Summary In this episode, host Shannon TL Kearns interviews Kristin Kessler, a former therapist turned writer. Kristin shares her creative journey, starting from her early experiences with journaling and her love for the written word. She discusses the importance of consistency in journaling and the value of reflecting on past entries. Kristin also talks about her transition to non-academic writing and the process of learning about the publishing industry. She shares her experiences with querying agents and handling rejections. Kristin explores the themes in her books, drawing on her background in psychology and theology. Finally, she discusses her writing process and the importance of making time for creativity. In this conversation, Shannon TL Kearns and Kristen share insights and experiences about the creative process. They discuss finding inspiration, using tools like Pinterest and bullet points to develop ideas, the importance of freely writing and overwriting, and the challenges of sharing unfinished work. They also explore creative myths and the importance of education, the intersection of planning and creativity, and the impact of creativity on well-being. Kristen shares her love for classical music as a source of inspiration, and they discuss how creativity can be a spiritual practice.
Takeaways
Consistency in journaling can provide a valuable outlet for self-expression and reflection.
Learning about the publishing industry is essential for writers seeking representation and publication.
Balancing creativity and market constraints can be challenging, but it's important to stay true to your vision.
Finding the right collaborators, such as agents and editors, who understand and appreciate your work is crucial for success. Finding inspiration can involve building playlists, using tools like Pinterest, and exploring different aesthetics.
Freely writing and overwriting can help in the creative process, allowing ideas to flow and develop.
Sharing work with a writers club or trusted friends can provide valuable feedback and support.
Creativity is a spiritual practice that can bring a sense of wholeness and happiness.
For more about Kristen go to: https://kristenswritings.com/
For creative support (and to support the podcast) go to: www.patreon.com/shannontlkearns
Follow us on instagram @livingtheprocesspod
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:29 Kristin's Creative Journey
01:27 Early Writing Experience
03:21 Consistency in Journaling
04:11 Reflecting on Journals
05:02 Different Types of Journals
05:32 Starting Non-Academic Writing
07:28 Learning about the Publishing Industry
08:27 Writing and Understanding the Market
09:50 The Querying Process
11:13 Balancing Creativity and Market Constraints
13:29 Handling Rejections
15:18 Finding the Right Collaborators
21:09 Influence of Psychology and Theology
22:35 Making Time for Writing
23:34 Consistency in Writing Practice
25:31 Getting into a Story
26:57 Exploring Inspiration and Building a Playlist
28:25 Using Pinterest and Bullet Points to Develop Ideas
29:14 The Importance of Freely Writing and Overwriting
30:42 Sharing Work with Writers Club and Friends
31:41 The Challenge of Sharing Unfinished Work
33:38 The Courage to Share Your Work
34:24 Creative Myths and the Importance of Education
36:41 The Intersection of Planning and Creativity
39:04 Starting a Journaling Practice
41:29 Overcoming Perfectionism in Journaling and Planning
42:52 Finding Your Style in Journaling and Planning
46:44 The Influence of Classical Music and Chinese Fiction
48:56 Creativity as a Spiritual Practice
50:23 The Impact of Creativity on Well-being
52:12 Where to Find Kristen Online