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 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, […]
The concept of a sabbatical has nearly been lost in our modern culture. Our technology allows us to stay connected 24/7, and many of us can do our work anywhere there is an internet connection. As a result, we have forgotten how to rest. Sabbaticals are still a reality in some academic settings. Likewise, some […]
A number of years ago, I sat down in my son’s bedroom late at night after he fell asleep. I was in my mid-30’s and intensely discouraged. As I began to pour out my thoughts, they took shape as a manifesto. I included this “Artist’s Manifesto” at the end of my book The Artist’s Suitcase […]
As a creative entrepreneur, you have an endless number of career choices available to you today. These options can be a real blessing or a real curse. They can be a blessing because you can tailor-fit your creative work to fit your passions, gifts, and interests. But they can also be a curse because it’s […]
Do you ever feel like your New Year’s goals are a distant memory by the time summer arrives? Me, too. Guilty as charged. There has been more than one summer when I’ve resigned myself to failure and said, “Eh, it’s too late now. Maybe I’ll tackle that creative project next year.” If you can relate, […]
