Letting Go of Perfectionism and Portraying Anxiety in Middle Grade Fiction with Gloria Huang Artwork

The Write It Scared Podcast

A podcast to help fiction writers work through self-doubt and learn the craft of writing a novel.

The Write It Scared Podcast

Letting Go of Perfectionism and Portraying Anxiety in Middle Grade Fiction with Gloria Huang

June 29, 2025 • Stacy Frazer • Season 2 • Episode 66

If perfectionism has ever kept you stuck or made you question whether you’re cut out for this whole writing thing, this episode is for you.

Gloria Huang, author of the stunning middle grade fantasy Kaya and the Ocean, joins me to talk about:

Letting go of perfectionism
Writing through self-doubt
Revisiting your work with compassion

We dive into how she approached themes like childhood anxiety, identity, and the immigrant experience with honesty and heart.

Gloria also shares her path to publication—including the emotional stamina it takes to navigate rejection, impostor syndrome, and everything in between.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that writing is brave, messy, and deeply human.

In this episode, we cover:
00:29 Welcome back to Write It Scared
01:39 Meet our guest: Gloria Huang
02:57 Gloria’s debut novel Kaya and the Ocean
04:38 Exploring themes of anxiety and identity
06:15 The inspiration behind Kaya and the Ocean
08:06 Cultural influences and mental health in storytelling
15:13 The power of stories to heal and connect
17:21 Gloria’s path to publication
19:57 Writer’s block, burnout, and the creative process
21:43 What happens after the book deal
24:22 Writing process + giving yourself grace
27:10 Reframing rejection as part of the journey
29:03 Gloria’s hopes for fellow writers
30:32 What she’s working on next
31:17 Final thoughts and where to find Gloria