Today I want to share the inspiring story of how Monica Bhide followed her dream to becoming a successful writer. Her journey is filled with amazing wisdom for what it takes to find your voice, get published, and truly have an impact in the lives of readers.
Author Michael La Ronn has already written three books this year, and he will likely write three more before the year is done. Today I want to explore how he is able to fill his life with creativity, infusing writing into all he does. You can find show notes for this episode at https://wegrowmedia.com/thepodcast/
When I first noticed author/illustrator Jarrett Lerner, he was using his Twitter account to constantly celebrate other authors and books. His generosity got him noticed. The result? 20,000+ followers. His first book was published in 2017, his second in 2020, and he has 9 more books in the works to be published within the next two years. In today's conversation, I talk to Jarrett about what it means to live your mission as a writer, and what that daily work of creating and sharing looks like.
Today I talk to author Jenny Blake about how to navigate change and uncertainty. Her book, Pivot, The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One, showcases her process for this, but our chat goes deeper. When everything shut down in March, her entire speaking and workshop business got "wiped out." This is an honest conversation not just about managing the strategy of having a creative career, but how to manage the emotions of it as well.
How can you launch a book in a constantly changing world? Author Leigh Stein is finding out. She has been focusing on what she can control, remixing strategic plans, and devising new ideas filled with creativity and connection. We dig into it all in today’s conversation. This interview is part 2 of my book launch case study with Leigh as she prepares for the June 30 launch of her book: Self Care: A Novel.
In today's episode, I speak with Shannon Connery, PhD about how many writers and artists give away their power to create and share. We dig into the narratives that tend to limit our potential, leaving us with excuses instead of creative actions. Shannon shares several stories to illustrate the point, digs into the psychology of what is going on, and most importantly, shares how to fix it! Her advice: lead with your goals and values.
Today, author Jennifer Louden takes us through her new book, <em>Why Bother?: Discover the Desire for What’s Next</em>, and the six-step process she guides you through to find your own path with your creative work. She also goes behind the scenes of her book launch, sharing how she got more than 170 five-star reviews on Amazon in less than a week, how she is focusing her marketing efforts, and the biggest mistakes authors make in their book launch.
I've known author Kevin Smokler for years. Recently, he did something astounding: he helped create an amazing documentary film called Vinyl Nation. In today's episode, I chat with Kevin about how he took that left turn creatively, and his advice for collaboration with people you admire. We also dig into the topic of the film: why did vinyl records come back into fashion, and how does that inform how we come together around music, art, and writing.
So many writers and artists I speak with struggle to deal with anxiety. This is especially true when one also earns all or part of their income through their creative work. Today I chat with artist Jay Alders about how he manages the mental health side of working as a full-time artist, raising a young family, and supporting the work of his wife who has her own mission and business as well.
So many writers and artist struggle to consider how they can best market what they create. How they can develop a fanbase that leads to a sense of fulfillment and sales. I invited Tad Hargrave onto the podcast to have a candid conversation about marketing -- what works, what doesn't, and why so many of us are uncomfortable with it.
I've been asking Betsy Brockett if I could interview her for awhile now. She finally said yes. What she shared in our interview was her journey not just to create, but to find who she is. The themes that we explore about Betsy's journey align to what so many writers and artist struggle with. What we create is wrapped up with the identity of who we are. How we share can be complicated because we may seek external validation, instead of internal fulfillment. This conversation opens it all up in a magical way.
Tony Bonds just took a big creative leap. He left his day job in order to do his creative business full-time, to double-down on his dream. I recorded my interview with him via online video, from his new office. That would be his garage, complete with messy shelves, exposed pipes, and baby carriages hanging from the rafters. This is where so much creative work happens - in less than ideal places, amidst a ton of risk. But as Tony put it: "At least it's my own desk, in my own garage."
This week I'm considering how you can help others experience the transformation that your writing and art promises. All of us seem to be in the midst of a creative shift, whether we intended it or not. What is inspiring me this week are those who are reaching out to share, to connect, and to find new ways for others to experience the transformation of writing and art.
Today artist Megan Carty shares strategies and insights into how she has been leveling up her art and her business. She gives an unfiltered look into specific ways she is doubling down on her business, and what she has learned in growing her career. She also goes into detail as to how she grew her following with this advice: "It's all about relationships on social media. I stopped posting and started engaging." This interview is packed with useful and inspiring advice.
Christine Koh took a risk that so many people dream of. She left a successful career iorder to create and make stuff. Today she takes you behind the scenes of that process, "the good, the bad, and the ugly" as she says! Christine Koh is a music and brain scientist turned multimedia creative. Since leaving academia in 2006, Christine has launched a successful parenting blog, design company, podcast, book, and so much more!
Today I take you inside the book launch plans of author Leigh Stein. She and I worked together last year in preparation for the launch of her new book, Self Care: A Novel. We take you step-by-step into the process she went through to identify her ideal readers and develop her marketing plan. We also talk about the need to plan way ahead. We worked together nearly a full year ahead of launch.
How do you make a major creative shift in order to do the work you love? Today, award-winning children's book illustrator Anna Raff shares how she did exactly that. This is how she described what she learned when, mid-career, she began taking classes again: "I realized I was missing out and silenced a part of myself for a long time." I also love her advice on how what you create and share needs to be focused on who you are: "If you are sharing work that is an extension of you, it will be your best work."
Last summer, Teru Clavel released her first book: <em>World Class: One Mother's Journey Halfway Around the Globe in Search of the Best Education for Her Children</em>. It was published by a major publisher, was well reviewed in major media, she appeared on the TODAY Show plus other TV and radio, and was interviewed on dozens of podcasts. In today's episode she gets radically honest about the book launch process - what worked and what she learned along the way. Including this: "This is not easy. There are so many rejections. For one success, there were hundreds of pitches where I got rejected."
How does one find the time and energy to embrace creativity after the bottom has dropped out of their life? Today I am excited to share a powerful interview with Shannon Connery,PhD who gets radically honest about what it means to build a life filled with intention, creativity, and happiness.
One of my favorite quotes is from Bono reflecting on the transition U2 made in their music from the 1980s to 1990s: “You have to reject one expression of the band first, before you get to the next expression. And in between you have nothing. You have to risk it all.” Today I share an extraordinarily honest interview with book coach Jennie Nash who is making a profound creative shift with her business. Her story applicable to every writer or artist who dares to create and release it to the world.
Jennie gets really honest here about the realities of running a business and taking risks. It’s often a scary place to go to as a business owner and may be even scarier to hear as a client of that business, but it’s valuable to look these realities in the face. It’s the only way to ensure that the people you do business with are aligned with your values. Jennie is a person who values honesty and integrity, and she is also deeply committed to serving her customers and clients.
Writers feel an intense pressure to jump into social media. Many are for it, many are against it, and most are stuck somewhere between the two. They ask, "Will social media actually lead to book sales?” The answer? No. But social media does so much more for writers. Today I want to discuss the benefits of social media for writers. I also invite you to join me in a weeklong training I am doing in this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/readerconnectionproject/
Today I'm excited to share my podcast interview with illustrator and author Aura Lewis. She shares her story of making a huge career shift to focus on the arts, how she developed her first book, got a book deal, then another, and then in the last year signed deals for 6 additional books!
I'm celebrating 10 years of running my business, WeGrowMedia, full-time. In that decade, I have worked with thousands of writers and made space for creativity in my daily life. Today I want to reflect on what that decade has taught me, and how I am using that to set my goals for this year, and for the next decade.
Today I review what I have learned in running a mastermind group for writers and artists for the past four years, and why you should consider joining one yourself. I also mention my Creative Shift Mastermind: https://wegrowmedia.com/mm
I spend the last quarter of every year going back to the well. Back to my source of creative inspiration in order to find ways to better live my mission as a writer and creator. Today I take you inside my process for how I create specific plans for the next year.