Creative, Actually Podcast

In today’s conversation, Elizabeth sits down with her good friend Ruana, co-owner of Dunie, a multidisciplinary design studio in Almaty, Kazakhstan to talk about how having a special needs child has affected her life and her creativity as a writer. Ruana’s young son Idris suffers from a very, very rare genetic disorder that severely impacts his life and future. During the course of the long, frigh...

In today’s episode, Elizabeth at Creative, Actually chats with sweet romance author, Fictionary Story Coach Editor, and instructor Linda O’Donnell who shares why all successful romance novels have a “wound” for their protagonist to overcome. She shares examples of how writers can progress their character’s wound across the romance beats from the meet cute to breakup and their epiphany. We also get...

Writer, editor, and Fictionary-certified Story Coach Editor Alexandria Yandt joins Elizabeth on Creative, Actually to discuss how she balances writing books and teaching outlining courses while homeschooling six kids. Alexandria started to write fiction during COVID for escapism and anxiety relief, and shares how she evolved from discovery writing to creating story with structure via Fictionary. S...

On today’s episode, creativity coach and strengths-focused editor Julia Gandrud joins Elizabeth to discuss how the Enneagram can help writers get to know themselves better and help them write complex characters perfect for different genres. She describes each type’s motivations and fears and how stress and growth patterns can deepen character creation across genres. About Julia Gandrud: Julia Gand...

Brandi Badgett shares her transformation on Creative, Actually from a passionate reader into a successful editor and author. She discusses her early love for books, writing endeavors, and how after raising five small children, the Resident Evil community rekindled her writing aspirations. Brandi elaborates on her creative process, the importance of story structure, and using tools like Pro Writing...

Perfumer, sociologist, author, and editor Angie Andriot sits down with Elizabeth Carter on the second episode of Creative, Actually. Angie’s an Indiana-based perfumer, the cozy mystery author of Fragrance of Forgotten Truth, and a Fictionary instructor/editor. As a PhD holding sociologist, she shares interesting takes on character-building that may help you understand your characters better. She a...

In the first conversation of Creative, Actually, Elizabeth Carter chats with retired ER nurse and author Jo Taylor about discovering her love of writing while completing an English degree to make a career pivot, and how decades in healthcare shaped her understanding of human nature. They discuss her award-winning 1970s-set novel Margaret of Thibodaux , her Substack Characteristically Speaking, and...