Introducing a This Creative Life special season: The Launch Box, in which Andrew DeYoung and I take you through the six-month period leading up to publication of our new books as we each publish for the first time in new categories. This series will cover a Big Five middle grade launch, a midsize-publisher adult literary launch, and a self-published nonfiction launch.  We'll talk covers, ARCs, blurbs, reviews, events, social media, sales, and, of course, shame, envy, and ego. We'd also love your questions! In this episode, we introduce themselves and our work, from Andrew's slushpile sale to my pivot from YA, and why authors care so much about pre-orders. Links: Andrew DeYoung Sara Zarr Ask a question Support the pod Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

This Creative Life with Sara Zarr

TCL: The Launch Box 1. Early & Late

Author Mike Jung joins me for the first of a new batch of fall episodes. We talk about the events of his early life that put him on the path to being a writer, his publishing stories and writing process, a later-life autism diagnosis, and BTS. Thanks so much for being back with us for a new season! Mike Jung Support This Creative Life Get the emails Our Bookshop Shop

Ep 76: Season Premiere with Mike Jung

In March 2020, I spoke with Daniel Bowman, Jr., about writing, teaching, and being #ActuallyAutistic. This week, his new book On the Spectrum: Autism, Faith, and the Gifts of Neurodiversity is out. The book: "... rings with poetry, compassion, and wisdom, and it reveals so much about autistic experience." (Katherine May)  "...lights the path toward greater understanding, better advocacy, and a compelling vision for inclusion that moves beyond stereotypes and tokenism." (Nish Weiseth) "...shows us now to respect one's personhood, to listen, to default to humility and kindness." (Nick Ripatrazone) Buy the book Support the podcast here, or via this easy, direct PayPal link

TCL Archives: Daniel Bowman, Jr.

In March, 2020, I spoke with author Brandy Colbert about her work and writing process. Her nonfiction book, Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, is now available for pre-order. Brandy Colbert Support the Podcast  

TCL Archives: Brandy Colbert

Sarah Enni is the host and producer of First Draft and an author in her own right. This was a great conversation to wrap the TCL-Pandemic season, as Sarah and I got into therapy talk, making big life changes, the upsides of being "optimistically nihilistic" about publishing, the pros and cons of life hacking, and of course Burning Man. Thanks so much for being with me on this reboot ride, and for your support along the way.  Selected Show Notes: Sarah Enni First Draft Podcast Support This Creative Life Documentary Now!  Life Itself  

Ep 75: Season Finale with Sarah Enni

An updated statement on the Substack situation and related podcast businesses, plus The Annotated Courageous Creativity, Ep 8: Failure, in thanks for listening. 

Substack & Failure

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.

Ep 74: Author Tracey Baptiste

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!

Ep 73: Critic Walter Chaw & the Point of Discourse

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!

Ep 72: Writing & Brains with Lindsay Eagar

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

Ep 71: Author & Songwriter Dave Connis

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 & Substack6:16 - 18.40: Failure18:41 - end: Annotations This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

CC.8 The F Word

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 siteCreativity Under Pressure and more of Tracey’s videosRocketbookThe This Creative Life Bookshop shopSupport 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. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

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. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

Ep 73: Critic Walter Chaw and the Point of Discourse

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. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

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 newsletterAtlas ObscuraMakoto FujimuraYe Olde Bookshop shoppeThis podcast is hosted, produced, and edited—for better or worse—by me, Sara Zarr This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

Author Sara Zarr in conversation with other writers, with a focus on the practical and psychological aspects of creativity, the creative process, and the strange landscape where art meets commerce. Past guests include the author of If I Stay, Gayle Forman; literary agent Michael Bourret; and filmmaker Scott Derrickson.