S3 E14: Seasonal Shifts + Joni Sensel and Wildly Inspired
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
In which we don't write a novel in a month, and look to the seasons to inspire our writing focus. Special thanks to Joni Sensel. ! Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E13: Jasminne Paulino's Notes to the Universe
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
Many thanks to my guest Jasminne Paulino for sharing the story of how her debut novel, The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez, came to be, how the pandemic led her to decide to pursue her MFA, and how a late-life diagnosis informs her writing. Find Jasminne on Instagram @jasminne.notes, and at her Find her book and all my guests' books at our Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E12: The Autumn of My dis-Content
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
Sorry about the unplanned hiatus! In this episode I talk about my break from online as my default environment, what that has to do with Our Times, and I guess I'm still learning how to pronounce "authoritarianism." Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E11: Hannah V. Sawyerr & Truth Is
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
From childhood journals to Pitch Wars to the Morris Award Honor to the National Book Award Longlist, Hannah V. Sawyerr has been on a journey! I so enjoyed this conversation and I know you will, too. Truth Is comes out September 23rd everywhere books are sold. at Bookshop & social links Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E10: Reality-Based Goals
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
Expanding on the first episode of this season, we ask what does "reality-based" mean when it comes to goals? Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E9: Filmmaker Thomas Torrey
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
Finally, another interview episode! This conversation with Thomas Torrey is exactly what I've been craving, and maybe you have, too. We talk about artistic despair and the freeing realization that we're not special. Also the ways in which his film, Long December, could be thought of as This Creative Life: the Movie. Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E8: Introducing the Writers Circle!
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
The Writers Circle is a community for support, connection, and education for writers at all levels, across genres and categories. Check it out: Coupons! EARLYBIRD10 for 10% off any membership (expires 9/2) FOREVER21 for 21% off a Forever membership (expires 9/2) Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E7: Dealing with Middles
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E6: What Counts as Writing
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
When your word count is down but you've got lots of dishes to do. Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
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S3 E5: Five Craft Tips I Give the Most
This Creative Life with Sara Zarr
This week I go over five of the most common pieces of feedback I give on student and client manuscripts. Got a writing question for a future episode? ! Thanks to for the theme music! Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
info_outlineIn late 2016, Melissa Walker was working on her 10th novel when she went to a holiday party and heard then Senator Daniel Squadron talk about the importance of state-level politics—even for the national landscape. She was inspired to take action. That action eventually grew into a pivot from full-time writing to full-time work with The States Project.
This conversation is everything I wanted from the Pivots, Comebacks and Reinventions series. It’s a great example of how passion and purpose can realign for a season or a reason, while the writing is still always there. It got surprisingly emotional for both of us; I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
(This conversation is explicitly political in places, which may or may not be your jam!)
Selected Links:
The States Project - get involved
Get the show notes / newsletter
Get the book
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music.