The Creating Pros Podcast

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating in the States.   This week, I'm building on the last few. I want to touch on Gratitude. Real thankfulness. What is it, and how can it help us? How can we find it, and build it in ourselves? It's gratitude, not platitudes.

Humility may not be a term often used about me, but this week we build on last week's exploration of Imposter Syndrome. What is humility? Where did the term come from, and what does it mean today in the world of social media? How can we be creative, run businesses, and yet have humility? Why is humility a tool in the Imposter Syndrome toolbox? What does it mean for our mental health?

Everyone faces imposter syndrome at some point, some more than others. This week we dive into what it is, how it manifests, and techniques to manage it.

Melisa Todd joins me to talk this week about her move to becoming a full time author and publisher, what it's like to complete a series now that she is completing her second series, her popular "Twisted Luck" urban fantasy series and how it's different from wrapping up her Sci-Fi series "The Kaylid Chronicles," the grief process you experience as an author when you complete a character's journey,...

This episode brings us up on a year since the relaunch of CP! This week, I touch on the three things I think are the biggest learnings for me, and some of the most meaningful conversations of the last year!

Creative businesses, like all businesses, runs by the numbers. Rachel E. Carr (RachelECarr.com) is an accountant and auditor by day, and an author by night. She joins me this week to talk about accounting, royalties, taxes, budgets, and the benefits of creativity in your professional life.     

This week is a short, but important one.   Have clarity and intention in what you say, and do.

I recently taught a workshop at DragonCon 2023 on side hustles. With a full room, we ran through the fundamentals of a business, starting your ideas, and ideas around marketing. A common factor to all of these is the question, 'What's your why?' The reason you look to go into business, especially starting creative ones, often is your motivation behind the work. Join me for a deeper conversation on...

Cleveland was home to Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. To celebrate Superman's 85th anniversary, locations all over Cleveland are hosting talks and events from September through November 2. Co-director Valentino Zullo joins me to talk about Superman’s Cleveland, and event for everyone: comics fans, families, scholars, history buffs, and all lovers of the culture of the greater Cl...

This week I chat with Anne D. Bartolucci, Ph. D. about the relationship between sleep, productivity, and creativity. We also talk about the relationship and connection between our creative selves, professional, and personal lives.   You can find out more about Anne, and her alter ego Cecelia Dominic at: Practice: https://sleepyintheatl.com Fiction: https://ceciliadominic.com Psych Up Academy: http...

Sponsored by BGSU's Department of Popular Culture, the Browne Popular Culture Library, and School of Cultural and Critical Studies, the Spider-Man in Popular Cultured Conference is an academic and fan celebration of an iconic character from the comics, TV, film, gaming, and more. Join Dr. Charles Anthony Coletta and Dr. Matthew A. Donahue from the Department of Popular Culture, and Tyne. R. Lowe a...

Last week I talked about self-censorship. This week I look at the meaning of creative work, and how is can affect not only the creator, but the fans and consumers as well.

Self-censorship comes in a lot of forms, and for a lot of reasons. Fear of how your ideas will be received, of ridicule, and rejection. Will you be 'cancelled.' Have you been told it's something you shouldn't write about? What are the costs of self-censorship, and how do you decide what's right for you? 

All of us are called on to be creative at work, at home, school, organizations, and every facet of our lives. But being A Creative is more a way of living and being. A way of looking at and approaching what we do. What does generative AI technology mean to being creative? How do we continue to be Creatives in this world?

Time is the answer to the universe. We only get so much of it, and never really know how much that is. How do we use it? What's important to us? How do we set the boundaries to make sure we put aside time for what is important to us?

Often, we think of gatekeeping being the process by which people are kept away from centers of power and influence to prevent the average person from reaching some goal. Agents and editors are the age old gatekeepers of publishing and entertainment. In my experience, it's more about making sure you and your product are ready to be considered at that next level, and that you're delivering what they...

Funding a project can be hard, we look at self funding, crowd funding, but what about one that has fueled the arts for centuries? What are grants, and are they really free money?

What is risk? What does it mean to running a creative business? A creative life? How do you manage and mitigate it? This week is all about understanding what risk really is, and how to handle it!

Over the weekend, I moderated a panel with John Scalzi and John Hartness, discussing working with professional organizations for writers, such as SWFA, HWA, and the RWA. This week I recap the discussion, diving into the benefits, and sometimes challenges of being a member in these organizations. I also touch on the current writers & actors strikes, and a couple of the key points.

As people, we rely on the opinions and experiences of others. In the digital age, it's no longer friends and family, but online monikers and avatars. How do we deal with fake and toxic reviews? Do they even have any real meaning any more? 

David Ekrut is a PHD scientist, researcher, mathematician, science reporter, and fantasy author. We dive into the winding path of his career, his process, disciplines, and how his scientific background influences his work, and how his creative outlets support his career! Plus some introvert survival tips! 

Hi all, This week's episode is a little late, I was overseas for the last few weeks touring the UK. It's been a number of years since I've been over, and I reflect on how writers and creatives are remembered, and even revered. I toured the neighborhoods where Brahm Stoker stalked and Oscar Wilde lived; the writer's museum with Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and  Sir Walter Scott's lives and...

  Developing your skills is critical in any endeavor, and being a writer is no different. Join Valerie Heller and Katherine Penndorf, the duo behind Much Ado About Writing where we talk about writing groups, writing critique, and the programs they offer!

  David Taylor II is an award winning author, songwriter, producer, and playwright, having written books, comics, and games, in music he's written rap, gospel, adult contemporary, and musical theater for for Justin Bieber,Usher, Cuba Gooding Sr., Dave Koz and the James Taylor singers. He has done commercial work for McDonald’s and Disney. He is a co-composer for the smash hit theater production, E...

This is one we've been trying to get scheduled for almost a year (and been talking about it longer than that). Tom Flemming got his start designing for the World Wrestling Federation (Now the WWE). Tom has painted covers & trading cards for almost every major publisher in the comic book industry such as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and has illustrated for some of the most popular gaming companies in the...