lot of times we are doing things that have nothing to do with our writing until someday it does.” -Holly Black (Click to tweet!)

“Write for your reader-self, not your writer-self.” -Holly Black (Click to tweet!)

“The more real that you can make the real world, the more real the fantasy is going to feel.” -Holly Black (Click to tweet!)

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WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN TODAY’S EPISODE: 

• How Holly discovered her love for fantasy and folklore
• How writing a manuscript also serves as a journey of self-discovery
• The importance of understanding your character’s oppositions to move your plot forward
• How to make the most out of critique groups and get the best constructive feedback for your story
• The importance of being a part of a community that understands the ups and downs of the industry and ways you can find that community for yourself
• The characteristics you want to ideally find in your critique partner
• How to overcome self-doubt as a writer
• Holly shares writing tools that help set writing goals
• Holly walks us through the technique of fast drafting and how it pushes you past your critical eye to finish your first draft
• Starting the story with a character and a feeling and writing the rest of the novel with an image in mind that evokes that specific feeling
• Why it’s crucial to describe the fantastical elements at the same level of reality when writing contemporary fantasy
• How to craft narrative voices that resonate with your intended audience by thinking about what you cared about during that age