Pod-Blast 4: Vulnerable Creation

So, I’m a Brene Brown junkie, so when I see her talking on something, I listen.

The Beautiful Writers podcast has some great guest on it, so even though the vibe doesn’t 100% work for me, I have a couple of episodes I like–and this conversation is a great balance of Brene’s perspective on creativity and being real about making stuff.

Ironically, the strength of this conversation is that it’s not just Brene talking. And it’s about the way these three are IN their practice of writing as professionals.

Beautiful Writers – Daring to Create Greatly with Brene Brown

Warning: it involves a tale of remaindering. It isn’t pretty. Everyone survives.

 

I posted to Medium!

The Unwilling Transparent

or how my visit to the museum the other day was an object lesson–on how conditioned I am to not show my feelings.

Even though this is just not technically possible for me.

Big Magic – In a Light Package

The first time I picked up this book, I’ll admit I scanned it, and then put it back. I had it out from the library, and when there was someone next in line, I let it go back.

It seemed light, and I have read so much on creativity I thought it wasn’t very relevant.

But.

Then I listened to Brene Brown (Rising Strong) talk on Elizabeth Gilbert’s podcast, and their synergy was so great. I immediately got Rising Strong to read, and also recommitted to trying Big Magic.

And they made great companion reads. While Rising Strong gets into the nitty-gritty of recreating your patterns of failure, Big Magic talks philosophy about creativity. And while it IS a light read, it tends to very lightly draw out some of the darkest myths of creative work.

And then illuminates them with more balanced, truthful ways to think.

This book is one that’s going on my very short list of books to actively push on people. (Like Rising Strong!) Because it’s light enough to breeze through–while also collecting so much of what we need to hear about retraining our beliefs on creativity.

How did I not realize this book was my jam?

***

I will be giving away an e-book of either Big Magic or Rising Strong to one of the attendees of my webinar on Thursday!

Unlock Your Agency: Three Tools to Become the Hero of Your Life

September 30th, Friday, 7pm Central on ZOOM

Inner and Outer Trolls

I just listened to an amazing podcast by Elizabeth Gilbert with Brene Brown (one of my favorite TED presenters ever, as well as one of the world’s favorites!)

Wait. Go listen to it first, if you can:

Magic Lessons: “Big Strong Magic” with Brene Brown

So many things struck me in this conversation. I could blog about it for days, but really, just go listen to the podcast and we’ll talk.

However, one of the things that really caused a shift for me, was their no-bones-about-it comments on internet hate.

This is the sacrifice they make to have their work OUT THERE.

And that was so important for me to hear. I want to be in one of the industries that seems to deal with the vitriol of the masses A LOT. A sci-fi/fantasy writer – female – who wants to be a blogger and do media.

Media?

You may not really know that, because I haven’t seemed to get around to doing more than a drip and a drab with that. Sure there are obstacles (I don’t have my own camera, finding a quiet time to dress and do my makeup and THEN talk for an hour or so to the camera for about 5 minutes of film is just tricky) but that’s not why.

I knew, deep down, it was fear.

But these two put it out there–yes, this happens. And I realized, it’s not a punishment for being unable to navigate perfectly. It’s the price of admission.

This is a much more workable mindframe for me.

TROLL ASIDE:

I do think that our current online social climate is at a new high for ugly behavior. I also think that something is going to have to shift soon to balance that out. Social network companies are going to have to show more integrity in how they deal with malignant members. Or users are going to figure out ways to protect their own.

It’s like the USA–the wild west portion of our history is relatively small. Humans eventually figure out ways to appoint lawkeepers and punish wrongdoers. Not perfectly, but anarchy doesn’t last.

It may show up in something that’s traumatic, or it may be a seachange of positive action. Just like a young country and culture, the world of the Internet is going to follow human behaviors and history–and that may be some things that are free now are taken away.

Sometimes things that are free are really stolen from others.

People are made safe to anonymously attack others at the expense of those who are attacked. How’s that trade-off going to shift?

For now, though, there’s only one troll we have control over. And that’s our inner troll.

I am doing a call on Zoom about five tools to Quash Your Inner Critic on Friday, August 5th! It will be at 2pm Central time, and is going to be recorded for replays.

INFO:

Join the Facebook Event for timely reminders HERE

Bethany Powell is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. 

Topic: Quash Your Inner Critic – Recording Session
Time: Aug 5, 2016 2:00 PM (GMT-4:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/2391512858

Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll): +14086380968,2391512858# or +16465588656,2391512858#

Or Telephone:
Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 239 151 2858
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/zoomconference?m=sigwNZLjEYRmsW1hA2rGM-6H57_a56tv