In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela Meleca sits down with writer, creative mentor, and Rebel Writers Workshop founder Neno Littlewood for a refreshingly honest conversation about how we create, evolve, and keep going—even when life gets messy.

From navigating ADHD and dyslexia to building a creative business and reshaping her personal identity, Neno shares how embracing her story—and the imperfect drafts along the way—became her greatest source of power. This is for every arts leader, creator, and nonprofit professional who’s ever felt stuck or sidelined by perfectionism, burnout, or fear.

We talk about:

• Why perfectionism kills creativity

• How embracing “the shitty first draft” helps you grow

• Reframing failure as evolution

• Why mentorship and community matter

• How stories rewire the brain and move people to act

This isn’t just a conversation about writing—it’s about the courage to become who you are. For Relevance Rachel, it’s a reminder that art is the act of creating—whether it’s a business, a painting, or a new path forward.

• 0:00 – Cold Open: There is no failure, only giving up

• 2:00 – Hustling vs. evolving

• 5:45 – Why we must normalize failure in the arts

• 7:30 – There’s always a way—creative solutions for burnout

• 10:30 – Storytelling, neuroscience, and empathy

• 17:00 – The Rebel Writers Workshop: helping others start

• 20:00 – Breaking personal narratives through art

• 26:30 – Journaling, affirmations, and daily practices

• 30:00 – Defining art as any act of creation

• 32:30 – Discount code for Neno’s workshop

🌐 Website: www.melecacreative.com
📱 Instagram: @angelapmeleca
📧 LinkedIn: Angela Meleca
📺 YouTube: ARTS Redefined

Follow @ARTSRedefined for practical tips and content on arts advocacy.

Chapters:Website: Writersrebellion.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nenoswritersrebellion/Link to Rebel Writers Workshop: https://www.writersrebellion.com/store/p/rebel-writers-workshopUse code ARTS10 for $10 off the workshop.