From Lost Wallet to Historical Fiction with ROSA KWON EASTON

Plot Lab, episode 5: From Lost Wallet to Historical Fiction with Rosa Kwon Easton Rosa Kwon Easton steps into the lab with Kristi and Beth for a brainstorming session. First, we play a warm-up game called Bookish Mad Libs, where Rosa helps us fill in the missing words or a real book description. We create our own crazy book description and Rosa guesses the actual book. Then, the real experiment begins. Rosa is torn between two headlines so we talk it through. Her chosen headline sets us up perfectly to brainstorm a dual-timeline story where points in history serve as tent poles for half of the plot. We also discuss the significance of objects in literature and how the details about a simple item can open the door to so many interesting questions and clues for readers. We dive deep into character development of the present-day timeline and the ways in which long-term family issues can resurface during new phases of life, even when we’d thought the problem was resolved. The object, our link between the past and the present brings our two stories together. Huge props to Rosa for her whip smart ideas. Right when Kristi throws in a twist, Rosa twists it even more. Don’t say we can’t come up with the framework for a stellar story in 30 minutes! MEET Rosa Kwon Easton Rosa Kwon Easton is a Korean American lawyer, a library trustee, and the author of the novel Red Seal, released in October 2026. Her writings have also appeared in CRAFT Literary, Electric Literature, Writer’s Digest, and elsewhere. A graduate of Smith College, Columbia University, and Boston College Law School, she resides with her husband and Maltipoo in sunny Southern California. BOOKS MENTIONED Rosa Kwon Easton, Red Seal, White Mulberry Min Jin Lee, Pachinko Min Jin Lee, American Hagwon JOIN THE EXPERIMENT The headlines we bring into the lab don’t just belong to us. They’re writing prompts for you, too! Which one sparks your interest the most? Pick one of this episode’s headlines and write your own original story. Visit our PROMPT INCUBATOR community. Share your ideas, write, or read what others are creating. Vote for your favorites. Your work could be featured on a future episode of Plot Lab. Visit Plot Lab Plot Lab. From Spark to Story.