This Creative Life with Sara Zarr: Recent Episodes
Sara Zarr
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.
The Writers Circle:
https://writerscircle.circle.so
Still Writing:
Still Writing has its very own feed! Please add it to your favorite podcast app, and let me know if you can't find it on yours.
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Amazon Music
Podcast home at Buzzsprout
Still Writing has its very own feed! For the full episode, please add it to your favorite podcast app, and let me know if you can't find it on yours.
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Amazon Music
Podcast home at Buzzsprout
Still Writing has its very own feed! Please add it to your favorite podcast app, and let me know if you can't find it on yours.
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Amazon Music
Podcast home at Buzzsprout
In which Still Writing and its mystery cohost are revealed!
Stay tuned for Still Writing ep 1
Still Writing Apple Podcast link (also works for listening in your favoritie app like Overcast)
Still Writing at Spotify
Still Writing on Amazon Music
___
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Alyssa Sheinmel's psychological thriller and adult debut, Such Sheltered Lives, it out now. In this episode, I spoke with Alyssa about what it's been like to publish in the adult category alongside her ongoing work in her teen lit roots, how she gets it done, and hey, what's going on in YA right now anyway?
Such Sheltered Lives - Out from Atria 1/20/26
Alyssa's website
Alyssa @ IG
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
The Writers Circle
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
The Writers Circle
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
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. Get Wildly Inspired! The Writers Circle
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
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 website
Find her book and all my guests' books at our Bookshop Shop The Writers Circle
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
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."
The Writers Circle
Celery
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
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.
Truth Is at Bookshop
Hannah's website & social links
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
Expanding on the first episode of this season, we ask what does "reality-based" mean when it comes to goals?
The Writers Circle
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
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.
Bad Theology Pictures
Long December
The Writers Circle
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
The Writers Circle is a community for support, connection, and education for writers at all levels, across genres and categories.
Check it out:
The Writers Circle
Coupons!
EARLYBIRD10 for 10% off any membership (expires 9/2)
FOREVER21 for 21% off a Forever membership (expires 9/2)
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
Podcast home page
Take a peek at the Writers Circle
The Inbox Variations Quarterly Newsletter
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
When your word count is down but you've got lots of dishes to do.
Writers Circle waitlist
Angel Down by Daniel Kraus
E Lockhart on TCL back in 2015
Incubation and the creative process
And preparing for incubation! (point 6)
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
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? Email me! Podcast home page
The Writers Circle
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
Podcast home page
Help for writers and Writers Circle waitlist
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
In the first interview episode of TCL 3.0, we bring back an old friend with a new book. Andrew DeYoung's new domestic thriller, Stay Away From Him, is out this week. We talk about Andrew's path from YA to speculative to thrillers, the pleasures of writing genre fiction, and how he gets it done. Also, why is everything in publishing so slow?
Get Stay Away from Him
Help for writers and Writers Circle waitlist
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
In this episode, I go over five common reasons we're not writing even though we want to, and offer some ways to change our thinking. Share it with a friend who needs to hear it!
Podcast home page
The Writers Circle
On Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande (and other writing books I like)
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
Learn more about me, my books, and my other projects at:
www.sarazarr.com
Subscribe to this podcast wherever you like to listen, including Apple, Overcast, Spotify, Podbean, and more.
Help for Writers and Community Waitlist
Podcast Home Page
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
www.sarazarr.com
Just a short audio newsletter to share what I've been doing in 2024, with a bit of housekeeping toward the end. Happy holidays and thanks for still being here!
www.sarazarr.com
Theme music by Dave Connis
What's going on with This Creative Life? What am I doing? How old am I? Is there going to be a new podcast in this feed? All these questions and more answered in under 6 minutes!
www.sarazarr.com
services & rate sheet
The Inbox Variations
Get Kyra, Just for Today
I know you’ve been waiting a long time on a wish and a promise for this final episode in the Pivots, Comebacks, and Reinventions series. I appreciate your patience while I went and figured out myself and my own potential pivots and reinventions!
The wait is over and I present to you my conversation with Ashley C. Ford, bestselling author of Somebody’s Daughterand lots more.
I’m so grateful to Ashley for her time and generosity in this conversation. I know you’re going to love it as much as I did.
Ashley’s web site
Somebody’s Daughter
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Pre-order Kyra, Just for Today
Get the This Creative Life book
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music.
www.sarazarr.com
Fall updates! New interview episode coming in November.
Opting In, Opting Out
Pre-Order Kyra, Just for Today
The Inbox Variation newsletter (This Creative Life newsletter will be ending)
Manucript consultation
News about my next book, and an opportunity for space that I am taking!
Get the show notes / newsletter
This Creative Life ebook on sale for $2.99 through June!
@ amazon @ everywhere else
www.sarazarr.com
This is the audio version of the most recent newsletter PLUS some thoughts about what's next for the pod.
Get the newsletter version of this post
Get the book
Get The Inbox Variations
www.sarazarr.com
In 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
Melissa's books
Get the show notes / newsletter
Get the book
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music.
www.sarazarr.com
The audio version of this week's newsletter on living with the uncertainty of writing.
Get the newsletter version of this post
Get the book!
www.sarazarr.com
From the supply chain issues that started the year, to the conversation about AI that's ending it, I talk through the year in publishing with Michael Bourret of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Also, we answer listener questions!
This will be the last episode for the year, and the last one before a break during which I'll go off to Boston to teach and maybe even revise my novel. I'll be back (most likely in February) to pick up the Pivots, Comebacks, and Reinventions series.
Get the show notes / newsletter
Get the book (holiday pricing good through 12/21)
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music
Happy Holidays!
www.sarazarr.com
What do you do when you've established a writing career and then it's not giving you what you came for? What does it look like to be a person who writes but whose entire identity isn't wrapped up in Being a Writer? Is there life on the other side, if you can just let go? Bennett Madison joins me for the first time since 2013 to talk about the work of deprofessionalizing his writing life to pivot to joy in creative work--and a steady paycheck doing something else.
Get the show notes / newsletter
Get the book
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
www.sarazarr.com
One from the 2013 archives to get you ready for next week's episode, when Bennett Madison comes back for the Pivots, Comebacks, and Reinventions series.
New full episode next week!
Until then, here's the audio version of this week's newsletter, with a question for YOU about your dream writing podcast.
Get the newsletter version of this post
Get the book
www.sarazarr.com
Letting go of the idealized version of your writing experience.
Get the newsletter version of this post
Get the book
Take the Google survey on 2023 classes.
Happy Thanksgiving!
www.sarazarr.com
The audio version of this week's newsletter on resting before making the next creative decision.
Find the text version here!
The audio version of this week's newsletter on resting before making the next creative decision.
Find the text version here!
In the third episode in the Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions series, my longtime friend and one-time (?) collaborator Tara Altebrando talks to me about her multiple pivots over a couple of decades as a working writer, and the driving forces behind those choices. Currently, she's working in scripted audio as the creator and writer of the Dream Breachers podcast at Pinna Audio and the President of Listen Like Thieves Productions.
Get the show notes / newsletter
Dream Breachers
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
www.sarazarr.com
In the third episode in the Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions series, my longtime friend and one-time (?) collaborator Tara Altebrando talks to me about her multiple pivots over a couple of decades as a working writer, and the driving forces behind those choices. Currently, she's working in scripted audio as the creator and writer of the Dream Breachers podcast at Pinna Audio and the President of Listen Like Thieves Productions.
Get the show notes / newsletter
Dream Breachers
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
www.sarazarr.com
In the second episode in the Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions series, Malinda Lo and I talk about her huge year with Last Night at the Telegraph Club and what it has meant for her writing and life. But is it really a “comeback” if she never went away in the first place? Also we talk about her brand new book, A Scatter of Light.
Get the show notes / newsletter
Get A Scatter of Light
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
www.sarazarr.com
In the second episode in the Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions series, Malinda Lo and I talk about her huge year with Last Night at the Telegraph Club and what it has meant for her writing and life. But is it really a “comeback” if she never went away in the first place? Also we talk about her brand new book, A Scatter of Light.
Get the show notes / newsletter
Get A Scatter of Light
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
www.sarazarr.com
When author Faith Gardner grew frustrated with the slowly grinding gears of traditional publishing and wanted to spread her wings a bit, she took matters into her own hands.
This is the first episode of this fall's Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions series!
Get the show notes / newsletter
Get the This Creative Life book
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music!
What's coming this fall from This Creative Life!
Show links:
the newsletter
the audiobook
www.sarazarr.com
What's coming this fall from This Creative Life!
Show links:
the newsletter
the audiobook
www.sarazarr.com
When it feels like the world is burning down, is writing something you want to save from the fire?
Get the newsletter version of this post
Get the book
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music
www.sarazarr.com
Get the newsletter version of this post
Get the book
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music.
www.sarazarr.com
Get the newsletter version of this post.
Get the book.
Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music.
I’m so happy to be back with one my favorite contemporary novelists, Michelle Huneven. I love the compassion, humor, and reality in how she renders life and relationships.
She’s got a brand new book out, Search, which we talk about along with her other books, her background, and process—including the 20-year circuitous journey to the publication of her first novel, Round Rock. I hope you enjoy the episode and, if you’re not already a fan, go explore her catalog.
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Theme music by Dave Connis
Support the pod via PayPal or ko-fi
Get the This Creative Life book
It's launch day for the This Creative Life ebook, with the paperback close behind! I was recently on Jenn Laughran's Literaticast digging into the content and ideas in the book, and she graciously let me crosspost the ep into the TCL feed. The Literaticast on Apple Podcasts
Get the show notes / newsletter
Get 30% off the book with this link and this code: QWBODLO8MX
Or find it just about everywhere that sells ebooks! B&N, Amazon, Kobo, Google Play, Apple. All the links at www.sarazarr.com
Jo Knowles is one of my favorite book people, and she has a new one out this week. That inspired me to pull her 2013 episode up from the archives, where it’s been under lock and key for awhile. Jo writes for and about almost all ages on the young reader spectrum, from picture book (Ear Worm) to YA (Read Between the Lines) to Middle Grade (See You at Harry’s). Her latest, Meant to Be, sounds like it has a lot in common with A Song Called Home. Which doesn’t surprise me a bit—Jo and I have always been interested in similar themes and settings in our work. Check out her work if you don’t know it, and enjoy this trip back in time!
Selected Show Notes Jo Knowles online
Jo and other guests at the TCL Bookshop shop
NEW! thiscreative.life
Theme music by Dave Connis
A lot has happened since the last episode! Namely: A Song Called Home and The Temps are both out in the world and no longer under our control, if they ever were. We’re already no longer in our pub-day month; new books come out, people move on. Our role as authors is pretty much done.
So, what’s next? As you’ll discover in this episode, neither Andrew nor Sara are sure. Whether it’s Andrew trying to decide what project to focus on now, or me pondering a complete exit from the whole endeavor, we’re both tired and looking for some clarity in the breath-after-pub.
We also talk about: checking sales numbers, Sally Rooney’s bucket hat, and how we’d describe “the arc of a launch.” And there’s still one more book left to launch in this series! The This Creative Life book is off to the copyeditor and soon to meets its publishing fate.
A Song Called Home
The Temps
Coming-of-age as apocalypse - Andrew’s piece at LitHub
Julia Fox at the Oscars
This Creative Life - the book!
Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
As Andrew and I wait through the last few weeks before our books come out, we digress ever so slightly into an incomplete history of self-publishing, from its reputation as “vanity publishing” to where it converged with the advent of ebooks and e-readers to arrive at its present day status as a messy juggernaut. Also: why every writer should consider learning how to self-publish in the 21st century.
Sara’s book now comes out on 3/15; Andrew’s is still scheduled for 3/29. Neither are at the bottom of the ocean!
0-13:30: Updates on our books
13:35-1:07:00: The incomplete history of self-publishing (including diversions to e-readers, the aspiring writer industrial complex, and remembering “New Adult” in its innocent infancy)
1:07:00 - end: Closing thoughts and coming attractions
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Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Laurel Snyder is the author of numerous books for young readers, including Orphan Island, My Jasper June, and the Charlie & Mouse books.
In this episode, we talk about staying fluent in the language of childhood, the “ghost of brokenness” when writing from a sad place, how Laurel works with the all-or-nothing cycles of her writing process, being an extrovert in an introvert’s career, and the difficulties of writing about faith and religion.
Around minutes 53-58, this turns into a Real Housewives podcast. We’re not sorry!
Theme music by Dave Connis. This podcast is ad-free. Find out how to support it here. Thank you!
More show notes / subscribe to get the podcast in your email
The Launch Box is back! Andrew and I talk about letting go, publicity (including his experience with a freelance publicist), and have a breakthrough about what might be behind the Book Blues for a lot of writers. Also, we catch up on The Temps movie option and where we stand on unboxing videos. Ephemera: Ringo Starr, Scrivener syncing, and the ghost of Dorothea Brande.
Andrew DeYoung
Sara Zarr
Ask a question / get extended show notes
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Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I’m so excited to kick off 2022 with my conversation with Preeti Chhibber, a multitalented lady with just the energy we need to help take us into a new year. Preeti is an author, podcaster, speaker, and all-around badass who has published multiple IP projects as well as her original work.
In this episode, we talk about how she got started in IP and what it takes to succeed in that world, managing a many-tentacled freelance career, and the risks and rewards of stating what you want to the world.
Theme music by Dave Connis. This podcast is ad-free. Find out how to support it here. Thank you!
In this episode of The Launch Box, Andrew and I discuss the mysteries of professional gift-giving, how to balance big-picture career thinking with getting the writing done, the possibilities of being a weekend novelist, and EVENTS. Also, Sara gets a review and Andrew answers the TCL two questions. Plus so much more.
Andrew DeYoung
Sara Zarr Ask a question / get extended show notes
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Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Sara helps cast her audiobook, Andrew gets a movie option, Sara learns more about Ingram Spark for self-publishing, and we both write letters to booksellers hoping to endear them to us. Also, everyone is burned out, including Andrew's cat.
Andrew DeYoung
Sara Zarr
Ask a question / get extended show notes
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Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Why does everything about having a book published embarrass us? What is man's proper relationship to the 'Zon? And what happened with that Realms of Ruin thing? We try to break it all down. Also: Andrew gets his first trade review and Sara reports some pre-order numbers. 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
Writer, podcaster, radio host, and VJ emeritus Dave Holmes joins me to talk about his long and winding road to writing his wonderful 2016 memoir, Party of One, his writing at Esquire, and how it all connects to his current podcast project, Waiting for Impact. We talk ADHD, burnout, the longing to be understood, and the obsessions that drive us. And a whole lot more.
Waiting for Impact
Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs
Dave at Esquire
Homophilia
Theme music by Dave Connis. This podcast is ad-free and free-free. Find out how to support it here. Thank you!
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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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The Annotated Courageous Creativity, 1 Intro & Silent Messages Note to listeners: This is the first episode of the first paid subscriber season, The Annotated Courageous Creativity. I’m making this first episode available to all to help you decide if you’d like to hear more. Annual subscriptions will be 25% off through January 31st. Enjoy!
In this episode, I read the introduction about what creativity is and why one might need courage, and the section “My Story” which is the part I use as a springboard for the diving in a little deeper for the annotations.
- 0.00 - Season introduction and introduction of book
- 14:35 - My Story
- 24:10 - Annotations
Paid subscribers: When you first signed up, you should have received an email that included a link to open from your phone to get your subscriber feed set up in your favorite podcast app. Please let me know if you have any questions about this! This episode will also be in the general feed, but starting next week you’ll need the special link if you’d like to listen via a podcast app (vs from this page or your email).
Purchase the book Courageous Creativity
This Creative Life is moving! The pod's new home is at Substack, where you can find out more about what I've got planned for the new paid subscriber options. Meanwhile, the interview episodes as you've always known them will continue to show up in your feed, complete and ad-free.
In the final episode of 2020, I talk to Michael Bourret of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret about the year in publishing, authors and social media, making mid-career changes, and more. This is a great episode for those who love to talk shop and want to understand a little more about where publishing has been and where it may be going. Happy New Year!
Produced & edited by me, Sara Zarr
Theme music by Dave Connis
Get a free or paid Substack subscription to hear about new episodes, or set your favorite podcast app to alert you! I will be shutting down the old Patreon page.
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Note to listeners: Given a recent diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and the physical toll of podcast editing, Sara (while optimistic) isn't sure about the future of the pod for 2021. There's also a chance the pre-2020 archives will go behind a paywall, so download your favorites while you can at http://thiscreativelife.libsyn.com and have them free forever. Meanwhile, please enjoy this unedited conversation between Sara and author/storyteller Christian McKay Heidicker!
Find the show notes at our Patreon page
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Daniel Nayeri's autobiographical novel, Everything Sad Is Untrue, tells the tale of young Daniel, who has landed in Oklahoma after his mother is forced to flee Iran with Daniel and his sister and after they've spent some years living as refugees in Italy before making it to the U.S. On the podcast episode, the real Khosrou (aka Daniel) tells the tale of what happened after Oklahoma, how he wound up in publishing, and the threads of family, belonging, and sheer force of will that have pulled him through. We talk about the conflicting desires for connection and isolation, and about how to create a life with acts of welcome and little rebellions against sadness. Buy Everything Sad Is Untrue
Two writers. An obsession with cult narratives. A love of chickpeas. Sara and Courtney Summers (Sadie, All the Rage, the forthcoming The Project) talk about Courtney's backstory as a high school dropout who had her first book published in her early twenties, how to think strategically about writing without compromising your creative compass, and being driven by the desire to capture a moment, a feeling, a vibe in our novels. Also, our personalities. Pre-Order The Project
The wisdom that comes with over thirty years in this business and at this craft is priceless--Rita is generous with it here, from aspects of craft (like looking for "points of ignition within the reader") to those of identity (like quitting her day job after 25 years because "I really needed to be the author that I was on my bio"). We get a glimpse into twenty-two year-old Rita who wrote her debut Blue Tights (1987) and asked a disinterested publishing machine, "Why isn't my culture, my reality, good enough?" We talk breakout success here at the ten-year anniversary of One Crazy Summer, stakes, process, and how she keeps herself enchanted while drafting a story. For more: https://www.patreon.com/thiscreativelife Pre-order Sara's Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life
Lance Rubin is the multi-talented author of three novels, co-writer of the Off-Broadway show Broadway Bounty Hunter, and performer of all sorts. In this episode, we talk about his evolution from community theater kid to writer, creative partnership with a life partner, perfectionism, death, and hope. His latest book is Crying Laughing.
Find all the show notes at: patreon.com/thiscreativelife
Maggie Thrash is the author and artist of two "graphic memoirs" (memoirs in graphic novel form): 2015's Honor Girl and the recent followup, Lost Soul, Be At Peace, as well as several others works including a self-revealing web comic, Cure for Desire. Maggie and Sara talk about life online, the concept of "learn by doing," and coming out to the world (and also her parents) in her debut book. We also talk about our childhoods and how they shaped us, for better and worse.
All the show notes at: patreon.com/thiscreativelife
Liara Tamani recently wrote at Time.com: "Growing up, I was a good girl. I never got in trouble. I did what I was told. ... I’d become a master at taming, hiding and cutting out the parts of myself that weren’t compatible with the person other people wanted me to be: the rebellious, curious and sexy parts; the questioning and fearless parts. The free parts." Liara and I dig into good girl syndrome in life and in publishing, what growing up with the threat of hell hanging over you in childhood is like, and are perhaps answered by God during the interview. Of course, we also talk about books and writing: how Liara's beautiful debut, Calling My Name, came to be, and what she loves about her brand new release, All the Things We Never Knew, as well as the gorgeous covers of both of these books. See patreon.com/thiscreativelife for complete show notes.
Debbi Michiko Florence made a long term commitment to the writing life almost 20 years ago--when she didn't know just how long it would turn out to be. Her story is an inspiring one made of hard work, stubbornness, and friendship. I hope you enjoy.
Find all the show notes at patreon.com/thiscreativelife
Scott Teems is a writer-director working in TV and film, making his own independent features while also taking gigs scriptwriting for studios. We get into both his latest feature, THE QUARRY (from Lionsgate, starring Michael Shannon and Shea Whigham), as well as the documentary HOLBROOK/TWAIN, a film that means a lot to me, personally. We talk about Scott's process, the importance of a writer's life not being only about writing, and so much more. Full show notes at patreon.com/thiscreativelife
You may think Jasmine Guillory came out of nowhere and saw overnight success with her 2018 hit contemporary romance novel, The Wedding Date, not to mention its follow-up best sellers. But Jasmine's writing story goes back a lot farther.
Sara and Jasmine talk about that as well as the power of commitment, how to find mentors and models, and staying one step ahead of anxiety and procrastination. Watch for Jasmine's next book, Party of Two, coming out in June!
Visit the This Creative Life Patreon page for full show notes.
Guys, Amy and I got IN. TO. IT. From publicity to the alleged good ol' days of YA publishing to answering tough questions from listeners like: conquering that ONE THING you are obsessed with but also might be holding you back, and how to make writing sustainable when you grow to hate it a little. This is a deep dive - if you don't want to hear about publishing business stuff, we start talking more about the creative side and take the calls about halfway through. - Amy Spalding - We Used to Be Friends - Goodbye from Nowhere - How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee - Bad Reputation Thanks to all listeners, supporters, and Dave Connis for the theme music! Visit our Patreon page or sarazarr.com for more about the podcast and how to be a supporter.
Episode backstory: I saw Jeff Garvin's second book is out this week, and I called him up to talk about it! I thought this might be a mini-sode but we ended up talking longer than mini but not as long as maxi, so I'm officially declaring this the first midi-sode of the reboot. Jeff and I get into Joseph Campbell vs. Robert McKee, creative reinvention, and an author's right to be private about the personal experiences that go into a book. Content warning: about 22-ish minutes in, we talk very briefly and nonspecifically about the fact that suicide exists, in the context of Jeff sharing about his bipolar II diagnosis. For full show notes, see the show's Patreon page, no contribution required!
In this loose and chatty episode, Katie Cotugno and I pour a drink and talk about our April 7 book releases into a world in which everything is canceled. Given that we have no uncanceled book events, we take some time to talk both process and content of Rules for Being a Girl (co-written by Katie with Candace Bushnell) and Goodbye from Nowhere (by your host, Sara Zarr). We dig into the fictional appeal of inappropriate relationships, what we're reading now, and how we're getting through it all. We both talk fast and a lot and without much filtering so if that's the type of thing you like, you're welcome! If it's the type of thing you hate, we're sorry! In support of independent booksellers, Katie and I encourage anyone inclined to buy our books (or any books) to do so in a way that supports our beloved indies. Some handy links to that end: * Books mentioned in this and other episodes of this podcast at Bookshop.org * Rules for Being a Girl audiobook at Libro.fm * Goodbye from Nowhere audiobook at Libro.fm
You can also get in touch with your specific local indie directly to find out how best to support them as well as how to get ebooks through their storefronts. If book-buying is not in your budget, check out the best app in the world, Libby, to see about getting our ebooks and audiobooks through your public library even while it's closed.
Sara talks with Dan Bowman, Jr., about writing, teaching, and about being #ActuallyAutistic. Watch for Notes from the Spectrum next year and stick around to the end of the episode to hear Dan read a poem.
For the full show notes, go to patreon.com/ThisCreativeLife
Sara talks to author Brandy Colbert (The Only Black Girls in Town) about writing, career envy, mortality, and the Real Housewives.
For the full show notes, go to patreon.com/ThisCreativeLife
"Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need." Frederick Buechner said that, and it's a quote I thought of when prepping to talk to Angela Tucker, the subject of the documentary Closure and the woman behind The Adopted Life, a blog and forthcoming episodes/mini-documentaries for that blog. A self-described private person and introvert, Angela has made her story public and herself vulnerable in the interest of educating people about transracial adoption and building community for transracial adoptees like her.
For more, including show notes and additional resources, visit the episodes page at sarazarr.com
Theme music by Dave Connis
Jeanne Murray Walker is a poet, playwright, memoirist, and teacher. Most recently, she co-edited with Luci Shaw a book of essays on the topic of ambition by members of the Chrysostom Society. We talked about her experience as an ambitious young woman in the era of the "mythical character" of Betty Crocker, ambition and motherhood, and the problems of ambition without direction or models of what to do with it. My own relationship with ambition is quite fraught in ways that might warrant a sequel to this, and this conversation gave me a ton to think about--I hope you find it equally thought-provoking!
For show notes and additional resources, visit the episodes page at sarazarr.com
Theme music by Dave Connis
In this Very Special Episode of This Creative Life, Corey Ann Haydu and I talk about being adult children of alcoholics and how that can play out in both the creative and business sides of our careers, in positive and negative ways. As we mention in the conversation, the symptoms or traits we go over can also come from growing up in environments without substance abuse--for example families that are very rigid, perfectionistic, dealing with mental health issues, homes with raging/anger, families that have alcoholism in the family tree (though a particular generation may not actually drink), or homes where feelings are not expressed at all.
We also talk about Corey's life as an actor before she came to writing, the particular challenges of being judged almost wholly by appearance in that field, and how acting and writing share a similar skill set.
For show notes and additional resources, visit the episodes page at sarazarr.com
Theme music by Dave Connis
I’ve known Michael Bourret (that’s pronounced with a hard T, by the way) for over a decade now, yet even I learned some new things about him in this episode. For example, that I’m not the only one who thought you could only break into publishing if you had a trust fund, and that the book [&hellip
Gayle Forman is the author of seven novels, a book-length work of nonfiction, and many many magazine pieces. I knew that the day she and I could finally work out our schedules to get her on the podcast would be a good one. Here, you’ll find some real talk about writing and wanting, the importance [&hellip
Jenny Han is the New York Times bestselling author of books for young adults and younger readers, and an all-around cool lady. In our conversation we covered work habits, the relationship with readers, her collaborations with Siobhan Vivian, and–if you know Jenny this is not a surprise–Leo DiCaprio. A fun fact that got edited out [&hellip
Not that I’ll ever tire of talking to novelists, but it was a nice change-up for this episode to have a chat with Alissa Wilkinson–critic and lover of pop culture; and editor and writer of film reviews, Mad Men recaps, and essays about art and art-making. What Alissa may not know is how much I [&hellip
After a six-month hiatus from doing the podcast, I am happy to be back! Thanks for your enthusiasm and support. I’m very pleased to have Stephanie Kuehn as my first guest in 2014. Stephanie is the author of the 2014 Morris Award winning Charm & Strange (now in paperback), and the forthcoming Complicit (June 24), [&hellip
It’s a This Creative Life first! My guests are two authors who are still a year out or more from the publication of their first books. I’ve been eager to do a show like this to remind us all that working writers don’t spring up overnight from nowhere. Not that you thought that, but it’s [&hellip
David McGlynn is the author of the Utah Book Award winning story collection The End of the Straight and Narrow; the riveting memoir about faith and swimming and loss, A Door in the Ocean; and numerous stories and essays published in places like Alaska Quarterly Review, Image, and Shenandoah, and work selected for Best American [&hellip
Steve Brezenoff started his career with dozens of writer-for-hire chapter books, and never though he’d wind up writing young adult realism. He says he “did it all wrong,” and YA just seemed to be what was in him wanting to come out. In this episode, Steve takes us through his scene-based process for the forthcoming [&hellip
Does she really need an introduction? Okay, just in case: Sarah Dessen is a Good Morning America superfan, tweeter extraordinaire, deviled egg aficionado and, oh yeah, the author of eleven bestselling novels. She and I recently met on the cybernets to talk about her writing life and career. We discussed how publishing has changed since [&hellip
25! 25! 25 episodes of the podcast. Day-um. That went by kind of fast. Thanks so much for helping me make this a success, and for your patience during summer hiatus. Your reward is this conversation with Matt de la Peña, author of four novels for young adults (and a 5th coming very soon), one [&hellip
The winds of change never stop a-blowin’. How do we deal? By being flexible, letting go, staying optimistic. In this episode of This Creative Life, I talk briefly about how this works and why it matters. No season-ending cliffhangers, no car crashes, no major cast changes, I promise. And then I’m sending the TCL production [&hellip
Oh my oh my. I think I say this every time, but it’s yet another all-time favorite episode. Aaron Hartzler and I talk about his new memoir, RAPTURE PRACTICE, which led us to topics such as: the power of personal stories, why the advice “write like your parents are dead” doesn’t work for everyone, the [&hellip
Author Bennett Madison (The Blonde of the Joke) and I discuss his forthcoming book September Girls, among many other things. Such as: trusting your readers, what to do with the feedback of your peers or editors in the revision process, and the futility of trying to capture the ineffable–and why it still matters. Also his [&hellip
Andrew Auseon and I first made contact back in 2005 or 2006, when his debut novel, Funny Little Monkey, was out and I’d just sold Story of a Girl. Though we’ve known each other online for nearly eight years, the day we had our This Creative Life conversation was the first time we’d actually talked. He’s [&hellip
In January 2011, I gave a talk called “Crafting a Creative Life” at the SCBWI-NY conference. I talked about the long journey of an artist’s life and all of the things that might trap us or freeze us along the way–the practical things like time and money and bad backs, as well as the psychological [&hellip
What do these things have in common: Biola University, the Chicago Film Critics Association’s Top 100 Scariest Films ever made, GK Chesterton, Ethan Hawke, lawn work, and Walker Percy? Well, maybe there’s a lot there for anyone who wants to try, but for our purposes I’m talking about screenwriter and director Scott Derrickson. His most [&hellip