As an artist and a creative, one of the most valuable skills you can learn is how to engage people with storytelling. Stories are the way we process information and make sense of the world around us. I’m excited today to bring you this conversation with a friend who helps us learn from the greatest […]
Have you ever felt discouraged because you started writing a book but didn’t finish it? If so, you’re not alone. Many writers, myself included, have started writing a book … only to later abandon it. Today’s guest, Jim Woods, helps us understand how to break through procrastination and finally get that book finished. Jim is […]
What does it mean to have creative freedom in your life? And what’s more, how do you get it? Our guest shows us how he and his family followed a surprising path to creative freedom, and how he is helping others do the same. His name is Jared Latigo, and he is a personal development […]
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a ghostwriter? It’s a mysterious part of the writing industry that, by definition, remains hidden from view much of the time. Fortunately, our guest today helps shed some light on the world of ghostwriting. His name is Nick Pavlidis, and he is a ghostwriter who specializes […]
I’m excited about the re-launch of the Born to Create Podcast, and honored that you’re taking some time to read this post and listen to the episode. I call this a “re-launch” because the first version of Born to Create was simply an audio blog. The new version of the show features interviews with artists, […]
One of the most enduring images in Western culture is that of the tortured artist. Whether it’s Van Gogh’s emotional difficulties, Michelangelo’s famous hot temper, or Hemingway comparing writing to bleeding, creative people often view their art in terms of suffering. While suffering certainly can help us produce art, it’s not the only element in […]
A few years, I got into a conversation with a non-writer about writing. I don’t remember the context, but at one point I made this statement: “Writing is the hardest work I know.” I’m not prone to being dramatic, so my own words caught me off guard. Did I truly believe that? I turned it […]
This past Friday evening I had the pleasure of seeing U2’s Experience + Innocence Tour at the Scottrade Center here in St. Louis. I have seen U2 a couple of times before, and they never disappoint. This most recent concert was full of energy, great music, and unexpected moments. (Here’s a review from the St. […]
One recent afternoon I watched a Gordon Ramsay video on how to master five basic cooking skills. I’ve been cooking more over the last couple of months and realized that I need a crash course on kitchen fundamentals. We all need to revisit the basics of our craft. Whether it’s cooking, auto mechanics, photography, writing, […]
This time of year, we naturally reflect on the previous year and look forward to the next one. In this post, I want to take a few moments to reflect on my previous year as a writer. In addition, I’ll share my writing-related goals for 2018. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, […]
