Writer Shea Serrano joins Off Panel this week to talk about writing and his work for The Ringer and in his New York Times Best Selling book The Rap Year Book. Serrano talks the learning curve of writing, how he refined it as he went along, why he marries his writing with original art, how he paired up with Arturo Torres, the intent of The Rap Year Book, the importance of creating a framework for the book, his process for conceptualizing articles, how he makes writing work for him, why writing for exposure is not the way to go, the FOH army (his massive group of fans), and some hoops talk before closing with five questions about a little of everything, including John Wick, who he’s looking forward to watching this NBA season, HEB commercials, and more.

You can find Shea on Twitter, his work at The Ringer, in Bun B’s Rapper Coloring and Activity Book, as well as The Rap Year Book with artist Arturo Torres. Also, the second season of his email newsletter Basketball (and Other Things) is coming soon, so subscribe up.

If you’d like to sample his work for The Ringer, including the Antonio Brown Twerking article discussed in the podcast, the coming Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook war, on the secret power of being an educator, and a scientific guide to Mark Wahlberg’s movies.

You can download the show directly here on Libsyn.

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Have a question for Off Panel? You can reach David by email and Twitter.

Header image is from the cover of The Rap Year book by Serrano and Arturo Torres. Intro and outro music is Vulfpeck’s Outro from their album Vollmilch. Thanks to the band for letting me use the track.