Chasing Creative

We thought we'd be back with a new season of Chasing Creative in 2022, but alas: it did not happen. Our lives are just too full right now with, well… life! We cannot, however, let the year go by without getting together to talk about books: our most favorite episode to record each season. So, we'll dive in and talk about our reading wins this last year, our goals for next year, and what life *actually* looks like these days for both of us. Where to connect with Abbie: Goodreads | Instagram | Newsletter | Bookshop (affiliate) Where to connect with Ashley: Goodreads | Instagram | Newsletter Books Mentioned:The Chaos Machine by Max FisherThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk Wintering by Katherine MayNobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess KalbThe House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune The Sparrow by Mary Doria RussellThe Dutch House by Ann Patchett (audio narrated by Tom Hanks) Unmarriageable by Soniah KamalFortunately, the Milk by Neil GaimanThe Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (on audio) Apples Never Fall by Liane MoriartyAnxious People by Fredrik Backman Matrix by Lauren GroffSea Wife by Amity Gaige Demon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverThe Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver The Supper of the Lamb by Robert Farrar CaponLouisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo The Life We're Looking For by Andy Crouch The Tech-Wise Family by Andy CrouchFour Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanThe Wild Robot & The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter BrownThe Silver Arrow by Lev GrossmanHarry Potter Series by JK Rowling (illustrated versions, too!) The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street Series by Karina Yan Glaser (audio) The Henry Huggins Audio Collection by Beverly Cleary Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery Rewilding Motherhood by Shannon K Evans State of Wonder by Anne Patchett Attached to God by Krispin MayfieldThe Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison BarrTry Softer by Aundi KolberMiddlemarch by George Eliot The Thursday Murder Club by Richard OsmanThese Precious Days by Ann Patchett

Hi! It has been *an entire year* since we last appeared in your podcast feed. We're wading through Pandemic Year 2 just like everyone else, complete with all the day-to-day negotiations and risk calculations like everyone else. And also: a fourth baby for Ashley, a smattering of kids entering the public school system for both of us, and entire routines shifting overnight. We gave ourselves a break and didn't record a single thing together in all of 2021 – but it didn't feel right to finish a year on the calendar without talking together about books. So let's talk books!  Resources Mentioned: Pantsuit Politics Extra Credit Book ClubThe Anthropocene Reviewed podcast by John Green  Books Mentioned:Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall KimmererRewilding Motherhood by Shannon K. EvansNo Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler Perestroika in Paris by Jane SmileyWhat You Wish For by Katherine Center It Didn't Start with You by Mark Wolynn (DNF for Ashley) Fair Play by Eve Rodsky (skimmed by Abbie) Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson Harry Potter Book 1-3 The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra AdachiKeep Going by Austin Kleon The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn BarnesThe Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr The Lincoln Highway by Amor TowlesThe Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India HoltonDial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. SutantoThe Bodyguard by Katherine CenterThe Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green Who Made This Cake? by Chihiro NakagawaThe Wordless Trilogy by Aaron BeckerThe Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall Mine! How the Hidden Rules of Ownership Control our Lives by Michael A. Heller and James Salzman12 Tiny Things by Ellie Rosher and Heidi BarrThe Road Trip by Beth O'LearyThese Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty Where to connect with Abbie: Goodreads | Instagram | Monthly Newsletter | Bookshop Storefront (affiliate link)  Where to connect with Ashley: Goodreads |  Instagram |  Blog  |  Newsletter

2020 hasn't been kind to most of us, but books are always there to see us through. Listen in to hear how 2020 changed our reading habits, the books we loved (and didn't), and what's next for our reading lives—and the podcast!—in 2021.Books Mentioned in This EpisodeThe Vanishing Half by Britt BennettBecoming by Michelle ObamaThe Color of Compromise by Jemar TisbyJust Mercy by Bryan StevensonKindred by Octavia ButlerThe Fifth Season by N.K. JemisinPride by Ibi ZoboiThe Lazy Genius Way by Kendra AdachiThe Selection Series by Kiera CassThe Book of Essie by Megan McLein WeirYour Blue Flame: Drop the Guilt and Do What Makes You Come Alive by Jen FulwilerWhat Is a Girl Worth? My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachael DenhollanderMaybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori GottliebAttachments and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell Eleanor & Park and Landline by Rainbow RowellHarry Potter (of course) Beach Read by Emily HenryNormal People by Sally RooneySlouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan DidionThe Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom NicholsI Contain Multitudes by Ed YongRhythms of Rest: Finding the Spirit of Sabbath in a Busy World by Shelley MillerThe Scorpio Races by Maggie StievaterThe Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden (book 3 of Winternight trilogy)The Book of Essie by Megan McLein WeirRed at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson The Day You Begin by Jacqueline WoodsonTweet Cute by Emma LordCalm the H*ck Down by Melanie DaleWinnie the Pooh by A. A. MilneDear Zoo by Rod Campbell Curious George by H. A. ReyMaybe God Is Like That, Too by Jennifer Grant and Benjamin SchippertThe Wind in the Willows by Igloo books The Preacher’s Wife by Kate BowlerDaisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins ReidThe Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and Women's Work by Kathleen NorrisThe Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai Reconnect: Spiritual Restoration from Digital Distraction by Ed CyzewskiThe Jane Austen Society by Natalie JennerThe Switch by Beth O’LearyThe Flatshare by Beth O’Leary Links Mentioned in This EpisodePast Chasing Creative episodes with Kendra Adachi (the Lazy Genius): Kendra Adachi on Trusting Your Creative Intuition and Kendra Adachi on Valuing Yourself Enough to CreateThe Naughty Corner comedy special by Jen Fulwiler on Amazon Prime Read more of Ed Yong’s science writing for the AtlanticAshley’s Winnie-the-Pooh books are out of print, but this looks similar Abbie’s copy ofThe Wind in the Willows Connect with Abbie: Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebsTwitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Connect with Ashley: Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.comBusiness website: http://www.brookseditorial.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswrites Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorial    

In today’s episode, we chat with Kayla Craig about what it looks like to advocate for the more vulnerable people around you. As a journalist, Kayla learned the value of listening well and choosing to hear a story and act on it. As a mom, Kayla knows just how important the stories we read and tell and see in our own lives affect everything about them -- and she has some tips for adding diverse voices to your shopping list this year.Kayla Craig is a writer and podcast producer who believes in the power of story. She writes modern prayers for moms and dads at Liturgies for Parents and her book is forthcoming with Tyndale in 2021. Kayla co-founded and hosts Upside Down Podcast, a place for conversations on faith and justice. She is a podcast producer for Sacred Ordinary Days, where she helps cultivate peace, presence, and purpose. Kayla loves deep mugs of coffee, deeper belly laughs, and even deeper questions. She and her pastor-husband Jonny live in Iowa, where they’re raising four young kids who joined their family via birth and adoption. She has two fluffy dogs and spends too much time on Instagram. Her most recent published essays are in This Is Motherhood: A Motherly Collection of Reflections + Practices and Rally: Litanies for the Lovers of Jesus and Justice. Kayla’s tips for diversifying your holiday decor and your bookshelves: Buy a nativity set where the figures are historically accurate and have brown skin. Buy books written by Black and brown authors. Don’t just buy books with diverse characters struggling with racial tension. Buy books that normalize the lives Black and brown people live; make sure that your kids see Black joy. Follow @hereweread on Instagram for diverse book suggestions all year long.  Books we talked about:Madeleine L'Engle Herself: Reflections on a Writing LifeThe Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner This Is Motherhood: A Motherly Collection of Reflections + PracticesRally: Communal Prayers for the Lovers of Jesus and Justice Here’s where to find Kayla: Site: www.kaylacraig.comNewsletter: https://kaylacraig.substack.com/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kayla_craig/Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaylacraigLiturgies for parents info: http://www.kaylacraig.com/liturgies-for-parents.htmlLiturgies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liturgiesforparents/Podcast: http://www.upsidedownpodcast.com/Work: https://sacredordinarydays.com/pages/podcastGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/kayla_craig Here's where to find Abbie: Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebsTwitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Here's where to find Ashley: Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.comBusiness website: http://www.brookseditorial.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswrites  Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorialPinterest:  http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial

Ari Tison is an award-winning writer with poems and short works published in Yellow Medicine Review, The Under Review, and Rock & Sling. She is also the editor for Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop's Broadside Competition. Ari lives and works on Dakota and Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) lands in St. Paul, MN. Join us as she shares action steps for lifting up underrepresented voices in the literary community, especially Indigenous people and those who are incarcerated.Action steps that life up underrepresented voicesReach out to nonprofits to see where they need help. Look for ways to serve that match your interests and talents.Investigate nearby prisons to see if they have creative arts programs you can support.Seek out and share work by marginalized populations.Read anthologies that include Native writers.Connect with tribes in your area to learn about creative events or festivals you can attend or local artisans you can support.Learn about the history of the land you live and work on. Which Indigenous tribe(s) was the land taken from?Links mentioned in this episodeMinnesota Prison Writing WorkshopBirchbark BooksBooks mentioned in this episodeThe works of Poet Laureate Joy HarjoNew Poets of Native Nations edited by Heid E. ErdrichBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall KimmererThere There by Tommy OrangeThe Great Believers by Rebecca MakaiThe Day You Begin  by Jacqueline WoodsonHere's where to find AriWebsite: www.aritison.comTwitter: @AriTisonInstagram: @aritisonwrites

Deep in a pandemic, an election cycle, and a world that looks vastly different than six months ago, we’re all a little worn out these days. But we also need to press ahead like never before. We wanted to talk to Dani Bruflodt on how she summons the energy to engage online around social justice, politics, and making a difference in the world -- and how hydration is her secret weapon to get it all done with some energy left over. Dani Bruflodt is a writer and creator who “talks loud on the internet”. She’s a native Minnesotan currently living the Universal-Healthcare dream life in Copenhagen, Denmark, and she would love for you to drink some water.Resources from this episode: The Enneagram Institute has excellent resources to help you find your type. Dani’s hydration tracker for kids.Plan Podcast Episode 029: How to achieve optimum hydration Dani’s 7 tips for how to get engaged and make a difference: Know that it is never too late to become a better person. Feeling hypocritical stops a lot of us from joining movements or getting involved. You can wake up tomorrow and decide you’re going to be a better person.Know that it is okay to change your mind, especially when you are presented with better information.Pick one thing you’re passionate about. One cause that you really, truely, deeply feel passionate about. You don’t have to become an expert on everything immediately.And then when you pick that thing, take time to step back. Do not rush in and expect to fix this issue that you’ve taken up. It’s especially important to pause and look to see who is already doing this work and fall in line with how to support them and continue their work rather than do anything that might interfere with work already being done.It is okay to be wrong, and it is okay to say “I am not informed enough to speak on this topic”. Fear of being wrong, or the feeling that if you claim to be an activist you automatically have to know everything stops so many of us. No. It is OKAY to be wrong. It is a mark of intelligence to recognize when you’re wrong, learn better, and do better, and there is nothing wrong with being asked a question or being engaged in a conversation and saying “You know what, I don’t feel informed enough to speak on this.”Know that there is probably not an end-point to the work. Whether it’s anti-racism or ending child hunger. Even if you ensure all children have full tummies, you still have to get up every day after that and ensure those programs stay afloat, that they have funding.You have to remember to rest. Getting into the trenches with any form of activism is not for the faint of heart. It takes a toll on you physically and emotionally -- especially if you are a privileged white person who has rarely had to endure chronic stress -- this can really hit you like a brick wall. You have to learn to take breaks, to rest, to step away from the work for a moment and then get back in there. Dani’s 3 groups of people we’re worried about offending and what to do instead: “Following”: Focus on gaining supporters, not followers. Focus on quality, not quantity. Family/Friends: Lean into the fact that if you lose them for being outspoken, they may not have been worth your time or energy to begin with.Potential Clients or Collaborators: Trust that sharing your morals and values will help you attract clients and collaborations that align with you.   Books we mentioned: The Deepest Well by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris How To Do Nothing by Jenny OdellThe Preacher's Wife  by Kate Bowler  Connect with Dani: Website: http://thyme-is-honey.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thyme_is_honey/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThymeIsHoney/Twitter: https://twitter.com/thyme_is_HoneyPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thymeishoney/Podcast: https://PlanPodcast.comHydration Course: https://HydrationChecklist.com   The Daily Page Planner: https://DailyPagePlanner.com Digital Daily Page Planner: https://DigitalDailyPage.com  Connect with Abbie: Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebsTwitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Connect with Ashley: Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.comBusiness website: http://www.brookseditorial.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswritesTwitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorialPinterest:  http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial

We’re welcoming counselor, writer, and calligrapher Simone Griffin to the show today. Join us as she shares about the overlap between counseling and creativity, and how art—both our own and others’—can improve our mental health. Be sure to check out Simone’s newsletter, Counseling + Christ, and her devotional workbook, Glimmers of Hope. Resources mentioned in this episode: Christ + Counseling newsletterGlimmers of Hope: A Devotional Workbook for Navigating the Struggles of Womanhood with Grace by Simone GriffinMini book club:A Holy Pursuit: How the Gospel Frees Us to Follow and Lay Down Our Dreams by Dianne JagoMaybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori GottliebPride by Ibi ZoboiHamilton Broadway filmHere’s where you can find Simone: Website: http://simonegriffin.org/Etsy: GlimmersofHopeShopInstagram: @sincerelysimonegFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Hope-Anchored-Soul-1492959650997664/Here’s where you can find Abbigail: Website:  www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: @abbigailekriebsTwitter: @abbigailekriebsHere’s where you can find Ashley: Website: www.ashleybrookswrites.comCreatively Yours newsletterInstagram: @ashleybrookswritesTwitter: @brookseditorial

We’d be remiss in trying to continue on with the podcast acting as if nothing is happening around us. 2020 has been an upheaval year for just about every single person on the planet, and while we are both privileged, middle-class white ladies in Midwestern states who are faring quite well during the pandemic, all things considered, our lives do still look very different than they did in March. So this season, rather than continue to explore how we fit creativity into our daily lives -- something we are largely unable to do right now as we have in the past -- we wanted to explore a topic that has emerged as one we both care about deeply: How do we use creativity to make a difference? We’re going to be interviewing people who use their creativity to create change in directions that matter to them. We hope you’ll get to hear from a wide variety of artists who hold a variety of views. None of them will be identical to our own, and we don’t believe that they have to be. In this episode in particular, we’re going to be talking about the pandemic and what our lives look like right now. The choices we’ve made for our families may not be the same as yours, and that’s okay! We know that in this time, everyone is doing what they think is best. However, we do want to be upfront and say that race and issues of equality are not “too political” to talk about on a podcast that discusses creativity. Everything is political, first of all. And second: the issue of equality for all people is a human rights issue, not something we are willing to debate. We hope you gain some ideas from our guests this season about how you can create change around the things that matter to you, regardless of where your personal views land. Got someone you’d love to hear from this season about how they make a difference with their creative gifts? Email us at chasingcreativepodcast@gmail.com.  Resources we mentioned in this episode: Andy Slavitt on TwitterKing Gutter Baby on Instagram (infectious disease expert)1619 Podcast SeriesPantsuit Politics Podcast Home Cooking with Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway The Lazy Genius Podcast with Kendra Adachi Lisa Hensley on Instagram Mini Book Club: Best Summer Reads:Red at the Bone by Jacqueline WoodsonThe Selection by Kiera Cass Harry Potter (of course) Pride by Ibi Zoboi  Nonfiction that’s changed our perspective:Just Mercy by Bryan StephensonThe Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch Becoming by Michelle Obama Books that have spurred us onto action in some way:Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms by Erin Benzakein Visions of Vocation by Steven Garber

**We had originally planned to air this episode in early June of 2020 (recorded in early May), but chose to hold off on publication to keep the airwaves clear in the wake of the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, and the nationwide uprising that continues to today as more Black lives are taken because of racist people and racist policies. We want our listeners to know that we stand in full support of the protests and the push for racial justice and equality. We are actively engaging with our own racial bias in our own lives, learning, growing, and working to become antiracist. We are listening to BIPOC Voices as we move forward in this never-ending work, and we are pledging to use this space to amplify those voices in the future. We apologize that we have not made this a priority in the past. We will do better. If you are someone that identifies as BIPOC and would like to come on the podcast to talk about creativity and your journey as an artist, or you'd like to recommend and connect us to someone who does, we would be grateful if you'd reach out to us at chasingcreativepodcast@gmail.com. Our mic is yours. This season of Chasing Creative was about the ebbs and flows of the creative life. When we brainstormed that theme last summer, we had no idea that the world would be facing a pandemic in the spring of 2020 as we record and release this episode. It’s brought changes big and small to our own creative processes and, we’re guessing, yours too. In this episode, we catch up on the first few months of 2020 -- new babies! pre-pandemic vacations! -- and how the onset of a global pandemic has affected our lives inside and out.Resources We Talked AboutAshley recorded a special episode of the podcast title Creativity as Self-Care in early April. If you’re finding your creative energy decimated by the pandemic, that episode could be a creative hug for where you are at right now. Ashley is knitting a shawl using this pattern, and she gets her yarn from Yarnery in Minnesota. They offer shipping around the country in case you, too, have a hankering to make something with your hands these days. The blue unicorn and festive llama cross stitch kits that Jacob completed can be found here if you or your kids (or partners!) need some handiwork for the evenings.Want to know when Season 7 launches? Sign up for our email list here.  Books We Talked AboutThe Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (of course!)A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesThe Alice Network by Kate Quinn Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb  Here’s where you can find Abbie:Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebsTwitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Here’s where you can find Ashley:Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.comBusiness website: http://www.brookseditorial.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswrites Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorialPinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial

As the lazy genius, Kendra Adachi teaches people how to be a genius about the things that matter, and lazy about the things that don’t. Join us in this episode to hear how she listens to her intuition when it comes to creative projects, the seasonal rhythms she uses to get things done, and the creative process that led her to leave perfectionism behind as she wrote her book.Resources mentioned in this episodePreorder Kendra’s book, The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done. Find Kendra on the Lazy Genius Podcast and the Lazy Genius Collective! Sign up for Kendra’s monthly newsletter, The Lazy Letter, for some of the best book/movie/TV show recommendations on the internet, plus smart reflections on living life the lazy genius way. Change Your Life Chicken Recipe (Guys, it really will change your life.)  Check out our first episode with Kendra back from 2016! On Valuing Yourself Enough to Create with Kendra Adachi Mini book clubA Discovery of Witches by Deborah HarknessThe Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil GaimanIn the Woods by Tana FrenchThe Likeness by Tana FrenchStill Life by Louise PennyBurnout: The Secret to Solving the Stress Cycle by Emily NagoskiDeep Work by Cal NewportDigital Minimalism by Cal NewportHere's where you can find KendraWebsite: thelazygeniuscollective.comPodcast: The Lazy Genius PodcastInstagram: @thelazygeniusHere's where you can find AbbigailWebsite: inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: @abbigailekriebsTwitter: @abbigailekriebsPinterest: @abbigailekriebsFacebook: @inkwellsandimagesHere's where you can find AshleyWebsite: brookseditorial.comPersonal blog: ashleybrookswrites.comInstagram: @ashleybrookswritesTwitter: @brookseditorial

The world has been turned upside down, and being productive as a creative doesn't need to be your top priority right now. Instead, learn to think of your creativity as a form of self-care. Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeThe No Grocery Challenge by Sarah von BargenBank Boost by Sarah von BargenElise Blaha Cripe's Three Things Template for InstagramEncouraging Creative Kids by Elise Blaha CripeColoring printables for kids from Jane HeinrichsThe Growing Gills book club with Jessica AbelA Pep Talk for Being Stuck on The Lazy Genius Podcast by Kendra AdachiMini Book ClubBig Dreams, Daily Joys by Elise Blaha CripeEssentialism by Greg McKeownSpark by Andrea DebbinkLiturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison WarrenKeep Going by Austin KleonCalvin and Hobbes comicsPast Episodes of Chasing Creative to RevisitS6 E5: Sarah von Bargen on Setting Creative Goals that Actually Make You HappyS6 E3: Elise Cripe on Having Big Creative Dreams and Making Them HappenS6 E2: Nicole Gulotta on Seasons of CreativityS5 E7: Jessica Abel on Integrating Creativity into Your Life S5 E8: Doing the Work: How We’re Using the Lessons from Growing Gills S5 E4: Creativity, Burnout, and a New Way of Looking at Self-Care with Addie ZiermanS5 E3: Taking Creative Risks with Andrea DebbinkS5 E2: Creativity and Place with Jane HeinrichsS4 E25: Creating in the ChaosS4 E7: Creative Challenges 

Today we’re chatting with Lindsay Swoboda about how being a military spouse experiencing seasons of deployment and living overseas has affected her creative journey. Along with being a military spouse, Lindsay is also a mom and writer. Her blog Uplifting Anchor encourages mothers and military spouses in their daily and creative lives.Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeEating Popcorn in the Dark Because You’ve Earned This, by Melanie Dale on Coffee + CrumbsElise Blaha Cripe on Having Big Creative Dreams and Making Them Happen (Chasing Creative Season 6, Episode 3)The Get to WorkbookJessica Abel on Integrating Creativity Into Your Life (Chasing Creative Season 5, Episode 7)Mini Book ClubCirce by Madeline MillerGrit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela DuckworthLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottBig Dreams, Daily Joys by Elise Blaha CripeHere's where to find LindsayWebsite: www.upliftinganchor.comInstagram https://www.instagram.com/upliftinganchor/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/upliftinganchor/Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/upliftinganchor/pins/Here's where to find AbbieWebsite: www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/abbigailekriebsTwitter: www.twitter.com/abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook:  http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimagesHere's where to find AshleyPersonal blog: www.ashleybrookswrites.comBusiness website: www.brookseditorial.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/ashleybrookswritesTwitter: www.twitter.com/brookseditorialPinterest:  www.pinterest.com/brookseditorial

We both spent 2019 getting serious about writing our novels. In this episode, we're hashing out all the details, from where we got our book ideas to how we're fitting writing into our daily lives. Listen in to hear more about our creative processes and what the future holds for our writing.Resources mentioned in this episodeS6 E3: Elise Cripe on Having Big Creative Dreams and Making Them HappenS5 E7: Jessica Abel on Integrating Creativity into Your LifeS5 E8: Doing the Creative Work: How We’re Using the Lessons from Growing GillsScrivenerSelf-Control appAbbie and Ashley's writing accountability templateWriteTrack word count trackerRachael Herron on How to Write Your Book in 90 DaysBooks mentioned in this episodeAnne of Green Gables series by L.M. MontgomeryDivergent series by Veronica RothThe Artist’s Way by Julia CameronAtomic Habits by James ClearA Place for Us by Fatima Farheen MirzaCity of Girls by Elizabeth GilbertBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertThe Signature of All Things by Elizabeth GilbertEat, Pray, Love  by Elizabeth Gilbert 

Click here to take the Chasing Creative survey!Join us in this conversation with author and kindred spirit Ashlee Cowles as she shares about how travel and parenthood have changed her creative process. Ashlee believes that “creativity is not something we can lose, even if it has to lie dormant sometimes,” and we wholeheartedly agree. Listen in to learn how she’s spreading support and encouragement for creative parents through her latest project, The Most Creative Thing.Ashlee Cowles is the author of the award-winning novel, Beneath Wandering Stars, and its sequel, Below Northern Lights. Her YA gothic mystery, THE POPPY & THE ROSE, will be published in 2020.Ashlee’s booksBeneath Wandering StarsBelow Northern LightsWisdom for the Way: A Camino de Santiago Guidebook for the Pilgrim’s SoulResources we sharedThe Most Creative ThingThe Cultivating ProjectDiscover Your Creative Personality Type resource on The Most Creative ThingBooks we talked aboutAtomic Habits by James ClearBefore I Disappear by Danielle StinsonAll the Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoerrFour Seasons in Rome by Anthony DoerrThe Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan StradalGreat Kitchens of the Midwest by J. Ryan StradalWhere to find Ashleewww.ashleecowles.comwww.themostcreativething.comInstagram: @ashleecowlesInstagram: @themostcreativethingWhere to find AbbieGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/20016618-abbigail-e-kriebsWebsite: http://www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: @abbigailekriebsTwitter: @abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimagesWhere to find AshleyWebsite: www.brookseditorial.comBlog: www.ashleybrookswrites.comInstagram: @ashleybrookswritesTwitter: @brookseditorial

Do we normally try to keep our book talk to a minimum at the end of each episode? And do we normally keep our episodes under an hour? Yes and yes. But today, we have nearly an hour and a half of entirely book-focused conversation for you -- and we hope you love it as much as we loved recording it.Come find us on Goodreads!Abbie: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/20016618-abbigail-e-kriebsAshley: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1864876-ashley-brooksResources we mentioned:Take our listener survey! We’ve been producing this podcast since 2016, and a lot has changed since then. We’re constantly tweaking this podcast so that it works for our lives, but it’s important that Chasing Creative continues to be helpful to YOU. Our survey is short and sweet and will be open now through January 31st. We’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and feedback as we plan for the future of the podcast. Take it here.Love the podcast and happy to see new episodes in your feed? Consider supporting us on Patreon. If everyone who listens gave $1 per month, we could cover our expenses and maybe even hire an editor. That would allow us to create more -- for ourselves and you!The interview between Cal Newport (author of Digital Minimalism) and James Clear (author of Atomic Habits).Whitney Conard’s Instagram account, @theunreadshelf, where she challenges you to get through that TBR stack one book at a time.Abbie shops used at ThriftBooks quite often. Her referral link will get you 15% off your first order.Books we talked about in this episode:The Whole Thing Together by Ann BrasharesThe Last Summer (of you and me) by Ann BrasharesThe Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan StradalKitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan StradalA Thousand Acres by Jane SmileyThe Techwise Family by Andy CrouchLike a Mother: A Feminist Journey through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela GarbesBig Dreams, Daily Joys by Elise CripeDoing Harm by Maya DusenberyDigital Minimalism by Cal NewportAtomic Habits by James ClearI Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora EphronI Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura PhilpottWalking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’EngleA Room with a View by EM ForsterTurtles All The Way Down by John GreenDark Matter by Blake CrouchNever Have I Ever by Joshilyn JacksonEverything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate BowlerLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott The Unhoneymooners by Christina LaurenNinth House by Leigh BardugoThe People’s Republic of Everything by Nick MamatasThe Artist’s Way by Julia CameronBel Canto by Ann PatchettCommonwealth by Ann PatchettThis is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann PatchettThe Dutch House by Ann PatchettEleanor and Park by Rainbow RowellLandline by Rainbow RowellAttachments by Rainbow RowellFangirl by Rainbow RowellRoad Builders by B.G. HennesseyMaybe God is Like That Too by Jennifer GrantFortunately the Milk by Neil GaimanThe Starless Sea by Erin MorgensternKeep Going by Austin KleonThe Inspector Gamache Series by Louise PennyA Place for Us by Fatima Farheen MirzaSearching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held EvansCity of Girls by Elizabeth GilbertThe Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson WalkerUnsheltered by Barbara KingsolverThe Shadow Land by Elizabeth KostovaOn Stories by C.S. LewisCircle of Nine - Beltany by Valerie BielGreen Dolphin Street by Elizabeth GoudgeWhat the Wind Knows by Amy HarmonThe Flatshare by Beth O’Leary Here’s where you can find Ashley:Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1864876-ashley-brooksPersonal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.comBusiness website: http://www.brookseditorial.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/brookseditorialTwitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorialPinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial Here’s where you can find Abbie:Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/20016618-abbigail-e-kriebsWebsite: http://www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebsTwitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages

Did you know that it actually takes between 12-265 days -- with the average being 65 days! -- to make a new habit stick? Sarah Von Bargen shared that statistic with us on the podcast, and we were blown away! Sarah is the mastermind behind yesandyes.org where she is a writer, coach, and educator who helps people spend their time, money, and energy on purpose. We had her on the podcast to discuss how to craft goals that actually matter to you, create habits that support those goals, and what the ebbs and flows of the self-employed and creative life look like for her.Resources We Talked AboutNeed to figure out what makes YOU happy? Sarah’s ebook might help you do that.Sarah also teaches courses that can help you change your habits in the New Year. You can find her raved-about Habit School, Bank Boost, and more over here.Here’s the link to Sarah’s free private Facebook Group called “Money + Happy” where -- you guessed it! -- the community talks about how to spend their money in ways that make them actually happy.This podcast is the one Abbie shared about self-care for the different Enneagram numbers.Books We Talked AboutThe Bean Trees by Barbara KingsolverLillian Boxfish Takes A Walk by Kathleen Rooney I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott Becoming by Michelle Obama Where to Find Sarah:Website: http://yesandyes.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yesandyesblog/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yesandyesblog/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/yesandyesblog/Here’s where you can find Abbie:Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebsTwitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimagesHere’s where you can find Ashley:Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.comBusiness website: http://www.brookseditorial.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswritesTwitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorialPinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial

We're welcoming returning guest Callie Feyen to the podcast! Join us as we talk about Callie's recent transition into full-time self-employment as a brave step toward making space for creative work.Listen to our first interview with Callie here.Listen to our second interview with Callie here.Books we talked aboutDesigning Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave EvansBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertRumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing by L.L. BarkatBrown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline WoodsonNo Happy Endings by Nora McInernyIt's Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInernyThe Magic of Motherhood  by Ashlee GaddHere’s where you can find CallieOrder your copy of Twirl: My Life with Stories, Reading & Clothes in paperback or on Kindle.You can also snag her previous book, The Teacher Diaries: Romeo & Juliet here.Read Callie’s blog.Connect with Callie on Twitter or Instagram.Here’s where you can find AshleyPersonal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.comBusiness website: http://www.brookseditorial.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswritesTwitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorialPinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorialHere’s where you can find AbbieWebsite: http://www.inkwellsandimages.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebsTwitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages

We’re so glad to have Elise Cripe back on the podcast! We previously chatted with her on episode 4 of season 3, all about how she got to where she was creatively, and touched on taking creative breaks and her Get To Work Book business. Today, we wanted to have her on to talk about her first traditionally published book that releases tomorrow, October 8th, titled Big Dreams, Daily Joys, which is all about setting goals and making time for what matters, as well as what the ebbs and flows of her own creative life look like. Here’s our previous chat with Elise all about getting to work on your creative projects. **Where to find Elise: ** Preorder Elise’s new book, Big Dreams, Daily Joys! It comes out October 8th, and you can find it at all major online retailers at Elisejoy.com/book. Elise’s planner business, GET TO WORK BOOK, is at Gettoworkbook.com. Definitely follow @elisejoy on Instagram if you haven’t already. Elise occasionally shares her latest craft adventures on her blog, EnjoyItBlog.com. **Books We Talked About: ** Taproot Magazine A Year Between Friends: 3191 Miles Apart: Crafts, Recipes, Letters, and Stories The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp Essentialism by Greg McKeown This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport **Here’s where you can find Abbie: ** Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages **Here’s where you can find Ashley: ** Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: http://www.brookseditorial.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswrites Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial

Nicole Gulotta wrote the book (literally) on navigating different seasons of the creative life. Join us to hear her advice on the ups and downs we all experience as creatives, and get the scoop on her new book, Wild Words. These show notes may contain affiliate links to IndieBound, a website that connects readers with books sold by independent bookstores. These links generate a small commission for us if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting the show and small booksellers! Nicole's Books Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Inspired by Poetry Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode Literary Cooking with Nicole Gulotta on Chasing Creative Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport Join the Wild Words community Mini Book Club Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert The Art of Slow Writing: Reflections on Time, Craft, and Creativity by Louise DeSalvo Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle Here's where you can find Nicole Websites: nicolemgulotta.com / thewildwords.com / eatthispoem.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/nicolegulotta Twitter: www.twitter.com/nicolegulotta Here's where you can find Abbie Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Here's where you can find Ashley Blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: http://www.brookseditorial.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswrites Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial

Hello and welcome back to Chasing Creative for Season 6! We’re excited to be back with you, and still cannot believe that we’ve been doing this together for six seasons now. This season, we’re going to be interviewing some previous guests and some new guests, but asking them all similar questions: what do the ebbs and flows of the creative process look like for them? This season will include interviews with Nicole Gulotta in September, Elise Cripe in October, and many, many more. In this first episode of the season, Ashley and Abbie catch up on what they’ve both been doing since their creative retreat in June, share how they manage ebbs and flows in their own creative lives, and gab about the best books they’ve read this summer. This podcast is the one Abbie shared which talked about your menstrual cycle affecting your creativity. Books We Talked About: Still Life (#1 in Inspector Gamache series) by Louise Penny Everything Happens for a Reason & Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel by Kate Bowler It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool, Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

We were in the same room for the third time ever for our first (and hopefully not the last!) creative retreat. And we decided to record an episode all about how we made it happen, what our plan was, and what we accomplished while in a valley near LaCrosse, WI with no WiFi for 48 hours. Resources We Mentioned We first heard about creative retreats from Jennie Moraitis back in episode 12 of the first season of Chasing Creative. Ashley was making a sweater as part of the 100 Day Project which ends in early July. Books We Swapped What Ashley gave Abbie: An American Childhood by Annie Dillard Beneath Wandering Stars by Ashlee Cowles Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes Introverted Mom: Your Guide to More Calm, Less Guilt, and Quiet Joy by Jamie C. Martin Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch What Abbie gave Ashley: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living edited by Manjula Martin Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng Glitter & Glue by Kelly Corrigan

In the last episode of season 5, we're exploring all the ways recording this podcast has changed our own creative lives. We're talking about the power of audio conditioning in motivating you to do the work in front of you, catching up on our novel writing processes, sharing our progress in The 100 Day Challenge, and giving a preview of what's next for us in the months to come. Resources mentioned in this episode Growing Gills by Jessica Abel The Moment with Brian Koppelman: Interview with Seth Godin 1/1/19 Chasing Creative Season 5, Episode 8: Doing the Creative Work Scrivener writing software Chasing Creative Season 5, Episode 5: Intentional Creativity with Ron Vitale The 100 Day Project Mini Book Club A Room with a View by E.M. Forster The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace Wells King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill I Feel Bad about My Neck by Nora Ephron Keep Going by Austin Kleon Here's where you can find Abbie Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Pinterest: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Here's where you can find Ashley Personal blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Writing website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @ashleybrookswrites Pinterest: @brookseditorial

We first chatted about Growing Gills with Addie Zierman in this episode on self-care, resourcing, and diving back into writing after some time away. Then, we got the chance to interview Jessica Abel herself on her method for creating systems that help you be creative in this episode. And then we realized that we had a lot to say about what Growing Gills taught each of us and how we’re incorporating those lessons into spending time on our own much-neglected creative projects. That’s what this episode is all about. Get your hands on a copy of Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You’re Drowning in Your Daily Life and the free workbook on Jessica’s site here and start creating! Or check out Jessica’s Creative Focus Workshop, which is an even more intense, instructor-led process to set up strategies to help make your creative work happen. Other things we talked about: Ashley uses the Insight Timer - Meditation App. Abbie is probably going to download that ASAP and try the session Ashley recommends, “Five Minute Break for Reflection by Tony Brady”. Atomic Habits by James Clear The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden (Winternight Trilogy #2) How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen by Joanna Faber and Julie King Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman (updated edition!) King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo Here’s where you can find Ashley: Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: http://www.brookseditorial.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/brookseditorial Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial Here’s where you can find Abbie: Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages

Jessica Abel is cartoonist and author who is demystifying the creative process. Join us as we talk about her philosophy that the creative life is just . . . life. You’ll gain practical strategies for integrating creativity into your everyday life with systems and routines that work for you. Books and Links We Talked About Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You’re Drowning in Your Daily Life by Jessica Abel The Creative Focus Workshop Article on the scarcity mindset: If Creativity Is So Freeing, Why Do I Feel Like I'm Trapped? Scarcity: The New Science of Having Less and How It Defines Our Lives by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir Here’s where you can find more about Jessica and her creativity resources: Website: https://jessicaabel.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jccabel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visiblewoman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jccabel Books: https://jessicaabel.com/books/ Here’s where you can find Abbie: Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Here’s where you can find Ashley: Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: http://www.brookseditorial.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/ashleybrookswrites Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial

John Blase is a former pastor turned writer and editor. He spends his mornings writing poetry, his days as a developmental editor for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in Colorado Springs, and his evenings with his wife and three kiddos (when they’re home from college!). He preached for over a decade and has brought a pastoring stance to his writer’s pen. His books include The Jubilee: Poems; Know When To Hold ‘Em: The High Stakes Game of Fatherhood; Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas; and All is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir (with Brennan Manning). We chat with John about when he gets his creative work done and how he switches from writing someone else’s story back to writing his own -- and it wouldn’t be a discussion of faith and writing today without a brief dip into the Enneagram. You can connect with John here: Website: https://johnblase.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnblase Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdblase/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.blase Books: https://johnblase.com/books/ Books We Talked About: Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy Upstream by Mary Oliver The Jubilee by John Blase Here’s where you can find Ashley: Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: http://www.brookseditorial.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/brookseditorial Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial Here’s where you can find Abbie: Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages

Science fiction and fantasy author Ron Vitale keeps up an impressive writing pace while working full time and being an active father. What’s his secret? Intentional creativity. Join us in this episode to hear how Ron makes space for creative work, manages marketing and networking alongside writing, and maintains a self-care routine. Books, links, and tools mentioned in this episode How to Become a Successful Author While Working Full Time by Ron Vitale Psst! Stop choosing goals you don’t have control over! by Sarah von Bargen There’s a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher Ron’s 2018 Self-Publishing Year-End Review with Full Sales Numbers Author Kristine Kathryn Rusch Scrivener Trello Asana Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert You’ve Torn Your Achilles and Now What? by Ron Vitale Essentialism by Greg McKeown Chasing Creative season 4 episode 11: Tracking and Setting Creative Goals Here’s where you can connect with Ron Website: www.ronvitale.com Twitter: @RonVitale Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ron.Vitale.Author/ Here’s where you can find Abbie Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Here’s where you can find Ashley Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: http://www.brookseditorial.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/brookseditorial Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial

Reading is a big part of our creative lives, and we know the same is true of many of our listeners. We're giving you the rundown of our year in reading, including our top picks in a variety of genres, our favorite read-alouds for our kids, and the one book we BOTH couldn't finish! If mini book club is your favorite part of the podcast, this episode is for you! Love the podcast and happy to see new episodes in your feed? Consider supporting us on Patreon. If everyone who listens gave $1 per month, we could cover our expenses and maybe even hire an editor. That would allow us to create more—for ourselves and you! Follow us on Goodreads! Goodreads is social media for book lovers. Love it or hate it, this platform is a big factor in how we track our books, set reading goals, and decide what to read next. Follow us on Goodreads to keep up with our reading habits in real time! Abbie's Goodreads Ashley's Goodreads Books mentioned in this episode Beartown by Fredrik Backman Circe by Madeline Miller A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Off the Clock by Laura Vanderkam How to Be a Happier Parent by KJ Dell’Antonia Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren Introverts in the Church by Adam S. McHugh Essentialism by Greg McKeown The Road Back to You by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat Heating & Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly Great with Child by Beth Ann Fennelly Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott Virgil Wander by Leif Enger Peace Like a River by Leif Enger The Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Girls by Emma Cline The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore There’s a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher Don’t Push the Button! by Bill Cotter The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood She Has Her Mother’s Laugh by Carl Zimmer The Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan The Temperament God Gave Your Child by Lorraine and Art Bennett Heartland by Sarah Smarsh The Minimalist Kitchen by Melissa Coleman Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith (the Nester) Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel Stories by C.S. Lewis Shadowland by Elizabeth Kostova The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova My Life in France by Julia Child A Room with a View by E.M. Forster Where we find book recommendations Erin Smith on Instagram Kendra at the Lazy Genius Collective From the Front Porch podcast Anne Bogel at Modern Mrs. Darcy and the What Should I Read Next? podcast Morgan Swank on Instagram Other links from this episode Personality and Creativity: Chasing Creative Season 4, Episode 20 Here's where you can find Abbie Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Here's where you can find Ashley Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: http://www.brookseditorial.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/brookseditorial Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/brookseditorial

The creative world is full of people and places encouraging you to practice self-care. But what if the self-care that the world is promoting feels a little hollow? Addie Zierman shares with us a new way at looking at self-care on the podcast today. It’s called “resourcing” - and we think you’re going to gain a lot from this concept. Addie Zierman is the author of When We Were on Fire (named one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2013) and of Night Driving: A Story of Faith in the Dark. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two sons and blogs regularly at addiezierman.com. You can connect with Addie here: Website: https://addiezierman.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/addiezierman Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/addiezierman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/addieziermanwriter/ Our inspiration for this episode comes from a post Addie wrote on her blog, “A Better Way To Think About Self-Care”. Addie shared Jessica Abel’s Growing Gills workbook as something she used to get back on track creativity after a period of taking a step back. Love the podcast and happy to see new episodes in your feed? Consider supporting us on Patreon. If everyone who listens gave $1 per month, we could cover our expenses and maybe even hire an editor. That would allow us to create more -- for ourselves and you! Books we talked about in this episode: How to Be Here by Rob Bell Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren Here’s where you can find Ashley: Personal blog: http://www.ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: http://www.brookseditorial.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/brookseditorial Twitter: http://twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brookseditorial Here’s where you can find Abbie: Website: http://www.inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: http://twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/inkwellsandimages

Andrea Debbink is an editor and author with more than a decade of experience in the publishing world. Currently she’s an editor at American Girl where she creates nonfiction content that empowers girls to explore their creative potential. Her new book Spark: A Guide to Ignite the Creativity Inside You just won a 2018 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. We chatted with Andrea about what it looks like to take a creative risk, her favorite books on creativity, and what creative risks Ashley and I are taking in 2019. You can connect with Andrea on Instagram, Goodreads, or at andreadebbink.com. Grab a copy of Andrea's book, SPARK: A Guide to Ignite the Creativity Inside YOU, illustrated by Emily Balsley. People & Things We Mentioned: The Lovely Drawer has 25k followers on Instagram and still struggles with getting her posts seen. Leif Enger writes slowly. Ashley highly recommends this novel, and his halfway through his current. And Leif is on Instagram! That book we couldn’t remember the name of that Ashley read about the cycles of creativity? It was Ryan Holliday’s Perennial Seller that she talked about in this episode. Ashley recommends the #amwriting podcast. Anthony Trollope worked as a mail carrier and wrote before he went to work each day. If he finished a novel before heading to work, he started a new one. Woah. Books We Talked About: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Daily Rituals by Mason Curry Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living by Manjula Martin How to Be a Happier Parent by KJ Dell’Antonia

How does the place you live and work impact your creativity? Do beautiful landscapes or bustling cities help boost creative inspiration? Join us as we explore these questions and more with illustrator Jane Heinrichs. Jane works as an illustrator with publishers around the world. Her first children's book, "Magic at the Museum," was short-listed for best-illustrated book at the Manitoba Book Awards. She splits her time between three different continents: London, England; Cape Town, South Africa; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Links from the Show "How Geography Shapes Our Identities" Mini Book Club The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley The Art of Slow Writing by Louise DeSalvo Circe by Madeline Miller Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Here's where to find Jane Website: https://www.janeheinrichs.net Instagram for daily drawings and stories from my studio: @janeheinrichs Shop (children’s nursery prints and books) : https://www.janeheinrichs.net/shop/ Pinterest (for creativity inspiration): @janeheinrichs Facebook Page: @janeheinrichsstudios Here's where to find Abbie Blog: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Here's where to find Ashley Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial

We’re back after an extended summer hiatus! And we’re so happy about it. Not much changed for Abbie, Ashley had a third baby, and here’s how they’re managing life and creativity as they ease back into life in the fall. While they’ve been gone, Abbie started hosting the Exhale Creativity podcast. Exhale Creativity is a monthly membership site where the Coffee + Crumbs team is able to encourage moms to follow their creative hearts. You can check it out here: exhalecreativity.com. Want to hear the background on Abbie & Ashley’s personality types and how they approach their work + life? Here’s the episode you should listen to next. We’re going to be releasing one episode per month this season. You can look for our first interview of the season next Monday, October 8th. And then we’ll have a new episode the first Monday of every month after that. Love the podcast and happy to see new episodes in your feed? Consider supporting us on Patreon. If everyone who listens gave $1 per month, we could cover our expenses and maybe even hire an editor. That would allow us to create more -- for ourselves and you! Here’s where you can find Abbie: Website: inkwellsandimages.com Instagram: instagram.com/abbigailekriebs Twitter: twitter.com/abbigailekriebs Pinterest: pinterest.com/abbigailekriebs/ Facebook: facebook.com/inkwellsandimages Here’s where you can find Ashley: Personal blog: ashleybrookswrites.com Business website: brookseditorial.com Instagram: instagram.com/brookseditorial Twitter: twitter.com/brookseditorial Pinterest: pinterest.com/brookseditorial Mini Book Club Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren Red Rising by Pierce Brown This Must Be The Place by Maggie O’Farrell Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done by Laura Vanderkam The Ensemble by Aja Gabel

In our last episode of Season 4, we’re chatting about how we keep creating even in chaotic seasons. Most of us have plans and dreams for the way we want our lives to go, but here in the real world, life is messy and unpredictable, and things rarely go as planned. When things go off the rails, creativity is often the first thing to take the hit. Sometimes scaling back is necessary, but we also believe there are ways we can prioritize creating even when we’re living right in the middle of chaos. We will be back for a Season 5 at some point… but we’re not really sure when. To get updates on when we do, sign up for our newsletter. We promise it is the lowest-commitment email newsletter you will ever sign up for, because we send about one email a year. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Resources We Mentioned While Ashley is on maternity leave, you’ll be able to find Abbie over at Exhale Creativity hosting a podcast that explores where motherhood and creativity intersect. The Lazy Genius helps everyone manage life a little better - Kendra is a great resource for anyone trying to do things smarter to make more room for what you want to be doing instead. Mini Book Club Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life & Work by Chip and Dan Heath Beartown by Frederik Backman Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

While we are usually bemoaning our lack of time to sort out all of our creative projects, every once in a while we get stuck in a place where we’ve got time or desire to do something creative, but find ourselves with an utter lack of inspiration. When that happens, we both have some tried-and-true places we turn to that give us that little nudge we need to get back to making, and we thought we’d share them in today’s episode. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Resources We Mentioned Blogs: Melissa Camara Wilkins John Blase, especially his advent book, Touching Wonder Anne Bogel a.k.a. Modern Mrs. Darcy, specifically The Examined Life archives Erin Loechner at Design for Mankind Podcasts: The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman The New York Times Book Review The Lazy Genius Podcast by Kendra Adachi Magic Lessons by Elizabeth Gilbert The #AmWriting Podcast The Create if Writing Podcast Social Media: Nicole Gulotta’s Wild Words Collective - you can sign up for her newsletter to get access here Lindsay Crandall on Instagram The Coffee + Crumbs Instagram account Our episode in Season 3 with Nicole Gulotta, the author of Eat This Poem Mini Book Club A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman Finish by Jon Acuff Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

We’re all have limited resources to dedicate to creativity, and one of those is money. No matter what your financial situation, money is a finite resource, and we can only spend so much on creative pursuits---and the costs can add up quickly. So how do we budget for creative projects when we’re not independently wealthy? That’s the conversation in this week’s episode. Resources mentioned in this episode Society6 for selling your creative work YNAB (You Need a Budget) budgeting app EveryDollar budgeting app Financial resources by Dave Ramsey: Total Money Makeover book Budgeting Tips Podcast Wave for business accounting Mini book club Euphoria by Lily King The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr Here's where you can find Abbigail Inkswells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Pinterest: @abbigailekriebs Here's where you can find Ashley Personal blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

We’ve all heard that we’re supposed to be building an audience online. Even if we don’t want traditional success, many of us put our work online to share our creativity and use it to connect with others. But building all these “platforms” takes time and energy away from the creative process. It can make us discouraged as we compare ourselves to others and frustrated that we don’t have time to do all the things we’re “supposed” to be doing. So how do we balance social media and the creative life? That’s what we’re talking about in this episode. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Resources We Mentioned Ashley loves Alexandra Franzen, who is not on social media and doesn’t seem to actively build a platform anywhere. It can be done! Rachel Meeks from Small Notebook hasn’t blogged in years and Abbie still goes back and re-reads her blog from time to time. Hootsuite does post to Instagram now! So does Buffer, but Abbie’s favorite remains Later.com. Ashley recommends finding tools that recycle past updates for you on social media. She recommends RecurPost and SmarterQueue for Twitter as free or close-to-free options, and Board Booster for Pinterest, but she doesn’t remember how much it costs. Mini Book Club Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother by Beth Ann Fennelly Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

We have to eat, we have to have clean clothes, and we should probably vacuum once in a while. If you can’t outsource any (or all!) of those kinds of things, maybe the next best step is to inject a little more creativity into them so that they feel like less of a distraction from our creative goals and more a part of them. Join us in this episode to learn how we make our daily tasks a little more creative. Resources mentioned in this article The Fitness Marshall on YouTube Note: Not all songs are appropriate for little ones! Callie Feyen's Chasing Creative episode on writing through transitions Mini book club The Teacher Diaries: Romeo and Juliet by Callie Feyen The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden Here's where to find Abbigail Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Pinterest: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Here's where to find Ashley Ashley Brooks Writes Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

We’re both personality nerds, so it’s no surprise that our Myers Briggs letters and Enneagram types have come up multiple times on the podcast before. In today’s episode, we’re devoting our entire conversation to the ways our personalities can affect our creative lives. There are probably hundreds of personality typing systems out there, but today we’re focusing on three that have had the biggest impact on our creativity: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Enneagram, and Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Resources We Mentioned Reading People by Anne Bogel Creative You: Using Your Personality Type to Thrive by Otto Kroeger The Sacred Enneagram by Chris Heuertz The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile The Road Back to You podcast 16personalities.com A recent Hope*Writers podcast interview with Ian Morgan Cron The Selfie Podcast series on enneagram The Enneagram Institute online resource Explore Your Type online resource The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies quiz Mini Book Club The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte The Sherlock Holmes Series by Arthur Conan Doyle Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

The longing for a peaceful creative retreat at a cabin in the mountains is probably high on the wish lists of creative people everywhere. But the fact is, our mountaintop creative moments don’t happen all that often, and we probably need to dream a little closer to our own backdoors if we’re ever going to make creative retreats happen in our own lives. Today we’re chatting about those retreats, the dreamy ideal ones and the real ones. Thanks to sponsor Jennie Moraitis and her Creative Retreat workbook! In the Creative Retreat workbook, there are activities to get your creative juices flowing and blank pages to do idea dumps when you need them. It’s a planning resource + coloring book combined, and it’s full of Jennie’s signature adorable doodles. If you struggle to make the time that you have for your creative projects count, this workbook can help. It’ll walk you through why you want to take a retreat, how to get started, and how to keep the magic flowing even once you come back home. Learn more and grab your copy at makearetreat.com! Resources mentioned in this episode Plan Your Perfect Writing Day on the Hope*Writers podcast Tips + Tricks for Planning a Solo Retreat by Ashlee Gadd Mini book club Letters to a Young Poet by Ranier Marie Rilke The War of Art by Steven Pressfield The Harry Potter series Emily of New Moon books by L. M. Montgomery Here's where to find Abbigail Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Pinterest: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Here's where to find Ashley Brooks Editorial Ashley Brooks Writes Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

For many of us, it’s tempting to shove our creativity into a dark corner and try to keep making progress on our own. But like we talked about in our episode on sharing your creativity, creatives aren’t meant to work in a vacuum. This week, we’re focusing on creative communities: how to find them, how they can help us achieve our goals, and our personal experiences being part of creative communities. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Cool Things We Mentioned The StorySocial and #CreateLounge Twitter chats Nicole Gulotta’s Wild Words Collective The #AmWriting podcast Facebook Group Jon Acuff’s 30 Days of Hustle Mini Book Club The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

We’re excited to share a special episode this week as we welcome back returning guest and one of our favorite writers, Callie Feyen. Callie has been on the podcast twice in recent years, and we’ve loved hearing from her about her writing journey and how it has evolved as her life has changed. Since we last chatted, she’s undergone another big transition and published her first book, The Teacher Diaries: Romeo and Juliet, released February 14th by TS Poetry Press, and she’s here to tell us all about it. Listen to our first interview with Callie here. Listen to our second interview with Callie here. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Mini Book Club Joseph Cronin’s The Passage books Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Beastly by Alex Flinn The Rose & the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Here’s where you can find Callie Order your copy of The Teacher Diaries here, in paperback or on Kindle. Read Callie’s blog. Connect with Callie on Twitter or Instagram. Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

Do you get excited about a new creative project, then give up halfway through? Or maybe you don't think your idea is good enough to even get started? What if you get all the way to the end of a project but can't quite push through to the finish line? We all have individual struggles with actually completing a creative project. Today, Ashley and Abbie are hashing out some of the most common creative pitfalls and how you can troubleshoot them. Resources mentioned in this episode Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Magic Lessons podcast Start by Jon Acuff Finish by Jon Acuff Essentialism by Greg KcKeown How to Set Goals Like a Normal Person from the Lazy Genius Collective The Lazy Genius Finds Her Purpose Toggl time tracker I Know How She Does It by Laura Vanderkam Laura Vanderkam’s time log Mini book club The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan The Girls by Emma Cline When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs "Two dying memoirists wrote bestsellers about their final days. Then their spouses fell in love." Reading People by Anne Bogel Here's where you can find Abbigail Inkwells and Images Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Here's where you can find Ashley Ashley Brooks Writes blog Brooks Editorial blog Instagram: @brookseditorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

Life is full of those little things that have to get done but that can really drag us down. If we let them, they’ll steal our time and our energy away from the creative pursuits that are important to us. Today, we’re chatting about all those small things that drag us down and our best tips for dealing with them so we can get back to our fun creative projects. Books and resources mentioned in this episode Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach Mini Book Club A Simplified Life by Emily Ley Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Here's where to find Abbigail Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Pinterest: @abbigailekriebs Here's where to find Ashley Brooks Editorial blog Ashley Brooks Writes Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

We’re all trying to make room for our creative projects in our already full lives, so how do we approach trying new types of creativity? Do we even? Ashley and Abbigail chat about the types of creativity they’ve tried in the past, things they’ve picked up, loved, hated, and put down, and what new things they’d like to try someday soon. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Mini Book Club Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts by Ryan Holiday Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

We're not huge fans of structured creative goals, but we do like building creative habits into our daily lives. In this episode, we're sharing how we cultivate creative habits and the tactics that do and don't work for us. Thanks to our sponsor, Jennie Moraitis! Jennie's new book, Happy Journal, Happy Life, is a fun, low-pressure way to add a creative habit to your day in 10 minutes or less. Happy Journal, Happy Life can ignite your creative energy, boost your gratitude, and bring the joy back to journaling. Get Happy Journal, Happy Life in paperback! Get Happy Journal, Happy Life for your Kindle! Click here to learn more about Jennie and the wonderful work she's doing to encourage everyday creativity. Resources mentioned in this episode The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Powersheets from Cultivate What Matters Ashley's post on Reading Deeply in 2018 Habit Streak app Mini book club The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern The Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist Here's where you can find Abbie Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Pinterest: @abbigailekriebs Here's where you can find Ashley Ashley Brooks Writes Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

What counts as "real" creativity? Join Ashley and Abbigail as they explore the definition of creativity and how to define it in your own life. Resources and quotes mentioned in this episode "But unless we are creators we are not fully alive. What do I mean by creators? Not only artists, whose acts of creation are the obvious ones of working with paint of clay or words. Creativity is a way of living life, no matter our vocation or how we earn our living. Creativity is not limited to the arts, or having some kind of important career.” ― Madeleine L'Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art "The discipline of creation, be it to paint, compose, write, is an effort towards wholeness.” ― Madeleine L'Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art “If you are worried that your art is a waste of time, perhaps you need to redefine success in art. Are you becoming more fully yourself?” ― Emily P. Freeman, A Million Little Ways “ . . . being an artist has something to do with being brave enough to move toward what makes you come alive.” ― Emily P. Freeman, A Million Little Ways "Creativity should be an everyday experience." ― Erwin McManus, The Artisan Soul Modern Mrs. Darcy blog post on the eight-line edit: "The Eight Uncomfortable Lines I Want to Cut from Books I'm Reading These Days" Mini book club The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman Here's where to find Abbigail Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Pinterest: @abbigailekriebs Here's where to find Ashley Brooks Editorial Ashley Brooks Writes Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

Setting creative goals can be a whole lot of fun -- but meeting them is often a whole different story. Ashley and Abbigail chat about what their creative goals are for 2018 and how they plan to measure and track them. There’s a lot of discussion on what makes a creative goal a good one and how to choose goals when you’re just not sure what your year is going to look like. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Good Stuff We Talked About Lara Casey’s Powersheets - the 2018 set is sold out, but there are still some 6-month sets left at the time of this episode airing. The Get to Work Book by Elise Joy - Abbie uses this for all her planning. The Day Designer by Whitney English - Ashley has used this in the past. Mini Book Club The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - There’s an updated review of this in our January 15th episode on what counts as creativity. Ashley’s short review: don’t read it! The History of Love by Nicole Krauss Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells & Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

This episode is all about books! We're chatting about how reading helps (and hinders) our creative lives, the books that have made an impact on our creativity, and the ups and downs of setting reading goals. Books mentioned in this episode Deep Work by Cal Newport The War of Art by Steven Pressfield A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna Magicians Trilogy by Lev Grossman Beartown by Fredrik Backman A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother by Beth Ann Fennelly Other resources mentioned in this episode The Magic Lessons podcast with Elizabeth Gilbert If This, Then That (IFTTT) recipe for saving Goodreads book reviews to Evernote How to Bullet Journal at the Lazy Genius Collective The Lazy Genius Bullet Journals on the Lazy Genius podcast Austin Kleon's "I will not finish books I don't like" Modern Mrs. Darcy blog What Should I Read Next? podcast What's Your Reading Personality? quiz from Modern Mrs. Darcy What's Your Reading Personality? quiz from Oprah NYT Book Review podcast Greenlight Bookstore Radio Hour (Abbie's favorite episodes are Emily St. John Mandel and Elizabeth Gilbert) The Simple Show podcast @bookedandready on Instagram Follow us on Goodreads! Ashley's Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1864876-ashley-brooks Abbie's Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/20016618-abbigail-e-kriebs Here's where you can find Abbie Website: Inkwells and Images Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Pinterest: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Here's where you can find Ashley Brooks Editorial Ashley Brooks Writes Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

Every one of us dreams about having the perfect creative space: it’s got tons of natural light, elegantly potted plants, clear surfaces, and all of our tools within arm’s reach. This is far from reality for most of us, contrary to what Instagram would have you think. Ashley and Abbigail share what their real creative spaces look like, how they could make them better, and tips and tricks you may not have thought of to help you claim your creative space as your own and make it work for you instead of against you. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Good Stuff We Talked About Ashley’s cousin, Nikki, is also a creative person! We interviewed her in season one. Mini Book Club Recipes for A Beautiful Life by Rebecca Barry Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @Inkwellsandimages

Today's episode is all about creative wins: what we consider a win in our own lives, why it's so important to acknowledge our accomplishments (big and small), and our favorite ways to celebrate creative wins. Resources mentioned in this episode Hello There, Friend Chasing Creative episode: Sharing Your Creativity Chasing Creative episode: Make a Mini Creative Retreat with Jennie Moraitis Mini Book Club Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers The House by the River by Lena Manta Here's where you can find Abbigail Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Here's where you can find Ashley Brooks Editorial Personal blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial

It’s hard to work on your own creative projects. You have to find the time, the energy, and the motivation -- and those three rarely live on the same planet for most of us these days. One way to convince yourself -- or maybe trick yourself -- to prioritize your own work and make progress on your creative goals is to join a creative challenge. Ashley and Abbigail discuss the creative challenges that they are aware of, how they’ve helped them on their creative goals, and which ones they’d do again. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Good Stuff We Talked About Rachel Dawson’s episode Jennie Moraitis’s episode Elise Blaha Cripe’s episode Coffee and Crumbs episode on memory making 1 Second Everyday app Quiz from Gretchen Rubin on the 4 Tendencies 2030Make Challenge 100 Days Challenge Write 31 Days challenge NaNoWriMo Mini Book Club From Sand & Ash by Amy Harmon The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @Inkwellsandimages

We all have our busy seasons in life, whether they're predictable or unexpected. No matter what’s happening in our lives, we still only get 24 hours in each day. In this episode, we’re talking about the tried-and-true resources that fill us up and don’t feel like a time-suck, even when life gets busy. Blogs that fill us up Design for Mankind with Erin Loechner Emily P. Freeman’s blog Melissa Camara Wilkins’ blog No Sidebar The Art of Simple Coffee + Crumbs Hello There, Friend Becoming Minimalist The Life on Purpose Movement by Erica Layne Books that fill us up The Harry Potter series A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman Essentialism by Greg McKeown Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist Podcasts that fill us up Coffee + Crumbs The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! Other resources we mentioned Being Actively Creative with Lindsay Crandall on Chasing Creative Intentional Creativity with Erica Layne on Chasing Creative “The Hidden Load at Home” episode of the Straight and Curly podcast The Skimm daily news roundup Mini Book Club Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro Commonwealth by Ann Patchett This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett Bel Canto by Ann Patchett Here's where to find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs Facebook: @inkwellsandimages Here's where to find Ashley Personal blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial