Sunday October 8, 2023
What I learned this week | Writing Your Own Narrative
What’s up ya’ll,
I took the past two months off from writing this newsletter to focus on other things. Heading into Autumn here in NYC, and having just passed my 39th birthday, I feel inclined to start sharing again; on that back-to-school, Autumn in NYC vibe.
I recorded the 4th episode of Huddle’s podcast Lone Geniuses a few months back. We dropped it last week, and I’m re-sharing it here. It’s appropriately titled Writing Your Own Narrative and features Laura Gao.
I love when people do things their own way. Laura is one of those people. She didn’t pick a major in college because she didn’t get why she’d need to. She started drawing comics just because she liked it. She weaved data into her work because it interested her. And she walked away from her full-time Product Manager career in Big Tech to make art and tell stories—starting with a heartfelt tale about her hometown: Wuhan, China.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a response to the growing Sinophobia surrounding the virus, Laura wrote short comic The Wuhan I Know. It took off on Twitter, going viral and becoming the basis for the graphic memoir Messy Roots, landing Laura a book deal to write four more.
Sometimes, the key to creating something great is to respond thoughtfully and authentically to something not so great. You can listen to the full episode below.
Have a great weekend,
Mike
🔖 My feed this week
Lone Geniuses
Episode #004: Writing Your Own Narrative
This episode's guest is Huddle member Laura Gao, a Silicon Valley Product Manager turned artist. She's best known for her short comic The Wuhan I Know, which she wrote in response to the growing Sinophobia surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode we discuss:
Transitioning from Silicon Valley to writing, comics, graphic novels, and more
Writing and art as a means to better mental health
Taking a stance on Sinophobia and going viral on social media
How to own your career as a full-time artist and maker
Designing a creative schedule and plan that works for your own unique path