KQED's Forum Forum from the Archives: Tommy Orange and Kaveh Akbar Celebrate their Artistic Mind Meld
Jul 2, 2025
Join celebrated authors Kaveh Akbar and Tommy Orange as they dive into their unique creative partnership. Kaveh, known for his National Book Award finalist "Martyr!" and Tommy, acclaimed for "There There," discuss their vibrant friendship and the joy of exchanging 'cheer notes' during their writing processes. They explore themes of collaboration, the complexities behind creating impactful literature, and the significance of community in poetry. Their insightful conversation sheds light on the connections between art, personal struggles, and historical narratives.
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Origin of Their Creative Exchange
- Kaveh and Tommy started exchanging poems and stories after a playful correction sparked creativity.
- Their weekly sharing evolved into mutual encouragement that fueled their writing progress.
Weekly Cheer Notes as Writing Jam
- Writing with a peer weekly creates a shared creative space like a jam session for musicians.
- Their cheer notes pushed them to keep writing instead of focusing solely on criticism.
Reading as a Narrative Masterclass
- Reading voraciously and dissecting narrative techniques helped Kaveh master novel writing.
- Sharing insights with Tommy was like a masterclass in narrative craft.
