Asian American Writer Runs a Workshop in His Apartment to Support His Career and Help Aspiring Writers
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August 1, 2023
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Tony Tulathimutte, an accomplished literary author, has established a unique side hustle that supports both his writing career and aspiring writers.
His writing workshop, Crit, held in his Brooklyn apartment, attracts eminent guest speakers and launches the careers of new authors. Renowned figures such as Jonathan Franzen, Hua Hsu, and Carmen Maria Machado have participated as guest speakers.
Tulathimutte’s success, including an O Henry award and the sale of his second novel, Rejection, inspired him to create Crit. The class tackles topics like money management for writers, which is crucial in today’s challenging writing landscape, where traditional media companies and publication venues are shrinking, and making a living as a writer is becoming increasingly difficult.
According to The Guardian, Crit accommodates nine students per session, meeting twice a week over two months and costs $800 per spot, amounting to an annual income of approximately $30,000 for Tulathimutte. To supplement his earnings, he takes up freelance writing assignments, visiting faculty positions, and currently serves as a thesis adviser at Brooklyn College.
Over the years, Crit has not only become a successful side venture but also fostered a thriving community of writers. Tulathimutte encourages alumni interaction through book swaps, parties, and a dedicated Slack channel, providing opportunities for aspiring authors to connect with potential agents or editors.
While Crit students have achieved 12 book deals to date, Tulathimutte remains humble about his role in their success. He believes many of them would have succeeded eventually, but he takes pride in offering a high-quality writing workshop that aids their growth.
This series shines a light on accomplished immigrant entrepreneurs who have made significant contributions to the business landscape in the United States. Hailing from China, Xu’s journey from her homeland to becoming the founder and CEO of the award-winning tech startup TalkMeUp is a testament to the potential immigrants bring to the world of entrepreneurship.
EIG is a Washington, DC-based, bipartisan public policy organization that advocates for a diverse and innovative American economy. Since immigrants make up 14% of the US population, over 30% of US innovators, and 38% of Americans who have won the Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, and medicine since 2000, Xu’s story serves as a prime example of the importance of fostering an atmosphere that encourages immigrant talent and achievements.
According to Yahoo! Finance, Xu’s experiences in diverse roles, including positions at Groupon and Huawei, provided Xu with invaluable insights into effective communication and cross-cultural dynamics. Recognizing the gap in accessible communication training resources, she embarked on a mission to democratize communication skills through TalkMeUp.
TalkMeUp, Inc. is based in Pittsburgh with deep roots in Carnegie Mellon University. It has pioneered solutions that propel business success through the art of effective communication.
Driven by a mission to empower individuals and organizations worldwide, TalkMeUp’s AI-powered platform allows professionals to gauge their communication effectiveness and audience engagement during video interactions. Through personalized practice and training, TalkMeUp equips users with the essential communication attributes required for career advancement and seamless transitions.
Luxury fashion gets a new face with Luxe Du Jour, a brand driven by innovation and purpose. Tammy Phan, the visionary behind the brand, embarked on this journey to bridge a gap in the market for selling high-end designer handbags. Her pursuit of accessible luxury has reshaped the industry.
Beyond fashion, Luxe Du Jour has redefined the concept of luxury itself. Through Luxe Bag Rental, they’ve unlocked a unique way to experience elegance without the hefty price tag. With a commitment to Recycle, Reuse, and Restore, they’re championing sustainability. Each pre-owned item holds a story of responsible consumption.
Luxe Du Jour’s journey has been marked by challenges, but their ethos remains unwavering. With education and community at the core, they’re leading the charge toward a future where luxury is synonymous with accessibility, ethics, and sustainability.
Join us as we delve deeper into their story.
HOW IT WAS FOUNDED
Luxe Du Jour all started with solving a problem for the founder, Tammy Phan, where she struggled to find a trustworthy place to sell high-end designer handbags. Back then, it was only eBay or your local clothing consignment shop. But eBay was a nightmare of dealing with lowballers, scam payments, and tie wasters and the local clothing consignment shops took 50-60% in commission.
Phan knew there had to be a better way so she started to sell her items on Instagram when the platform was peaking which was the start of the company. Luxe Du Jour ended up building a community on social media and the rest is history!
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Phan grew up poor to immigrant parents. The typical expectations of her being a doctor or engineer were the only means of success in her parents’ eyes. However, life did not pan out that way for Phan, and she had to drop out of high school to get a job to help support herself, because she thought by doing this—it would be one less child for her parents to worry about financially.
Phan’s strong desire for luxury stemmed from not growing up around it, and she made it her goal to one day be able to afford a designer handbag. She worked hard, saved enough money and did just that.
Discovering her one Chanel bag increased in value over time and being able to profit on it after she sold it years down the road sparked a joy that she knew she wanted others to experience. Thus beginning an interest in the value of the luxury designer resale market!
Her mission is to make designer luxury more affordable, accessible, and sustainable.
LUXE BAG RENTAL
Shopping for pre owned designer luxury has not changed in the last decade and the prices of designer luxury constantly keep increasing but the shopping experience in store hasn’t changed or evolved to make the price hikes worth it.
Why are we able to test drive cars before committing thousands of dollars to it and not be able to do that with expensive designer handbags that also cost thousands of dollars even $10,000+?
Luxe Bag Rental saw a huge hole in the market that women wanted to constantly switch up their styles more often, try it before they buy it, or just wear an item once for a special event or photoshoot without the hassle of trying to sell it after. Luxe Bag Rental clients now get to experience a completely new way of shopping and trying out designer fashion. If they love the bag, they can opt for rent-to-own. It gives consumers a chance to really experience the items first-hand providing a smarter and more approachable way to shop.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Everything done at Luxe Du Jour integrates the 3 R’s.
When you shop or sell preowned, you are RECYCLING that designer handbag. When you rent with Luxe Bag Rental you are REUSING that designer handbag and when you restore a bag back to life with Luxe Bag Spa you are REDUCING waste because a bag you were not going to wear anymore due to its damage now has a second chance at being worn and loved again!
It takes up approximately 629 kg of CO2 to produce one leather handbag so we are reducing a lot of carbon emissions every time a designer handbag is sold, rented, or restored! The fashion industry is so wrapped up in having everything brand new, Luxe Du Jour wants to focus on how to normalize pre-owned and continue to find ways to push for positive environmental impact.
AUTHENTICITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Authenticity is the core of Luxe Du Jour’s business. A 3-step authentication process is done to ensure authenticity for every item sold or rented out hence why Luxe Du Jour offers a lifetime guarantee or you get your money back.
A rise of counterfeits and fast fashion has flooded the market and Luxe Du Jour focuses on educating our community on the negative impacts of buying counterfeit and fast fashion by building a community and nurturing that community to fulfill their needs.
LOOKING FORWARD
We aspire for Luxe Du Jour to be a huge disrupter in designer luxury fashion and want to lead the path so that the luxury giants follow and want to be a part of the positive impact we are making for those who love authentic designer luxury.
Luxe Du Jour will continue to be innovative and bring a new look to preowned.
Carolyn Kan, the visionary behind Carrie K Jewellery, has left an indelible mark on Singapore’s creative landscape.
Known for her intricate fine jewelry reflecting Southeast Asian heritage, wit, and emotion, Carolyn’s influence transcends mere craftsmanship. Her unwavering commitment to the local creative community adds depth to her legacy.
To Carolyn, that means trying new things to make special jewelry. It’s not just about looking nice; it’s about making jewelry that has feelings and meaning, like a piece of art you can wear.
The pandemic made her think about why her jewelry matters. She realized her designs show love and comfort even when times are tough. “Our designs share messages of love,” she explains, showing how important her work is.
From fun accessories to really well-made jewelry with special metals and gems, Carrie K Jewellery shows how much Carolyn cares about celebrating life and love. She also focuses on being creative and making jewelry that fits different styles and moods.
Aside from the beautiful design, Carolyn’s jewelry is also good for the Earth. She makes pieces that you can use in lots of different ways, so you don’t need too many things. She also has a special service where she takes old family jewelry and makes it new again. This helps keep special memories alive.
Now that the pandemic is over, Carolyn wants to share her jewelry with more people and make different kinds of engagement and wedding pieces. She’s found new ways to work with people from far away, making special jewelry that tells their stories.
Michael Yam, the host of NFL Total Access on NFL Network, has now ventured into the world of children’s books with his first-ever creation, “Fried Rice and Marinara.”
This heartwarming tale revolves around Mikey Yam, a character just like Michael, who cherishes both his Chinese and Italian heritage. Michael wrote this story to show young readers that it’s okay to have a diverse background and to be proud of who they are.
Drawing inspiration from his own life, Michael wanted to share the joy of embracing different cultures with children. In “Fried Rice and Marinara”, he uses the magic of food to bring the story to life and spark curiosity about diverse backgrounds. Through this delightful book, Michael hopes to encourage kids to learn about their own heritage and appreciate the uniqueness of others.
As a first-time children’s book author and illustrator, Michael faced some challenges, but his passion for storytelling and connecting with young readers drove him forward.
Read through as we learn more about Michael and how he aims to inspire all children to feel confident in their identities with his book “Fried Rice and Marinara”, through an interview with Asian Hustle Network.
BREAKING BARRIERS WITH “FRIED RICE AND MARINARA”
During the course of my career, I have been fortunate enough to speak to students about a path in broadcasting. I have always been disheartened by the lack of Asian representation in media classes. Aside from cultural factors, I believe the lack of widespread representation at high levels of sportscasting is a major reason why Asian American students are picking other career paths.
Strengthening the pipeline is one of the ways I think this changes. If young kids can see themselves in stories, I think it can spark an interest in storytelling.
MIKEY YAM AS A MULTIETHNIC LEAD CHARACTER
As a kid, I didn’t think anything of the different cultures. I always knew I was Chinese and Italian, but as I got older, I realized that my friends didn’t have to think about or balance multiple cultural experiences that were very different.
Part of the reason I wanted to write “Fried Rice and Marinara” was to have young readers see a multiethnic character in a lead role. I also wanted to spark the thought that families with diverse backgrounds are normal.
At times in my childhood, I thought I had to “pick a side”, which is weird to think about now. I really want young kids to be able to embrace their heritage and be proud of their background. I know for my family, food was a backdrop to everything we did. I wanted to use cuisine as a vehicle to bring the story to life.
NAVIGATING BOTH SIDES OF HIS HERITAGE
First and foremost, it’s about embracing both cultures. I think many people focus on the differences between ethnicities, but we would all be in a better place if we gravitated to what’s the same.
Both my Chinese and Italian sides value family and the joy that comes from spending time with each other. I have fond memories of BBQs as a kid and my birthday parties having both Italian and Chinese food.
CHALLENGES HE FACED IN THE WRITING PROCESS
I’ve spent my career telling the stories of athletes. I’m comfortable in that realm, but with “Fried Rice and Mariana”, it’s the first time I tried to connect with a young audience in a medium I’ve never worked in.
I have always loved having fun with my nieces and nephews, telling them crazy stories at home. I tried to imagine telling them this story as if we were in person. No, I can’t rhyme on the fly like in the book, but it’s about the tone.
I always love asking kids questions to see where their mind goes. If you notice at the back of the book, there is a page that gives kids an opportunity to write their funky food combinations with the ability to draw them, too. It’s really important to me that the experience with the book doesn’t end when they’re finished reading it.
WHAT HE HOPES FOR READERS TO TAKE FROM HIS BOOK
I want young Asian readers to be able to see themselves as a main character in a story.
According to a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin (2022) you are nearly as likely (39% BIPOC/37% Animal/Object) to see a children’s story about an animal or object than you are to see a story depicting a character from a diverse background. I see that as a problem.
I want all children to be exposed to various cultures. The child who doesn’t often get to see characters who look like them will hopefully feel confident and have more self-worth. My hope is other children will be exposed to other cultures and develop an appreciation for experiences different from their own.
