How can staying true to your story unlock your biggest creative breakthrough?
In this episode Ashley Cisneros Mejia chats with award-winning author and illustrator Jerry Craft, creator of New Kid—the first graphic novel to ever win the prestigious Newbery Medal. Jerry opens up about his inspiring journey from a reluctant reader to a New York Times bestselling author, sharing how his personal experiences of feeling like an outsider became the foundation for a story that resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Tune in to hear Jerry's candid insights on the power of perseverance, navigating countless rejections, and staying true to your creative vision even when the odds are stacked against you. Whether you're a freelance writer seeking to get published or a creative professional in search of inspiration, this episode offers invaluable wisdom on storytelling, tenacity, and building a successful career as a writer.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The challenges Jerry overcame before breaking through with a traditional publisher.
- How to transform personal experiences into universal stories that resonate with diverse audiences.
- The importance of perseverance and resilience in pursuing a creative career, even after facing repeated rejection.
- Why staying true to your vision and avoiding limiting labels can be key to long-term creative success.
ABOUT JERRY CRAFT
Jerry Craft is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the graphic novels New Kid, Class Act, and School Trip. New Kid is the only book in history to win the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature (2020); the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature (2019), and the Coretta Scott King Author Award for the most outstanding work by an African American writer (2020). Jerry was born in Harlem and grew up in the Washington Heights section of New York City and now travels the world telling kids and their families about the importance of reading. Buy the books at: https://jerrycraft.com/
Talk Freelance To Me - Where Self-Employed Women Writers, Freelancers, and Solopreneurs Meet to Master the 1099 Contractor Lifestyle
FREE GIFT JUST FOR YOU
We released our “Niches Get Riches” Brainstorming Worksheet – and it’s absolutely free! This worksheet will help you identify the most profitable niches for your freelance writing business.
Download yours!
BIG MONEY FREELANCE WRITING GUIDE
This 27-page directory contains over 100 places to find high-paying freelance writing gigs. Buy yours here!
1:1 BUSINESS COACHING
Click here!
LET'S BE SOCIAL!
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
YouTube
Website
BUY ME A COFFEE...
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.