This Creative Life With Sara Zarr

It's launch day for the This Creative Life ebook, with the paperback close behind! I was recently on Jenn Laughran's Literaticast digging into the content and ideas in the book, and she graciously let me crosspost the ep into the TCL feed.  The Literaticast on Apple Podcasts Get the show notes / newsletter Get 30% off the book with this link and this code: QWBODLO8MX Or find it just about everywhere that sells ebooks! B&N, Amazon, Kobo, Google Play, Apple. All the links at www.sarazarr.com

A lot has happened since the last episode! Namely: A Song Called Home and The Temps are both out in the world and no longer under our control, if they ever were. We’re already no longer in our pub-day month; new books come out, people move on. Our role as authors is pretty much done. So, what’s next? As you’ll discover in this episode, neither Andrew nor Sara are sure. Whether it’s Andrew trying to decide what project to focus on now, or me pondering a complete exit from the whole endeavor, we’re both tired and looking for some clarity in the breath-after-pub. We also talk about: checking sales numbers, Sally Rooney’s bucket hat, and how we’d describe “the arc of a launch.” And there’s still one more book left to launch in this series! The This Creative Life book is off to the copyeditor and soon to meets its publishing fate. A Song Called Home The Temps Coming-of-age as apocalypse - Andrew’s piece at LitHub Julia Fox at the Oscars This Creative Life - the book! Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship

As Andrew and I wait through the last few weeks before our books come out, we digress ever so slightly into an incomplete history of self-publishing, from its reputation as “vanity publishing” to where it converged with the advent of ebooks and e-readers to arrive at its present day status as a messy juggernaut. Also: why every writer should consider learning how to self-publish in the 21st century. Sara’s book now comes out on 3/15; Andrew’s is still scheduled for 3/29. Neither are at the bottom of the ocean! 0-13:30: Updates on our books 13:35-1:07:00: The incomplete history of self-publishing (including diversions to e-readers, the aspiring writer industrial complex, and remembering “New Adult” in its innocent infancy) 1:07:00 - end: Closing thoughts and coming attractions Support This Creative Life Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Laurel Snyder is the author of numerous books for young readers, including Orphan Island, My Jasper June, and the Charlie & Mouse books.  In this episode, we talk about staying fluent in the language of childhood, the “ghost of brokenness” when writing from a sad place, how Laurel works with the all-or-nothing cycles of her writing process, being an extrovert in an introvert’s career, and the difficulties of writing about faith and religion. Around minutes 53-58, this turns into a Real Housewives podcast. We’re not sorry! Theme music by Dave Connis. This podcast is ad-free. Find out how to support it here. Thank you! More show notes / subscribe to get the podcast in your email

The Launch Box is back! Andrew and I talk about letting go, publicity (including his experience with a freelance publicist), and have a breakthrough about what might be behind the Book Blues for a lot of writers. Also, we catch up on The Temps movie option and where we stand on unboxing videos. Ephemera: Ringo Starr, Scrivener syncing, and the ghost of Dorothea Brande. Andrew DeYoung Sara Zarr Ask a question / get extended show notes Support the pod Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

I’m so excited to kick off 2022 with my conversation with Preeti Chhibber, a multitalented lady with just the energy we need to help take us into a new year. Preeti is an author, podcaster, speaker, and all-around badass who has published multiple IP projects as well as her original work. In this episode, we talk about how she got started in IP and what it takes to succeed in that world, managing a many-tentacled freelance career, and the risks and rewards of stating what you want to the world. Theme music by Dave Connis. This podcast is ad-free. Find out how to support it here. Thank you!

In this episode of The Launch Box, Andrew and I discuss the mysteries of professional gift-giving, how to balance big-picture career thinking with getting the writing done, the possibilities of being a weekend novelist, and EVENTS. Also, Sara gets a review and Andrew answers the TCL two questions. Plus so much more. Andrew DeYoung Sara Zarr Ask a question / get extended show notes Support the pod Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Sara helps cast her audiobook, Andrew gets a movie option, Sara learns more about Ingram Spark for self-publishing, and we both write letters to booksellers hoping to endear them to us. Also, everyone is burned out, including Andrew's cat. Andrew DeYoung Sara Zarr Ask a question / get extended show notes Support the pod Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Why does everything about having a book published embarrass us? What is man's proper relationship to the 'Zon? And what happened with that Realms of Ruin thing? We try to break it all down. Also: Andrew gets his first trade review and Sara reports some pre-order numbers. Links: Andrew DeYoung Sara Zarr Ask a question Support the pod Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Writer, podcaster, radio host, and VJ emeritus Dave Holmes joins me to talk about his long and winding road to writing his wonderful 2016 memoir, Party of One, his writing at Esquire, and how it all connects to his current podcast project, Waiting for Impact. We talk ADHD, burnout, the longing to be understood, and the obsessions that drive us. And a whole lot more.  Waiting for Impact Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs Dave at Esquire Homophilia Theme music by Dave Connis. This podcast is ad-free and free-free. Find out how to support it here. Thank you!

Introducing a This Creative Life special season: The Launch Box, in which Andrew DeYoung and I take you through the six-month period leading up to publication of our new books as we each publish for the first time in new categories. This series will cover a Big Five middle grade launch, a midsize-publisher adult literary launch, and a self-published nonfiction launch.  We'll talk covers, ARCs, blurbs, reviews, events, social media, sales, and, of course, shame, envy, and ego. We'd also love your questions! In this episode, we introduce themselves and our work, from Andrew's slushpile sale to my pivot from YA, and why authors care so much about pre-orders. Links: Andrew DeYoung Sara Zarr Ask a question Support the pod Theme music: Creative Commons Deep Friendship by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Author Mike Jung joins me for the first of a new batch of fall episodes. We talk about the events of his early life that put him on the path to being a writer, his publishing stories and writing process, a later-life autism diagnosis, and BTS. Thanks so much for being back with us for a new season! Mike Jung Support This Creative Life Get the emails Our Bookshop Shop

In March 2020, I spoke with Daniel Bowman, Jr., about writing, teaching, and being #ActuallyAutistic. This week, his new book On the Spectrum: Autism, Faith, and the Gifts of Neurodiversity is out. The book: "... rings with poetry, compassion, and wisdom, and it reveals so much about autistic experience." (Katherine May)  "...lights the path toward greater understanding, better advocacy, and a compelling vision for inclusion that moves beyond stereotypes and tokenism." (Nish Weiseth) "...shows us now to respect one's personhood, to listen, to default to humility and kindness." (Nick Ripatrazone) Buy the book Support the podcast here, or via this easy, direct PayPal link

In March, 2020, I spoke with author Brandy Colbert about her work and writing process. Her nonfiction book, Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, is now available for pre-order. Brandy Colbert Support the Podcast  

Sarah Enni is the host and producer of First Draft and an author in her own right. This was a great conversation to wrap the TCL-Pandemic season, as Sarah and I got into therapy talk, making big life changes, the upsides of being "optimistically nihilistic" about publishing, the pros and cons of life hacking, and of course Burning Man. Thanks so much for being with me on this reboot ride, and for your support along the way.  Selected Show Notes: Sarah Enni First Draft Podcast Support This Creative Life Documentary Now!  Life Itself  

Tracey Baptiste is the author of numerous books for young readers, including the beloved Jumbies series and the New York Times Bestselling Minecraft: the Crash. This episode is not only brimming with the delicious process stuff we love here at TCL, it also gave me several potentially life-changing revelations when Tracey shared with me about recreating a sense of freedom in the writing process, and how a mental health crisis helped her learn “how not to grind.” There’s something for everyone in this ep; I hope you enjoy! Selected show notes: Tracey’s site Creativity Under Pressure and more of Tracey’s videos Rocketbook The This Creative Life Bookshop shop Support the podcast by shopping in the Bookshop shop or making a one-time PayPal donation.

During 2020, in search of things to do from home, I started attending some of the virtual movie talks that writer and critic Walter Chaw gives with guests via the Denver Public Library. They’ve been a true highlight of All This, as Walter’s knowledge is wide and deep and generous. Like all good film critics, he’s also an insightful critic of culture in general, and how it deals in humanity and inhumanity. Recently, Walter and I got to talk about his experiences growing up as a first-gen Chinese American kid in Golden, CO, and assimilating via consumption of popular media of the 70s and 80s, for better or worse. We got way into how art can be a catalyst of self-examination, the deep psychology of fandom, and the point of discourse. (Hint: it’s not “being right”.) I realized at the end of the conversation that we didn’t even get around to talking about Walter’s screenwriting projects so you’ll just have to keep an eye out for those! Listener note: in the second half of the podcast we talk a bit in an undetailed

Lindsay Eagar is an author and writing coach with a recent ADHD diagnosis. She’s been very open about it online and generous with my personal questions, and I wanted to bring her on for a more topic-focused episode. In this case: our brains! Lindsay shares her background, symptoms, diagnosis process, and management strategies in ways that I found so interesting and helpful, and I think you will, too. We also talked about her “fast drafting” 80/20 course and philosophy, dirty books we loved as kids, and the delusions of grandeur we should all strive for. Selected show notes: Lindsay’s books and classes The I Have ADHD podcast with Kristen Carder The dubious works of Beatrice Sparks The This Creative Life Bookshop shop Support the podcast by shopping in the Bookshop shop or making a one-time PayPal donation!

Dave Connis is not only the legendary composer of the theme music for this very podcast, but also an author in his own right, with two YA novels out and a picture book on the way. The emotional theme music of this episode is honesty. Dave and I get into matters of art and faith, how a sudden loss changed his writing life and drive, and how not to be a Slughorn in a business where various relational challenges can be baked in. We also, of course, talk about the practical matters of writing, such as: writing with a full-time job and several (at least) children, prioritizing when you’re a person with a lot of ideas, and the freedom in knowing your limitations. And we wouldn’t be two Christians (or in my case, Christian-ish) if we didn’t mention the enneagram. Selected show notes: Dave online, books and music and newsletter Atlas Obscura Makoto Fujimura Ye Olde Bookshop shoppe This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited—for better or worse—by me, Sara Zarr

Amy Gentry is the author of three psychological thrillers for adults, one 33 1/3 on Tori Amos, and a bunch of shorter stuff. Her latest book is Bad Habits, which is here to scratch all your dark academia itches and also make you laugh and cringe. After chatting a bit about her book and her own background in academia, we dug into process and publication (and her #pitmad success story), the dead end of trying to be “a good little author,” money and class and missing hotels. Amy also got me thinking differently about my standard weaknesses/obstacles question—nay, the very idea of weaknesses. And, I think she got me back onto Goodreads. I loved Amy’s energy and this conversation, and I hope you do, too. Amy online Small Axe // Lovers Rock Joe Pera Talks with You Morning [expletive] Pages Produced & edited by me, Sara Zarr Theme music by Dave Connis Ye olde Bookshop shoppe