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Originality podcast episode #26: Everything is Really Difficult

In this episode we talk about habits and how and why they don’t work for everyone. We start with routines and how they often help prepare your brain can help you reach a more creative place (though not for everyone). Then we discuss how we use bite-sized goals and rewards to keep working, why “grit” is super annoying, and the importance of taking time to step back, look at the big picture, and be kind to yourself.

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes and also subscribe.

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Originality podcast episode #25: You Are Not Alone

In this episode Aleen and I discuss bring creative while under the mental toll of life in America in 2019. There are many potential ways to deal with this, including gathering up friends, family, and community who sustain your creativity, using data to figure out what works for you, when you should or shouldn’t listen to “experts” about how to create better, and why it’s good to ask for help when you need it.

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes and pictures of cats and also subscribe.

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ORIGINALity podcast episode #24: Bury Your Shoulds

Get your shovels, because in this episode Aleen and I discuss the dreaded “shoulds” and how to bury them so you can focus instead on what you want to be doing. We also talk about the importance of saying “no” to things, the powerful motivation of avoiding a 9-to-5 job, and how to find a word count goal that works for you.

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes and also subscribe.

Originality episode 23

ORIGINality 23: Avoiding Patriarchal Nonsense

In this episode I talk about my research trip to Egypt but first I delve deep into my life story to explain how it is I came to be writing a novel set in ancient Egypt in the first place. I’ve been researching Egypt for various projects since college, and the roots go even deeper than that. I talk about it all, including how The Patriarchy shapes what we understand about the past and how I’m looking to change that.

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes and also subscribe.

Originality 22: I Am Hugely Motivated by Spite with Kelly Sue DeConnick

Originality 22: “I Am Hugely Motivated by Spite” with Kelly Sue DeConnick

For this episode I got to interview Kelly Sue DeConnick, writer of the Bitch Planet and Pretty Deadly comics, among many others. We talked a good deal about collaboration, especially in the world of comics, but my favorite bits are where she talks about the creative tools she learned while working in television and how she brought them over to her comics process. And, as the title indicates, we talked about how spite can be a good motivator for creating amazing art. Aleen and I had a great conversation around these and other aspects of the interview, and you should listen to the episode to hear it all :)

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes. Comments are always welcome!

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Originality 21 Irrational Brain Weasels with comic by Dr Jane Charlesworth

ORIGINality 21: Irrational Brain Weasels

Yes, it’s been a while since a new episode of ORIGINality aired and we talk about some of the reasons for that IN this episode. Dealing with being a creative person while also having major life changes plus also dealing with neuroatypicality sometimes means you don’t get shit done even when you want to and even when you enjoy the things that need getting done. Brain weasels, man. They are jerks. See?

attack of the brain weasels comic by Dr Jane Charlesworth

Comic by Dr Jane Charlesworth, @janepipistrelle on Twitter. She knows what’s up.

Anyway, you can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes. And please, please, please do leave a comment here and let me know what you think of this ep.

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ORIGINALITY Creating a Fake World People Can Believe In with Grace P Fong

Originality 20: Creating a Fake World People Can Believe In

We’re back! In this episode Aleen and I talk about my interview with artist Grace P Fong, an awesome person I met on last year’s Writing Excuses cruise. Grace’s art is so good, and I got a chance to watch her draw many times while we toured around the Baltic Sea. That trip was just a small part of a larger tour throughout the world Grace was on at the time. If you think all my moving around is impressive, you should have seen her itinerary. Months and months, multiple continents, visiting friends and having new experiences. In our interview she talked about how this travel makes for better art, about mind palaces, and about what it takes to create something that isn’t real from studying what is.

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes and also subscribe.

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Originality 19: You Don’t Have to Be an Expert

Aleen talks to Marisa McClellan about audience-building in this one and then she and I and ponder the balance between how much an artist really has to engage with their audience in order to keep them interested and keeping yourself safe and sane in the face of the dark side of engagement.

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes and also subscribe.

ORIGINALITY logo next to a picture of Surel's Place

Originality 18: Turn on the Fountain of Words

I still have to write a detailed post about my writing residency at Surel’s Place. But if you’re curious about how it went and about artist residencies in general, then listen to this episode. I go into some of the ups and downs I experienced as well as the general benefit of getting away, even for a short while, to concentrate on your art.

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes and also subscribe.

ORIGINALITY episode 17 logo with picture of Jodi Eichelberger

Originality 17: Stuff People in a Couch

While I was at Surel’s Place doing my residency I interviewed Jodi Eichelberger, the residency’s program director. Jodi is a fascinating person and I enjoyed getting to know him while I was in Boise. Especially since we have a friend in common!

Jodi’s path to being a local arts superstar does begin in Idaho, but it took him through Portland, OR, New York City, and Reykjavik, Iceland. He’s done musical theater, puppetry, and steampunk coffee delivery by bicycle. Like I said, fascinating.

You can listen to the podcast below or on the episode page where you can see the show notes and also subscribe.