What Fandom Obsession Teaches You About Making Art | Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Author Jenny Tinghui Zhang joins Sparkle On to talk about fandom, following obsessions, and the small, stubborn joys that pull us back to art. Jenny discusses her latest novel, Superfan — a coming‑of‑age story about a lonely freshman who finds belonging in a K‑pop–style fandom. We explore how obsessions, artist cities (hello, Austin, TX), and the bravery to consistently show up fuel creativity. Expect thoughtful riffs on community, limerence, male figure skating, and practical wisdom for turning yearning into art without losing the love that started it. Read Superfan: https://us.macmillan.com/books/978125... Read Four Treasures In The Sky: https://us.macmillan.com/books/978125... Follow Jenny:   / sunspotletters   00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:01:23 Falling Down the BTS Rabbit Hole 00:03:48 The Psychology of Obsession and Limerence 00:05:22 Middle School Obsessions and Lord of the Rings 00:07:54 Understanding Young Women and Fandom 00:13:46 The Power and Dark Side of Fandom 00:19:22 Post-Debut Depression and Losing Love for Writing 00:23:27 Finding the Way Back Through Figure Skating 00:28:02 The Magic of Old Notebooks and Past Selves 00:33:14 Austin's Creative Community and What's Next 00:39:43 Re-Romanticizing the Writing Process