This Creative Life
Listen between the lines of the writing life with author Sara Zarr in interview and solo episodes, with a focus on the practical and psychological aspects of writing and publishing, the creative process, and that tricky intersection where art meets commerce. Past guests include filmmaker Scott Teems, National Book Award Winner Malinda Lo, and podcaster and author Dave Holmes.
- Update frequency
- every 18 days
- Average duration
- 47 minutes
- Episodes
- 72
- Years Active
- 2014 - 2025
TCL Mini: Year In Review
New full episode next week!
Until then, here's the audio version of this week's newsletter, with a question for YOU about your dream writing podcast.
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TCL Mini: Writing In Reality
Letting go of the idealized version of your writing experience.
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Take the Google survey on 2023 classes.
Happy Thanksgiving!
TCL Mini: Creative Rest
The audio version of this week's newsletter on resting before making the next creative decision.
83. Tara Altebrando Is Solving the Puzzle
In the third episode in the Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions series, my longtime friend and one-time (?) collaborator Tara Altebrando talks to me about her multiple pivots over a couple of decades…
82. Malinda Lo Never Went Away
In the second episode in the Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions series, Malinda Lo and I talk about her huge year with Last Night at the Telegraph Club and what it has meant for her writing and life…
81. Faith Gardner Takes Control (Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions)
When author Faith Gardner grew frustrated with the slowly grinding gears of traditional publishing and wanted to spread her wings a bit, she took matters into her own hands.
This is the first episode…
Comebacks, Pivots, and Reinventions - Coming Fall 2022
What's coming this fall from This Creative Life!
Show links:
TCL Mini: Writing When It Doesn't Feel Like It Matters
When it feels like the world is burning down, is writing something you want to save from the fire?
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Thanks to Dave Connis for the theme music
TCL Mini: Becoming a Good Self-Editor
Ep 81: Author Michelle Huneven
I’m so happy to be back with one my favorite contemporary novelists, Michelle Huneven. I love the compassion, humor, and reality in how she renders life and relationships.
She’s got a brand new book …
Ep 80: The This Creative Life Book on Literaticast 55
The Launch Box 7: Launched!
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-da…
The Launch Box 6: An Abridged History of Self-Publishing
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 whe…
Ep 79: Laurel Snyder
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…
The Launch Box 5: Publicity, Book Blues, and Ringo
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 lo…
Ep 78: Preeti Chhibber
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, …
The Launch Box 4: Gifts, Ifs, and Shifts
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…
The Launch Box 3. Subrights, Ingram Spark, & Depressed Cats
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, everyon…