Around the Writer’s Table

Creativity Quest: Taking Ownership (ep. 27)

Welcome to the next step of our creative journey! In this episode, we're diving into the stage of the Creativity Quest called "Taking Ownership." This is where our creative adventure starts to get really interesting!
So, what is this "Taking Ownership" guidepost all about? Well, it's the stage where our authentic selves get to shine. It's when we step into our creative power and start to truly own our creative identity. At this point, we're moving away from relying heavily on mentors or teachers and stepping into our unique creative selves.
But, and this is a big but, it can be a tricky stage. It's easy to get caught up in our own egos. We might start thinking we know it all and get a bit carried away. That's where the importance of balance comes in. We have to find the sweet spot between claiming our creative truth and staying humble. After all, humility keeps our creativity grounded and prevents us from spiraling back into old phases.
Join us as we explore the challenges and triumphs of the "Taking Ownership" guidepost. This stage is where we do some deep inner work. Just like in the previous stages, it requires profound self-honesty. We discuss how "Taking Ownership" has shown up in our creative journeys and how we've navigated its twists and turns. It's all part of the quest to become the best creative versions of ourselves!
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Visit our website for resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a downloadables and a full transcript!

Critiquing Your Inner Critic: Healthy Self Assessment (ep. 26)

In our last episode, we delved into one of the crucial phases of the creative journey, assessing and acknowledging. This stage involves not only evaluating specific pieces of our creative work, but also reflecting on ourselves and our creative lives as a whole. It's about understanding our growth, recognizing areas for improvement, and acknowledging the progress we've made so far. As we explore the different phases of the Creativity Quest, we draw parallels to the five seasons, examining how each stage aligns with the changing landscapes of our creative experiences. 
In this episode, we return to the topic of assessing and acknowledging, focusing on its connection to the season of fall.
In the season of fall, things start to quiet down. It's a time of reflection and assessment, a period to discern what holds value and what's ready to be released. Just as trees shed leaves to prepare for new growth, we too must let go of what no longer serves us. It's a challenging process, entailing honesty and, at times, grief.
As we dive into the conversation, Melody highlights the significance of healthy assessment and its importance to both personal growth and creative work. KimBoo underscores the value of self-awareness, which helps break the cycle of insecurities and self-doubt. Gina emphasizes the connection between assessment, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome. She emphasizes the practice of self-compassion and treating oneself with the same kindness as a trusted friend.
As we explore the assessing and acknowledging phase in our creative journey, we invite you to reflect on your own growth and creative process. Join us as we navigate this essential stage with self-compassion and insight, bringing enlightenment to your creative path.
Visit our website for resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a downloadables and a full transcript!

Creativity Quest: Assessing and Acknowledging (ep. 25)

In this insightful episode, we journey further into the Creativity Quest with Gina Hogan Edwards, diving into the critical stage of assessing and acknowledging. We explore this often-overlooked phase, where the true voices of creative individuals begin to show up and discuss how the Creativity Quest isn't linear and how the stages of assessing and acknowledging lead to a deeper understanding of oneself as a writer. We reflect on our personal experiences with self-coaching, the importance of honesty, and the struggle with being performative in our work. Join us for this illuminating conversation and gain insights into recognizing your growth, embracing self-compassion, and finding your authentic voice in the creative process.
Enhance your creative journey by visiting our website to download the accompanying worksheet on assessing and acknowledging. We also have a full transcript of the episode available. 

When it’s All Just So Much (Ep. 24)

In this ad hoc episode, KimBoo and Melody hold down the fort while Gina is dealing with some unplanned traveling up north (well, "north" for Florida, which in this case means her homeland of North Carolina). Circumstances being what they are, we go into a deep dive on grief, trauma, stress, and (you guessed it!) creativity. We talk about ways of being compassionate to ourselves while also being true to our creative nature. When Melody tells you "be like a wolf!" it might surprise you what she actually means by it!
We cover heavy topics but our goal is always to do so in a way that brings enlightenment to your creative journey. Thanks for joining us!
Check out our website for downloads mentioned in the podcast, as well as a full transcript. 

Mirroring to Find Our Own Author Voice (Ep. 23)

In this episode we dive into the essence of the creative quest - from emulating and mirroring your favorite authors to eventually finding your unique voice as a writer. We discuss how learning from the masters and those we admire is not about copying their work but about absorbing skills and identifying the qualities we desire in our own writing. We also touch on the potential pitfalls of comparison, the fear of never being able to write as well as those we admire, and how this could potentially stagnate our growth as writers. We explore how this process can sometimes be non-linear, looping back on itself or skipping stages, making the creative process more of a quest than a cycle. 
Listen to the full episode to hear more about our experiences with this, and to gain insights that might help you navigate your own creativity quest. Make sure you download the accompanying worksheet to further delve into this stage of the creative journey.

The Creativity Quest: Emulating and Mirroring (ep. 22)

In our latest episode titled "The Creativity Quest: Emulating and Mirroring," we dive into the intricacies of the creative journey. This process is far from linear. As artists, we move through various stages, sometimes repeating or skipping others, based on our unique challenges and successes. Our focus for today is the stage of emulating and mirroring.
Have you ever been so profoundly moved by a book that you thought, "I want to write like that?" We all have authors whose work stirs something deep within us, igniting a desire to emulate their craft in our own unique way. This is not about copying but learning from mentors, building our skills and strengths. It's about identifying aspects of others' work that resonate with us, and then questioning, "How did they do that?" and "How can I do that in my way?"
Interestingly, while other art forms commonly practice emulating and mirroring, writers often shy away from this exercise. We explore this phenomena and much more. Tune in for an enriching conversation, and don't forget to download our accompanying worksheet to support you on your creative quest. Let's continue this journey together.

The Season of Releasing in the Creativity Quest (ep. 21)

In this episode, we dived deeper into the season of fall, which represents a vital stage in the Creativity Quest, in the form of Release (ref. ep 20!) and its significance in both the natural and creative world. The fascinating correlation lies in the necessity of letting go, both in nature's fall, as plants shed their leaves, and in the writing process, as we release unnecessary clutter to allow new ideas to flow. Like trees letting go of their leaves to survive harsh winters, we need to learn to release our attachment to the unnecessary and make room for what's crucial.
A primary emotion tied to the 'letting go' process is grief, which is why this process can be challenging. It's especially difficult when this grief is tied to our creative outputs or our personal spaces. But remember, decluttering isn't just physical. It's an internal process of dealing with grief, parting ways with the old, and making space for the new.
We talk about our different approaches and experiences with the lessons of "Release" during the Creativity Quest. Whether it's a stage in your writing or a physical space, learning to let go is a universal principle that can unclutter your life and make room for new growth. Stay tuned for more insights into the fascinating journey of the creative process!
Visit our website for transcripts of episodes and all downloadable worksheets!

The Creativity Quest: Releasing (ep. 20)

In this episode, we deep-dive into the topic of the creative process and the challenges it poses for writers like us. We expand on Gina's Creativity Quest, introducing the next step in the process: the concept of "Releasing," and its impact on our writing journeys.
Gina kicks off the discussion with a description of how the former step, "Carrying Inner Disquiet" (see episode 19) directly leads to "Releasing" in a healthy creative process. 
One of the critical things we discuss is the struggle of releasing control, in particular, whether manifested as perfectionism or procrastination. As a discovery writer, I usually don't work with a detailed plot outline for my stories. Instead, I thrive in exploring and unveiling the story as it unfolds. I tend to get over-excited about knowing the outcome in advance, but I've learned the hard way that it's not the most successful approach for me. Instead, I've learned to trust my instincts as a writer and go with the flow.
Melody talks about a similar struggle. She often finds herself trying to force the storyline or character development, but midway through, she realizes her initial ideas don't work. She has to step back, be flexible, and allow her story to evolve naturally.
We also touched upon the importance of scheduling our time. I’ve realized I need to let go of spontaneity to ensure I get enough writing time. While spontaneity is fantastic, it can be a hindrance when there's a need for dedicated writing time. Melody echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need for scheduling downtime. Amid her demanding landscape design business, she emphasized the need to create space for relaxation and self-care to fuel creativity.
Finally, Gina brings up the ever-topical book "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield, a book that deals extensively with the concept of resistance. We all agree that it's a powerful resource for anyone facing resistance in their creative journeys. 
Please remember to visit our website, www.aroundthewriterstable.com, to download the worksheet mentioned in this episode, as well as access a full transcript. 

The Creativity Quest: Carrying Inner Disquiet (ep. 19)

On this insightful episode, we delve into the first stage of the Creativity Quest: the stage of 'Inner Disquiet'. This phase, although not necessarily the first one you experience, is marked by an uncomfortable longing for self-expression, which can sometimes last for years. Gina  shares her personal experiences with this phase both as a writer and as a creativity coach working with other writers, and discusses  her time in the corporate world when she felt an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction stemming from her unfulfilled desire to write.
Melody and KimBoo share how they experience 'Inner Disquiet', leading to an enlightening discussion on recognizing this stage as a crucial precursor to creative growth. Melody likens it to the germination stage of a seed - a quiet but vital phase where the real magic happens below the surface, and how it relates to the season of Winter in traditional five-season medicine. Tune in to explore this vital aspect of the creative journey and gain insights that can help you navigate your own path!

The Creativity Quest (ep. 18)

We are launching a new series as we enter the second year of the podcast! We're so glad to have all our listeners on this journey with us as we explore new ways to help writers embrace their creativity and conscious living. 
Gina does most of the heavy lifting in this episode. She introduces her Creativity Quest framework by providing an overview of how it is designed to help writers plan, unplan, and get unstuck throughout the writing process. Future episodes will have us digging into each step in the cycle in depth.  Melody brings in how the different stages of the Creativity Quest relate to the Seasons for Writers and ways that we can use both perspectives to become clearer about how we engage with our work. KimBoo, meanwhile, complains about all the ideas she has for stories she wants to write!
Please visit the Around the Writer's Table website to access the downloadable guide to the Creativity Quest and the transcript for this episode.