Earbuds In, Masks On
Going into this holiday weekend, the mid-point of the year, is strange. Amid the widespread uncertainty, anger, and grief, everyone I know is re-examining. Their work, how they spend their time and money, what they really need to feel happy, or whole. I'm doing that work with respect to First Draft, and am working on some new ideas that I hope will bring perspective and accountability for me and the show.
In the meantime I am producing episodes that I'm really proud of, including with Elizabeth Acevedo, National Book Award, Printz, and Carnegie Medal winning author of The Poet X, as well as Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair, comedy and writing partners behind Playing House, one of my favorite TV shows ever.
I continue to release new episodes of Track Changes, the spinoff series that seeks to share knowledge and insight about the publishing industry. (I've redone the website page, too, so hopefully it's easier to sit and listen to all the episodes in a row!)
Last week I released "Contracts," which touches on the key points every author should be familiar with in their book contract, and why. This was some of the most valuable information I learned while making Track Changes, and writers at every stage of their journey might find something new.
Podcasts continue to be a comfort to me right now, so if First Draft has done the same for you, I am honored.
Read on for...
🗣️ I started a First Draft Facebook Group - join up and chime in!
💻 I'm moderating an Epic Reads virtual panel with some amazing writers
🎧 Recent can't-miss First Draft episodes
🏆 Links to conversations with Black writers and publishing professionals
💎 Links for TELL ME EVERYTHING
Join the First Draft Facebook Group!
💻 Hang With Sarah On The Internet! 💻
An Virtual Event on the Epic Reads YouTube
I’ll be moderating a conversation between Kelly Yang (Parachutes), Lyla Lee (I’ll Be The One), Katie Cotugno (You Say It First), and Sarah Mlynowski (Just a Boy a Girl and a Little Canoe).
July 16 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET on the Epic Reads YouTube Channel
🎧 Recent First Draft Episodes 🎧
The Anne of Green Gables Litmus Test With Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair
Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair are the comedians, actors, and screenwriters behind TV shows Best Friends Forever and Playing House. Jessica can be seen on the Netflix comedy Space Force, and Lennon starred in and directed episodes of Bless This Mess.
Listen here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Track Changes: Contracts
📑🔍 Contracts! We get into the basic structure of your contract, and all the rights, clauses, provisions, and negotiated terms you need to know to make sure your contracts is right right for this book and beyond.
Then Sarah Burnes, literary agent with The Gernert Company, and Jo Volpe, literary agent and President of New Leaf Literary & Media, break down what authors should know to look for in their contracts. And Kate Sullivan breaks it down from an editor’s point of view.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Borrow to Make With Elizabeth Acevedo
Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X, winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award. She is also the author of With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land, out now!
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
What's On Robyn Schneider's Mind Oven
Robyn Schneider is the author of The Beginning of Everything, Extraordinary Means, Invisible Ghosts, and more. Her newest book, You Don’t Live Here, is out now!
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Track Changes: Advances
💰 Let’s talk about money: how do authors get paid, how much do authors get paid, and what do they need to keep in mind when the checks roll in? 💸
Then, we get into #PublishingPaidMe with Tochi Onyebuchi, who, along with L.L. MicKinney, started the viral publishing industry pay transparency movement.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
🖤 Honoring Black Lives Matter 🖤
Black lives matter, and the systemic racial injustice prevalent throughout the U.S., in its law enforcement system and in all systems, is unacceptable. First Draft has sought to uplift voices from all races, ages, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. But this podcast and its host have a long ways to go. I am also examining this podcast as a platform that must be better at amplifying marginalized voices.
This month, I re-aired episodes of First Draft featuring Black authors who all have new books already out, or on the horizon. Click to hear the episode, and find links to buy their books from Black-owned bookstores.
Looking to hear from more Black authors in KidLit? I made a blog post of First Draft episodes featuring Black authors (with more links to buy books from Black-owned bookstores), and I encourage you to check out the Minorities in Publishing podcast, and The Stacks podcast.
💅 ICYMI 💅
