You know the saying, "bloom where you're planted"? My guest, Nora Fiffer, embodies it. She’s an actor, director, and producer in both theater and film and like me, she lives in rural New Hampshire. She moved here from Chicago about eight years ago, and since she's arrived, she's co-founded the award-winning Firelight Theatre Workshop, which is now in its seventh season; produced two short films using local talent; and is set to release her first feature film, Another Happy Day, this fall.

Nora also embodies the eighth principle of the No Time to be Timid Manifesto, “Constraints are opportunities.” Like most of us, Nora has limited space, resources, and most of all time, because in her case, Nora's raising two children. Still, Nora brings big creative ideas to a small town. So fair warning, if you have any excuses for not stepping into your creative practice, Nora's probably going to shoot them down.

Take Aways

• Embracing constraints can lead to innovative and creative solutions.
• Having projects at different stages of the creative process allows for continuous flow of creativity.
• Taking risk and trusting the audience are key to artistic growth.
• And finally, balancing creativity and motherhood — or any kind of caregiving — requires patience, time management, and prioritizing your creative work.

Resources

Nora Fiffer

Firelight Theatre Workshop

Another Happy Day

Dinner Time

Dan Hurlin

Skylight, by David Hare

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rain by Will Eno

The Pavilion, by Craig Wright

The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America