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This is literally why I launched my Substack, Creative Reverberations (creativereverberations.…). In the span of 24 hours in late 2023, I was hit with a double whammy--the loss of a long-time writing client and a breast cancer diagnosis. When I returned to work a few months later after surgery, I found that many publications were scaling…
This is literally why I launched my Substack, Creative Reverberations (https://creativereverberations.substack.com/). In the span of 24 hours in late 2023, I was hit with a double whammy--the loss of a long-time writing client and a breast cancer diagnosis. When I returned to work a few months later after surgery, I found that many publications were scaling back arts coverage and weren't hiring freelance entertainment journalists like me. So I launched my Substack as a way to talk to other creatives about their process, their influences, and how they break through creative blocks--all in an effort to break through my own creative jam.
It's been enormously helpful! I've interviewed authors, songwriters, filmmakers, makeup artists, and other creatives about their work. Hearing who they turn to for inspiration has been enlightening, and I've come away so inspired by the way each of these individuals approach their work.
A few months after I began Creative Reverberations, I began offering goodies to paid subscribers--things like playlists of music that tie back to that month's interviews, or roundups of reading/viewing recommendations, all from the individuals I interviewed. The interviews, along with creating the playlists and roundups, has really bolstered my own creativity.
So, the advice I would give to others who are stuck: Talk to other creatives about their work. Let their creativity inspire your own. Dive headfirst into music, art, books, TV, theater--whatever you love--and just enjoy it for the sake of enjoying it. And I'll share the one piece of advice that every single interview subject has said when asked what they would say to aspiring artists: Just do it. Write the book, make the film, paint the mural--whatever it is that you dream of doing, just start. Let it be messy and awful and just enjoy the process.
Beautiful 🙌🏽 creative healing. That's my sweet spot: melting the Monkeys in our minds that whisper distractions and detractions - so we CAN "Just Do It."
"Melting the Monkeys in our minds"--I love that!!
This is such great advice, Sandra. It took me years to learn that creativity is not about being a lone genius. It's about sharing and connecting with others!
Thank you! It's very hard to break out of the solitary act of creating, but it's definitely much more inspiring when you connect with fellow artists.