If there were ever a decade that evoked such a strong emotional resonance, the 1980s would surely be it! Author Tegan Bennett Daylight channels this in her new time-travelling YA novel, How to Survive 1985, in all its neon-coloured, acid-washed glory, and in this episode, she shares her experience bringing that time period to life and some tips for aspiring writers.

00:00 Welcome
06:52 Writing tip: Grounding details in world-building
09:31 WIN!: The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation edited by Jennie Orchard
11:20 Word of the week: ‘Noisome’
13:22 Writer in residence: Tegan Bennett Daylight
14:18 Describing her book How to Survive 1985
17:13 Research vs lived experience of the time period
20:00 Why 1985?
21:59 Writing about motherhood now and then
25:51 Navigating the publishing world
26:33 Early writing experiences
28:14 Tegan’s first children’s book
29:42 Challenges and successes in writing
31:49 The reality of being a writer and inspiring new writers
36:25 The appeal of writing for young adults
40:43 Tegan’s writing routine
43:10 An easy early morning tip for writers
44:38 Engaging with the writing community
45:45 Upcoming projects
47:40 Writing tip and the Spotify playlist
50:17 Final thoughts

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