Tag

Inspiration

Arts, Creativity, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Aug 09: A Creative Guide to Stir Inspiration in Any Creator

August 9, 2023

Ruta Sepetys Seeker of Lost Stories

Podcast: You the Story with author Ruta Sepetys

Do you know the number one question that writers, musicians, artists, and designers are asked?

Where does your inspiration come from?

In her powerful how-to book, You The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory, Ruta Sepetys shares tools and resources that any artist can adapt to reach a higher level of creativity.

Ruta knows from extensive research – and her own experience writing five award-winning historical novels – that the secret to strong creative writing can be found in your own life experiences … no matter how boring you think your life may be.

We discuss ways to tap into your emotions and leverage humor. Why finding rhythm is key. Why biographical references matter. Why so many artists struggle to find their voice, and why discovering vision may be even more important. And how to draw on your own roots, memories, and creativity to spark inspiration.

About Ruta Sepetys

An internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over 60 countries and 40 languages, Ruta Sepetys is also the winner of the Carnegie Medal. Her books have won or been shortlisted for over 40 awards, are included on over 30 state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television. You The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory is her first nonfiction book.

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Creativity, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Jun 07: You the Story with #1 NYT Bestselling Author Ruta Sepetys

June 7, 2023

A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory

You the Story with author Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys is more than just an author. She’s a seeker of lost stories.

After five award-winning works of historical fiction, and countless hours of meticulous research, Ruta Sepetys affirms that the secret to strong writing is embedded within your own life experience.

And that’s what we discuss today: How to tap into emotions, use humor, find rhythm. Discover your voice, your vision. Where to find inspiration. How to draw on your own roots, memories, creativity. And much more.

About Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over 60 countries and 40 languages. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, her books have won or been shortlisted for over 40 book prizes, are included on over 30 state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television. You The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory is her first nonfiction book.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

JUL 14: Eileen Patricia Curran with Hungry Hill

July 14, 2021

How The World’s Oldest Virgin inspired Hungry Hill

Degrees in finance, marketing, and design can go a long way to helping you independently publish your work. Today Eileen Patricia Curran discusses her journey from inspiration, to writing, and publishing her debut novel Hungry Hill.

Eileen shares some of the challenges of writing her first novel — including being a slow writer. We also explore why she chose to publish independently. How she plays with humor in a story of love, loss, and healing. And why, sometimes, we have to lose ourselves to find ourselves.

About Eileen Patricia Curran

EILEEN PATRICIA CURRAN was born in Massachusetts and spent much of her childhood in Connecticut. She has degrees in Economics and Finance, Marketing, and Interior Design. Hungry Hill is her first book.

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Business, Career, Non Fiction

FEB 26: Trevor Blake on Secrets to a Successful Startup

February 26, 2020

Have you ever had a brilliant idea, let it marinate for awhile, then learned someone else shared the same vision and is making millions off that same idea?  Entrepreneur and author Trevor Blake shares his own in-the-trenches experience to show you how to take your winning idea and launch it into a thriving startup.  You’ll also learn what could have been Vicki’s ticket to a life of luxury — if only she had acted on her idea!

Trevor was the founder and CEO of 3 different medical technology companies, which he sold for over $300 million.  The author of 3 Simple Steps, his latest book – Secrets to a Successful Startup: A Recession Proof Guide to Starting, Surviving and Thriving in your Own Venture – is a practical handbook based on his own experience, business studies, and stories of other highly successful entrepreneurs.

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Conservation, Environment, Journalism, Social Issues

SEP 02: Multi-time Award-winning Filmmaker John de Graaf

September 11, 2019

“John de Graaf is one of the good guys in our world, always right there with the next important, life-affirming idea,” says The Giraffe Project’s Ann Medlock.  The late 70’s gave birth to John’s award-winning documentary film career that continues to this day.

Today, we’ll explore John’s career as a filmmaker and activist, and find out why he does what he does. We’ll hear about his latest film, REDEFINING PROSPERTIY, and some of the activism he’s engaged in. We’ll discover how John chooses projects, and how he navigated his own prolific creative path while still making a difference in people’s lives.

“I’m an author, filmmaker, speaker, and activist with a mission to help create a happy, healthy, and sustainable quality of life for America,” reads John’s mission statement.

With over 40 documentaries and countless short films to his credit, he has received over 100 regional, national, and international awards for filmmaking.  15 of his films have been broadcast nationally in primetime on PBS, and he has taught filmmaking at the University of Washington, Evergreen State College, and Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

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Conservation, Environment, Journalism, Social Issues

DEC 10: Award-winning Filmmaker John de Graaf

November 22, 2018

“John de Graaf is one of the good guys in our world, always right there with the next important, life-affirming idea,” says The Giraffe Project’s Ann Medlock.  Beginning in the late 70’s, John embarked on an award-winning documentary film career that continues to this day.

Today we’ll explore John’s extensive career as a filmmaker and activist, and why he does what he does. We’ll hear about his latest film, REDEFINING PROSPERTIY, and some of the activism he’s engaged in. We’ll discover how John chooses projects, and how he navigated his own prolific creative path while still making a difference in people’s lives.

“I’m an author, filmmaker, speaker, and activist with a mission to help create a happy, healthy, and sustainable quality of life for America,” reads John’s mission statement.

With over 40 documentaries and countless shorter films to his credit, he has received over 100 regional, national, and international awards for filmmaking.  15 of his films have been broadcast nationally in primetime on PBS, and he has taught filmmaking at the University of Washington, Evergreen State College, and Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

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Humor, Non Fiction, Personal Development

SEP 03: Ken Jennings’ Planet Funny & Allen Gannett’s The Creative Curve

August 22, 2018

From Jeopardy! champion and  New York Times bestselling author Ken Jennings comes a history of humor.  From fart jokes on clay Sumerian tablets all the way up to the latest Twitter gags and Facebook memes, Planet Funny: How Comedy Took Over Our Culture tells the story of how comedy came to rule the modern world.

Since his record-breaking Jeopardy! streak, Ken has become a best-selling author and has appeared in numerous ads.  He is a frequent speaker at college campuses and corporate events.

Later, it helps to be creative to be considered a genius, but you don’t have to be a genius to be creative.  In The Creative Curve: How to Develop the Right Idea, at the Right Time, author Allen Gannett disproves the notion that creativity is limited to the brilliant few who possess a certain gift, showing how anyone is capable of turning their genius idea into reality.

Allen is the founder and CEO of TrackMaven, a software analytics firm whose clients have included Microsoft, Marriott, Saks Fifth Avenue, Home Depot, Aetna, Honda, and GE.  He has been on the “30 Under 30” lists for both Inc. and Forbes.

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Humor, Non Fiction, Personal Development

JUN 25: Ken Jennings’ Planet Funny & Allen Gannett’s The Creative Curve

June 10, 2018

From Jeopardy! champion and  New York Times bestselling author Ken Jennings comes a history of humor.  From fart jokes on clay Sumerian tablets all the way up to the latest Twitter gags and Facebook memes, Planet Funny: How Comedy Took Over Our Culture tells the story of how comedy came to rule the modern world.

Since his record-breaking Jeopardy! streak, Ken has become a best-selling author and has appeared in numerous ads.  He is a frequent speaker at college campuses and corporate events.

Later, it helps to be creative to be considered a genius, but you don’t have to be a genius to be creative.  In The Creative Curve: How to Develop the Right Idea, at the Right Time, author Allen Gannett disproves the notion that creativity is limited to the brilliant few who possess a certain gift, showing how anyone is capable of turning their genius idea into reality.

Allen is the founder and CEO of TrackMaven, a software analytics firm whose clients have included Microsoft, Marriott, Saks Fifth Avenue, Home Depot, Aetna, Honda, and GE.  He has been on the “30 Under 30” lists for both Inc. and Forbes.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

Aug 28: Story Sparks & The Doll Funeral

August 24, 2017

Whether you have a treasure chest of ideas and a thimbleful of creativity, or the talent to compose riveting stories but the muse is absent, returning guest Denise Jaden can help!

Story Sparks: Finding Your Best Story Ideas and Turning Them Into Compelling Fiction is her guide to transforming your potential tales into captivating fiction, or getting “unstuck” if you have the dreaded writer’s block.  Denise is an award-winning author of young adult novels and has also penned several nonfiction books for those looking to explore writing.

Imagine a mystical world where ghosts of the past and the present, the living and lost, haunt the land of the living.  The Doll Funeral, Kate Hamer’s highly anticipated follow-up to The Girl in the Red Coat, uses her mastery of atmosphere and language to explore intense family relationships while drawing you into a world of paranormal specters.

In addition to her novels, Kate is a prolific and award-winning writer of short stories and has written articles for The New York Times, The Independent, and The Sunday Mail.

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Personal Development

Aug 21: ABC’s Dan Harris & Live An Authentic Life

August 17, 2017

Award-winning ABC anchor Dan Harris has covered wars and presidential campaigns, investigated human traffickers, and even been chased by wild elephants. But those professional challenges paled in comparison to a personal challenge: taming the voice in his head.

He explores his journey in his book 10% Happier:How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works—A True Story.  

Meriweather Group CEO and founder David Howitt demonstrates the power of ‘And’ in  Heed Your Call: Integrating Myth, Science, Spirituality and Business, proving life does not have to be an either/or affair, encouraging us to integrate our inner musician and computer programmer, our inner poet and scientist.

David is an accomplished entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience providing business strategy and brand counsel to startups and Fortune 100 companies.

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