This Creative Life

During 2020, in search of things to do from home, I started attending some of the virtual movie talks that writer and critic Walter Chaw gives with guests via the Denver Public Library. They've been a true highlight of All This, as Walter's knowledge is wide and deep and generous. Like all good film critics, he's also an insightful critic of culture in general, and how it deals in humanity and inhumanity.

Recently, Walter and I got to talk about his experiences growing up as a first-gen Chinese American kid in Golden, CO, and assimilating via consumption of popular media of the 70s and 80s, for better or worse. We got way into how art can be a catalyst of self-examination, the deep psychology of fandom, and the point of discourse. (Hint: it's not "being right".) I realized at the end of the conversation that we didn't even get around to talking about Walter's screenwriting projects so you'll just have to keep an eye out for those!

Listener note: in the second half of the podcast we talk a bit in an undetailed way about suicidality and depression.

Selected show notes:

'Parasite' Won, but Asian-Americans Are Still Losing - Walter's piece in the NYT after the 2020 Oscars

Miracle Mile - his monograph on the Steven De Jarnatt film

Film Freak Central

Denver Public Library Saturday Matinee YouTube archives. This link takes you to the conversation with Guillermo del Toro about Spirit of the Beehive - check out the playlist for more, and they are always adding. Register here for upcoming talks.

The This Creative Life Bookshop shop

Support the podcast by shopping in the Bookshop shop or making a one-time PayPal donation!

Lindsay Eagar is an author and writing coach with a recent ADHD diagnosis. She's been very open about it online and generous with my personal questions, and I wanted to bring her on for a more topic-focused episode. In this case: our brains!

Lindsay shares her background, symptoms, diagnosis process, and management strategies in ways that I found so interesting and helpful, and I think you will, too. We also talked about her "fast drafting" 80/20 course and philosophy, dirty books we loved as kids, and the delusions of grandeur we should all strive for.

Selected show notes:

Lindsay's books and classes

The I Have ADHD podcast with Kristen Carder

The dubious works of Beatrice Sparks

The This Creative Life Bookshop shop

Support the podcast by shopping in the Bookshop shop or making a one-time PayPal donation!

Dave Connis is not only the legendary composer of the theme music for this very podcast, but also an author in his own right, with two YA novels out and a picture book on the way.

The emotional theme music of this episode is honesty. Dave and I get into matters of art and faith, how a sudden loss changed his writing life and drive, and how not to be a Slughorn in a business where various relational challenges can be baked in. We also, of course, talk about the practical matters of writing, such as: writing with a full-time job and several (at least) children, prioritizing when you're a person with a lot of ideas, and the freedom in knowing your limitations. And we wouldn't be two Christians (or in my case, Christian-ish) if we didn't mention the enneagram.

Selected show notes:

Dave online, books and music and newsletter

Atlas Obscura

Makoto Fujimura

Ye Olde Bookshop shoppe

This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited—for better or worse—by me, Sara Zarr

I’m putting this episode of the Annotated Courageous Creativity into the main feed so that all listeners can check in on what we’re up to there, and to make a brief and inconclusive statement about Substack.

0.00 - 6.15: Intro & Substack

6:16 - 18.40: Failure

18:41 - end: Annotations

Followup: This post helps explain what’s going on, and why there are changes ahead unless something very surprising happens. Stand by, and I hope to make everything seamless and—God help me—permanent.

Get on the email list at thiscreativelife.substack.com

Tracey Baptiste is the author of numerous books for young readers, including the beloved Jumbies series and the New York Times Bestselling Minecraft: the Crash. This episode is not only brimming with the delicious process stuff we love here at TCL, it also gave me several potentially life-changing revelations when Tracey shared with me about recreating a sense of freedom in the writing process, and how a mental health crisis helped her learn “how not to grind.” There’s something for everyone in this ep; I hope you enjoy!

Selected show notes:

Tracey’s site

Creativity Under Pressure and more of Tracey’s videos

Rocketbook

The This Creative Life Bookshop shop

Support the podcast by shopping in the Bookshop shop or making a one-time PayPal donation.

Note: There is some stuff going on with Substack that has made me reluctant to continue soliciting paid subscriptions via their site. I am working on best solutions for how to go forward.

Get on the email list at thiscreativelife.substack.com

Listen now | During 2020, in search of things to do from home, I started attending some of the virtual movie talks that writer and critic Walter Chaw gives with guests via the Denver Public Library. They’ve been a true highlight of All This, as Walter’s knowledge is wide and deep and generous. Like all good film critics, he’s also an insightful critic of culture in general, and how it deals in humanity and inhumanity.

Get on the email list at thiscreativelife.substack.com

Listen now (75 min) | Lindsay Eagar is an author and writing coach with a recent ADHD diagnosis. She’s been very open about it online and generous with my personal questions, and I wanted to bring her on for a more topic-focused episode. In this case: our brains! Lindsay shares her background, symptoms, diagnosis process, and management strategies in ways that I found so interesting and helpful, and I think you will, too. We also talked about her “fast drafting” 80/20 course and philosophy, dirty books we loved as kids, and the delusions of grandeur we should all strive for.

Get on the email list at thiscreativelife.substack.com

Dave Connis is not only the legendary composer of the theme music for this very podcast, but also an author in his own right, with two YA novels out and a picture book on the way.

The emotional theme music of this episode is honesty. Dave and I get into matters of art and faith, how a sudden loss changed his writing life and drive, and how not to be a Slughorn in a business where various relational challenges can be baked in. We also, of course, talk about the practical matters of writing, such as: writing with a full-time job and several (at least) children, prioritizing when you’re a person with a lot of ideas, and the freedom in knowing your limitations. And we wouldn’t be two Christians (or in my case, Christian-ish) if we didn’t mention the enneagram.

Selected show notes:

Dave online, books and music and newsletter

Atlas Obscura

Makoto Fujimura

Ye Olde Bookshop shoppe

This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited—for better or worse—by me, Sara Zarr

Get on the email list at thiscreativelife.substack.com

Amy Gentry is the author of three psychological thrillers for adults, one 33 1/3 on Tori Amos, and a bunch of shorter stuff. Her latest book is Bad Habits, which is here to scratch all your dark academia itches and also make you laugh and cringe.

After chatting a bit about her book and her own background in academia, we dug into process and publication (and her #pitmad success story), the dead end of trying to be "a good little author," money and class and missing hotels. Amy also got me thinking differently about my standard weaknesses/obstacles question—nay, the very idea of weaknesses. And, I think she got me back onto Goodreads.

I loved Amy's energy and this conversation, and I hope you do, too.

• Amy online

• Small Axe // Lovers Rock

• Joe Pera Talks with You

• Morning [expletive] Pages

Produced & edited by me, Sara Zarr

Theme music by Dave Connis

Ye olde Bookshop shoppe

For the first episode of 2021, author Maurene Goo and I jumped on the phone just hours after the inauguration, having kept our scheduled conversation in hope and faith but also ready to cancel. For many reasons, I'm so glad we didn't have to. Phew!

After processing world events for a bit, we dig into Maurene's backstory, writing process, the upsides of being married to another creative professional, and life as a new mom, and then I had a revelation about anxiety, thanks to Maurene's therapist! Maybe you'll find it helpful, too.

(Please accept my apologies for some sound quality issues that were a direct result of a rookie mistake I made in the recording process. I was able to fix much of it in post, but pardon any remaining heavy breathing.)

Produced & edited by me, Sara Zarr

Theme music by Dave Connis

Ye olde Bookshop shoppe

Hi visitors, get a free or paid Substack subscription to hear about new episodes or set your podcast app to alert you! Paid subscriptions are 25% off through January 31st and come with the Courageous Creativity audio with my commentary, plus other themed mini-seasons to be announced.

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